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  • About Arthritis
    Common Topics
    woman holding her wrist What Is Arthritis?

    Arthritis is not one disease. Learn about the different types of arthritis, how they differ and why it’s important.

    microbes Inflammation and the Immune System

    Body-wide inflammation is at the root of most chronic diseases — and you may have more control over it than you think.

    Patient talking with nurse Newly Diagnosed With Arthritis

    A new arthritis diagnosis can be overwhelming. These tips can help.

    • Understanding Arthritis
    • Arthritis Types
    • More About Arthritis
    • Where it Hurts
    • Related Conditions
  • Treatments
    Common Topics
    Woman holding shoulder Webinar: Touch Therapies for Pain Management

    Learn the evidence behind popular touch therapies for arthritis, including what to try and what to avoid, for how long and when.

    Managing Arthritis Care Costs

    Learn the basics about health care costs and financial tools available to you.

    Man with head in hands on bed Webinar: Arthritis Fatigue Causes and Solutions

    Learn the various causes of arthritis-related fatigue and strategies to combat weariness.

    • Treatment Plan
    • Drug Guide
    • Joint Surgery
    • Complementary Therapies
    • Insurance Management
  • Healthy Living
    Common Topics
    Woman with upset stomach Microbiome, Gut Health & Arthritis

    Microbiome, microbes, microorganisms – these terms may be confusing, but the types of bacteria living in and on our bodies can impact arthritis. Learn what helps or harms the microbiome and the health of your gut and discover dietary changes that can make a difference. This episode was originally released on January 19, 2021.

    man exercising Stairs Workout Demo

    Strengthen your leg muscles and improve your stability to make going up and down stairs safer and easier.

    woman consoling another Arthritis and Mental Health

    Learn about the connection between arthritis, depression and anxiety and how these conditions can make your arthritis worse.

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  • Juvenile Arthritis
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    2023 JA Family Summit

    Learn about the National Juvenile Arthritis Conference, a place for families to connect, share and learn.

    JA Camps

    The Arthritis Foundation’s JA camp programs give kids with arthritis and related childhood rheumatic diseases the chance to make lasting memories.

    Juvenile Arthritis Volunteer

    • About Juvenile Arthritis
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    Transforming Clinical Interactions

    The Live Yes! Arthritis community connects patients with others online and in-person for support and education, and encourages patients to play an active role in their health care.

    Partners 4 Patients with Arthritis

    The Arthritis Foundation recently launched an initiative to build stronger relationships and increase recognition of our most engaged practices.

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    See how we're aiming to address the growing shortage of arthritis specialists, especially in under-served parts of the country.

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    OACS Forum Series

    The Osteoarthritis Clinical Studies Forum Series features OA thought leaders from across the globe discussing the future of how the disease can be treated to improve patient outcomes.

    man bandaging boy's knee Conquering Childhood Arthritis

    The Arthritis Foundation is mobilizing patients and their families to engage in studies comparing the effectiveness of treatments for juvenile arthritis and funding research for more options.

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    Common Topics
    Capital hill Action Center

    Take action today - use the resources here to learn who your elected officials are, what opportunities we have to advocate from the comfort of your own home, federal and state legislation, and more!

    LiveYes! Insights thumbnail Live Yes! INSIGHTS

    Share your experience in a 10-minute assessment to be among those changing the future of arthritis.

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    You may have arthritis, but it doesn't have you. The Arthritis Foundation’s one-of-a-kind podcast. Hosted by patients, for patients.

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Mind Over Stress: Finding the Right Balance

By Rebecca Gillett, MS OTR/L, Live Yes! With Arthritis Co-host and arthritis patient

Stress. Just the word itself can invoke the feeling. If you live with arthritis, you know there is a spectrum of stress-inducing triggers that might propel you into a flare of varying intensity. I am not just talking about the mental stress of living with a chronic disease, which is a huge factor, but also the physical stress you put your body through from the moment you slowly make your way out of bed. Everything we do, think and feel can take on a toll on our physical and emotional well-being, which then can affect our arthritis pain.

When you are navigating a new diagnosis or waking up to new pain you have not experienced, it can be incredibly stressful. Your thought train leaves the station — what did I do to cause this? What can I do to stop this pain? What will actually work to stop the pain? How am I supposed to get ready for my workday when I have this much pain? What if I call in sick? Will I be in jeopardy of losing my job? What will everyone think if I cannot do what I am supposed to do today? And then full stop. Next thing you know, your pain level is even higher now.

Surviving 2020 and a pandemic has just added to the daily stress most of us with arthritis already experience. “That’s so 2020.” You’ve heard it or you’ve said it, I’m sure, so you know what I mean. “2020” is now an adjective. A global pandemic has wreaked havoc on what we have all seen as “normal.” 2020 has been everything but normal.

2020 has compounded another layer of stress and anxiety that may perhaps amplify our arthritis symptoms. The fear of contracting this novel disease and what it means for those of us in this high-risk category for developing a severe case of COVID-19 has been top of mind for all of us. The social isolation, the lack of access to our usual ways of managing our pain and symptoms, the financial stress if you’ve experienced a loss of income or a job, seeing your doctor in-person, worrying about safety when going grocery shopping and not being able to see family or friends. So many things have added up to derail our plans, routines and treatments.

But how and why does stress affect arthritis? What can we do to combat the effects stress can have on our body and mind to take back control? Just how can we find our balance?

Both my co-host and friend, Julie and I have been on this roller coaster ride that is 2020 with all of you. It’s been a really hard year. We have both struggled with the change in routines, the financial stress, the uncertainty and the fear of contracting a novel virus for which we are still learning more about every day. When we recorded this episode of the Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast — Mind Over Stress , the timing could not have been more perfect. Both of us were feeling the heavy weight of the world and trying to survive. It was the therapy session we so desperately needed.

Our guest for this episode, Dr. Maria Juarez-Reyes, an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Medicine at Stanford University, helped guide us toward strategies we can employ to reduce our stress and anxiety.

Julie and I both talked about recent situations where we realized we were on a path of stress destruction affecting our moods, relationships and arthritis symptoms.

I had gotten myself to a point of anxiety and stress that started having real physical effects on me — my blood pressure was running high, despite being on medication for it, I was not sleeping well and waking in the middle of the night with anxiety and panic, and my spine and joints were stiff and painful. I found myself so irritable and stressed out, but my family were the ones suffering from my miserable moods. It was not a happy place. It wasn’t until I was talking about it with a friend that I realized how much of a funk I was stuck in and needed to find a way out. I felt like I was on a train going full speed ahead and I needed to get off at the next stop or my health and my relationships would suffer. But the sheer act of saying it out loud and being self-aware of how I was feeling is what finally helped me to merge toward an exit ramp.

This, we learned from Dr. Juarez-Reyes, is part of what’s called “noting.” It’s a strategy of being mindful and recognizing what’s happening, acknowledging it and making “note” of it. By doing this, she says, we’re more able to let go of whatever it is that’s causing us anxiety or stress. It helps us to get off that stress destruction train and shift into a different way of thinking, to take action or better access the tools we know can help reduce our stress.

[caption id="attachment_2192" align="alignright" width="264"] A short hike to this breathtaking view helped me to exhale and realize how important it is to take the time to decompress. Canyonlands National Park was the stress train stop I needed.[/caption]

I didn’t know there was a name for the strategy I had employed to stop my stress and anxiety from continuing to have a domino effect on my well-being. I noted and recognized my heightened anxiety and stress levels were not conducive to anything in my life. I acknowledged how it was affecting me physically, mentally and emotionally. Then, I was able to say, “OK, what can I control to reduce my stress levels? What tools can I access to help me decrease my stress?”

I had to put boundaries in place. Stop working such long hours and weekends. Go back to my walking and yoga routine. Move my body more. Get back to daily mindfulness and meditation practices. Unplug and get off the grid. Get myself into nature.

[caption id="attachment_2193" align="alignleft" width="257"] Found my balance again while camping and hiking at Arches National Park.[/caption]

Hiking and camping are two of my family’s favorite things to do together. It was just what I needed and exactly what we did. I came back from a family camping trip no longer carrying that boulder on my chest that was debilitating everything in my world. I realized I had lost my balance and needed to hit a reset button.

Dr. Juarez-Reyes also discusses at what point medication might be needed. When I was first diagnosed, taking an anti-anxiety medication allowed me to get symptoms under control enough to be able to really figure out what triggers were causing my flares. It wasn’t a medication I needed long-term, but I needed it at that time. It helped me realize there were actually some things I could control.

If any of this has resonated with you, I hope you, too, can find a way to get off the stress train. Pause and take a deep breath. Note it. Then, listen to this Mind Over Stress episode and get empowered to find your balance.
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Honor a loved one with a meaningful donation to the Arthritis Foundation. We'll send a handwritten card to the honoree or their family notifying them of your thoughtful gift.

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Volunteer Opportunities

The Arthritis Foundation is focused on finding a cure and championing the fight against arthritis with life-changing information, advocacy, science and community. We can only achieve these goals with your help. Strong, outspoken and engaged volunteers will help us conquer arthritis. By getting involved, you become a leader in our organization and help make a difference in the lives of millions. Join us and become a Champion of Yes.

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Live Yes! INSIGHTS


Give Just 10 Minutes.

Tell us what matters most to you. Change the future of arthritis.

By taking part in the Live Yes! INSIGHTS assessment, you’ll be among those changing lives today and changing the future of arthritis, for yourself and for 54 million others. And all it takes is just 10 minutes.

Your shared experiences will help:

- Lead to more effective treatments and outcomes
- Develop programs to meet the needs of you and your community
- Shape a powerful agenda that fights for you

Now is the time to make your voice count, for yourself and the entire arthritis community.

Currently this program is for the adult arthritis community.  Since the needs of the juvenile arthritis (JA) community are unique, we are currently working with experts to develop a customized experience for JA families.

How are you changing the future?

By sharing your experience, you’re showing decision-makers the realities of living with arthritis, paving the way for change. You’re helping break down barriers to care, inform research and create resources that make a difference in people’s lives, including your own.

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Meet Our Partners

As a partner, you will help the Arthritis Foundation provide life-changing resources, science, advocacy and community connections for people with arthritis, the nations leading cause of disability. Join us today and help lead the way as a Champion of Yes.

Trailblazer

Our Trailblazers are committed partners ready to lead the way, take action and fight for everyday victories. They contribute $2,000,000 to $2,749,000

Visionary

Our Visionary partners help us plan for a future that includes a cure for arthritis. These inspired and inventive champions have contributed $1,500,00 to $1,999,999.

Pioneer

Our Pioneers are always ready to explore and find new weapons in the fight against arthritis. They contribute $1,000,000 to $1,499,999.

Pacesetter

Our Pacesetters ensure that we can chart the course for a cure for those who live with arthritis. They contribute $500,000 to $999,000.

Signature

Our Signature partners make their mark by helping us identify new and meaningful resources for people with arthritis. They contribute $250,000 to $499,999.

Supporting

Our Supporting partners are active champions who provide encouragement and assistance to the arthritis community. They contribute $100,000 to $249,999.

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