RA and Stress?

[MrsSMC]

Does anyone else find that stress makes their RA worst? I have RA and on meds but just lately its worst than ever, and recently I have had some bad news/luck thats cauwed me to be srressed I just wondered if the two are linked?

[allanah]

Its definitely a trigger for my RA and annoyingly something I find hard to control or copewith. Hope your problems become little ones soon and remember to rest, sending you gentle huugs xx

[allanah]

Its definitely a trigger for my RA and annoyingly something I find hard to control or copewith. Hope your problems become little ones soon and remember to rest, sending you gentle huugs xx

[cris1728]

Hi I feel it was definately a trigger for my arthritis, worked in a very stressful job and 3 out of 15 staff have now developed autoimmune diseases ( all different ones) I posted a question RA and nurses and had some very interesting responses which you may want to look at

gentle hugs crisxx

[MrsSMC]

Thanks guys nice to know I'm not alone x

[watson3]

I agree with both allanah and chris, think we were all nurses. Over the years nursing has become so target orientated and stressful. I feel my health issues were exaserbated by this stress.

Yoga and a break from the job has helped me.

[Hidden]

I think that stress contributes to developing RA and other auto-immune diseases too.

I was a teacher in a stressful inner city college. Most of the stress resulted from bad management.

Stress makes everything feel worse too, doesn't it? Physically and mentally.

Many of my colleagues had to give up their jobs when they developed RA or MS or cancers. Several also had heart disease.

I wonder if stress affects the immune system as well as raising blood pressure and driving people to drink or cigarettes or bad eating habits.

It is a really complicated connection I think.

I have found Tai Chi and Yoga help. And not working has actually helped me too!

[Hidden]

There are a lot of teachers and a lot of nurses on here it's true - not many doctors though? Can't say anything about nature of work because I love mine to bits even though it can be very hard practically and financially is pretty terrifying a lot of the time. Also people often assume art is just a hobby and theraputic but if it's your work and livelihood it's completely different. I haven't found stress has triggered a flare up for over a year and I've had a fair bit - but three sudden deaths of loved ones in succession might have made me susceptible to RA to start with I sometimes think.

[Hidden]

PS although I know two of my former women GPs acquired Adult Stills and Lupus and had to take early retirement so I'm not trying to say that being a doctor isn't stressful of course.

[Hidden]

Stress definitely plays a part in my RA. When my stress levels are high I'm far more likely to experience a flare. In the 18 months prior to diagnosis I worked in a very stressful environment with DWP and I suffered one illness after another. I try to make life as calm and stress free as possible now and do my best not to worry about the little things.

Paula x

[MrsSMC]

Thanks for all comments guys. I have heard tai chi helps so may look into that to see if helps. Aswell as cutting my hours.

[helixhelix]

a lot of the stuff I've read says that you can have the right make up for RA (ie genes etc) but there needs to be a trigger to set it off. And that can be things like stress or smoking and so on. So if stress can trigger your RA in the first place, then it makes sense to me that it can also make it flare later on. I certainly found that I couldn't deal with stress after I'd been diagnosed, although had be working in mega stressed jobs for years. Since I've taken steps to manage stress I've been much better. polly

[Dotty7]

I was a teacher, in a notoriously hardworking and stressful school in the local area, and found that my RA symptoms were getting worse and worse. Since I have been not working I am finally getting well again, though I am still very easily tired - looking forward to my daughter going back to school after the Easter holidays so that I can go back to my gentle daily routine.

Dotty x

[Grumpyfell]

I am sure there is a link. I developed RA after two bereavements and while working with a horrible bullying boss. Stress is inevitable (wouldn't life be boring without it?) and I do find even welcome upheavals (moving house, family here to stay) will trilgger a flare. Not working has certainly helped, as has a complete change of lifestyle. Just off to check the chickens and ride the pony, I'll be tired afterwards!

D

[selina]

My diagnosis followed 6 months of chemo for breast cancer & my son's diagnosis of cancer at age 29. So I'll go along with the stress link. We all have to deal with stress on our path through life - some cope better than others and some are perhaps pre-disposed to auto-immune diseases.

Hope you find a way to cope and relax x

[mille]

Fully agree that stress contributes to R/A and when i was first diagnosed 12 years ago the professor of rheumatology told me that the latest findings were that stress was the cause. I also think there is a genetic link.

[Neonkitty]

Definitely. Believe my RA was brought on by a terribly stressful job. Now whenever I have a stressful event and recently it is no coincidence I have flared badly so much (as I have had an incontinent cat and my mum with Alzheimer's in a care home and all sorts of neighbour madness) It seizes me up and brings a flare on. I am very good at looking and appearing cool and calm but perhaps I should learn to manage stress more successfully. I am slowly learning to eliminate potential sources of stress.

[lisalockit]

Hi all I too work in a very stressful job have reduced my hours to 25 but flaring so badly and waiting for first course of Rituximab to kick in!!!! I was interested to read Neonkitty's comments regarding appearing cool and calm I also do this but I think that is part of the problem as I tend to keep things in rather than venting, I also suffer from Menieres which is another Auto Immune disease so if I'm not hobbling around and feeling stiff, I'm spinning and vomiting, Have had a fair bit of time off work and at moment am in sooo much pain feel like telling my arrogant non understanding boss to stuff it altogether, but then I worry about the lack of income so it's a vicious circle really.

[Annielou]

Just glimpsed this post and would like to add to the others' comments, I am certain stress triggered my RA initially just over three years ago. I was working as a lecturer in an FE college where the pressure was immense, not the teaching itself as much as the bossiness and ever-increasing demands from management. I eventually gave it up last summer as my employers were not understanding, neither were my colleagues and I knew I could not have taken sick time as would have simply felt too guilty and it would have made the job even more difficult to do. I now just do some voluntary support in my daughters' school and some admin work from home and am keeping myself very busy with my daughters, music, singing, swimming etc. For months I have felt a lot better but unfortunately have flared up again recently. It is an unpredictable condition and unfortunately the inflammation and pain doesn't just stay in remission permanently, even without stress.