How to Get Counseling to Help Live With Arthritis

Many patients with different forms of arthritis find great benefit in counseling. Professional counselors can help you learn to live a more complete life with this disease by equipping you with the tools you need to deal with the life changes you face with arthritis.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Trained mental health professional such as psychologist, licensed therapist or counselor
• Physician
• Arthritis support group
• Meditation classes

Learn to Cope Better Through Counseling

1. Talk to your physician about beginning a counseling program to help you better cope with your arthritis. Your doctor may refer you to a therapist who specializes in providing counseling to those with your specific kind of arthritis or level of disability.
2. Learn to communicate your needs to your counselor, as well as to your friends and family. Because arthritis is often accompanied by a loss of mobility, everyday tasks may become complicated. Effective counseling can help you learn to express your need for assistance.
3. Invite your family or caregivers to join you for a session of counseling designed to communicate concepts such as acquiring patience and understanding for those affected by arthritis. Your doctor may refer you to a support group which is geared towards this kind of patient/caregiver interaction.
4. Utilize counseling to help you develop meditation skills. Meditation, a self-induced relaxation procedure, is a useful tool in reducing the stress, pain and muscle tension associated with arthritis.
5. Learn to manage stress better when you get counseling. Since many forms of arthritis are triggered by immune responses to stressful situations, effectively managing stress in a positive way such as counseling can help reduce its negative effects.
6. Live a full life with arthritis by asking your counselor or therapist to help you concentrate on maintaining a high quality of life with this disease. Get together a list of positive affirmations through the guidance of your mental health professional to help you focus your energy on living life to the fullest.
7. Educate yourself about the coping skills that work best for other patients with arthritis to help you live with this disease. Check out the Arthritis Foundation website to find current medical research regarding arthritic conditions (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Get immediate assistance for yourself or your friend or loved one with arthritis if they begin to exhibit signs of extreme depression such as thoughts of suicide.