Emotions and Rheumatoid Arthritis Archives | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior

Medication Fears and Rheumatoid Arthritis

October 20, 2014October 5, 2019 Kelly O'Neill 37 Comments Emotions and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Fear of medicine Have you ever been afraid of taking medicine? I have. Who knew that there’s actually a name for a fear of medication: pharmacophobia. Appearing irrational to Dr. Laptop As if I were once again the 19 year-old girl who quit taking thyroid medication, the day I learned I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), I...Continue reading 37 Comments » Read more

The Pursuit of Happyness When Part of Your Life Is Called Rheumatoid Arthritis

February 1, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 26 Comments Courage & living with RA, Emotions and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Movie review

Waiting to start a new treatment, the past few weeks, I’ve had a crazy idea. If the treatment works, I might “forget” how it was. So maybe I should do something I’ve never done: take an inventory. A couple years ago, a patient commented that she does a brief inventory of her joints with her...Continue reading 26 Comments » Read more

Lessons from a Dumb Phone & a Disabled Computer

September 17, 2012May 14, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 30 Comments Emotions and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Faith, Patience & living with RA

Last month I ordered a lightweight keyboard to use with an iPad. I planned to get one to downsize for travel, so I'd be more able to manage my briefcase alone when needed. I'm typing on that keyboard today from my sofa for another reason... Almost 2 weeks ago, I went through a Microsoft upgrade process...Continue reading 30 Comments » Read more

Recognizing the Anguish of Depression in Time for Help

October 7, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 13 Comments Celebrities and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Death and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Emotions and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Negative spaces are only part of the picture I was stirring early in the morning when everything was still gray. Something I saw looked like a fish for a moment. There’s no pet fish here, especially in my room. “Negative spaces,” I heard myself whisper. That’s what is in between the shapes of what is really there....Continue reading 13 Comments » Read more

Encouragement: with a Little Help from My Friends

April 4, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 23 Comments Emotions and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Encouragement for living with RA, Rheumatoid arthritis disability

Don’t you want me to help you with that? No. I want to be able to do it myself. I can do that for you. I know you can, I wish I could. Is there anything I can do? No, I want to feel like I can do something. Do you have any problem asking for help? Or...Continue reading 23 Comments » Read more

Fighting Rheumatoid Arthritis Depression

February 25, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 42 Comments Emotions and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Tips for living with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Often, I get letters from Rheumatoid Arthritis patients struggling with depression. I always encourage them to consider the options of counseling or medication since there’s no way to know how serious their depression may be. It’s heartbreaking. We hope that most of the time we can avoid serious depression, but patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis or...Continue reading 42 Comments » Read more

3 Questions & 3 Answers about Guilt and Chronic Illness

January 11, 2011May 15, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 68 Comments Emotions and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Tips for living with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Dealing with guilt and chronic illness (UPDATED) Did you ever stop and think guilt and chronic illness? Of course being sick is not your fault. There is nothing that can prevent being diagnosed with an illness. And you can't make a cure instantly appear. We would, if we could. So, we’re innocent. Being sick with a chronic...Continue reading 68 Comments » Read more