I have multiple ways of dealing with the strain associated with 'RA. I have adopted them over the years to deal with the physical and emotional aspects that inevitably crop up. Firstly I work hard to take one day at a time. I do this because I found myself becoming increasingly anxious about the long term affects the disease will have in me physically as well as the affect it had on my life. Each day I try to work out how much I will be able to do. And try to pace myself. I also try not to dwell on all the things that I can no longer do and rather focus on what I can do. For pain and insomnia I use CBD and CBN. BOTH IN TINCTURE form. These marijuana extracts help me a lot. When I feel truly overwhelmed I consult a counselor that specialises in progressive and degenerative diseases. I allow myself to grieve when I lose significant physical capabilities. This is important to me because otherwise it accumulates and i can get to feel sorry for myself :-) I Don't expect people to understand anymore. For the first 20 years with RA I had little outward signs of ill health. So obviously it is not an easy thing for the healthy to grasp. If we think how this disease differs amongst sufferers It's easy to see why people Don't readily understand. I diligently follow my rheumatologist 's advice. I pray a great deal and try to have faith. I don't know if any of my tips and tricks will help you but I really wish you well. 😊

Prayers for you and your family. I have found that managing my stress is key to being able to manage my RA. To help with stress and insomnia, I go to the gym 3-4 times a week and walk one mile and do 25 minutes on the elliptical. Both are low impact, but effective. I use the track at the gym because it is rubberized and easier on my joints. Hope this helps and good luck!

I find sometimes listening to relaxing music helps me to relax, just playing softly but loud enough to hear it as a soothing background sound. It's hard to find one that stays on an even level, ones that change louder or softer are no good, it disturbs my chance of concentration, it has to be a consistent sound. If it doesn't put me to sleep, then at least it's helped me to relax for a time, anything is better than nothing.

I would like to give advise to all my co-RA friends, I've coached athletics and netball for 27 years, some old gentleman gave me this remedy, you mix 100 ml Sweet oil with 5 ml Eucalyptus oil, rub it into the places where it is sore and hot, place a heat pad on that spot, repeat as often as you want, I've had arthritis now for 33 years and thank God I have no pain at all, when I feel heat on my joints, I apply this, it even helps for gout, anything to do with bone and muscles, please try it, I have a few people in my Retirement Village that are using it and they are amazed at the results, one friend is rubbing her husbands legs and arms, he has Parkinsons disease and it has helped him too. Hope to hear that it has helped other people. God bless Rica