Hi Renice,

Regarding Mental Health, I think it's a matter of having to deal with a chronic illness and all the symptoms related to this disease. It takes time to get the disease activity to settle down with medications, some medications do not work at all. So, all this waiting for a medication to work adds to the anxiety and the fact we are still in pain adds to the mental health woes we experience. I have added this link for you to read about how RA affects our mental health.

https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healt...

You’re not meant or going crazy.. if it’s anything like my problem. I would say is probably normal. Im 52, it’s been 26years this passed Halloween with RA for me. A welder steel worker jack of all trade. The fact that all that is no longer part of my life really sucks, along with family issues. Just having everything come at you. Will play a roll. A few years back i decided to stop trying to feel better just so I could go try one more time just in the back yard, Try to make/build something. I had to give it up.. it destroyed my heart to do so. I still have my Bass guitar. And the garden to keep me busy.. just find what you want to do. Don’t take it to personal on your self people with out RA don’t get it. So don’t try to explain to much. I told my general doctor, gave me more drugs, antidepressant. 😡 Didn’t work for me. Just take the time to figure it out, take a long trip for a few days with your love one, just the one if possible. Away from everyone n everything. You need it and you’ll feel better. Be safe 🤘

Only if you allow it too. If you start to feel your mental health slip for any reason, including an illness, I highly recommend that you work with a counselor to work on it. It definitely helps with all aspects of life.

I’m not saying I’m crazy and about to snap or anything like that, but you could say that I have always had mental issues no different than anyone else but being a pothead from high school. Is what has helped along the way. I had stopped using for 22 years cause of work. So for that period. My head was always in the job. Even thou dealing with the RA. Always on the move getting things done you know the run around. I was a metal fabricator, so lots to do no time to feel sad, lol. But Now I’m a home body. I have my garden my arts and crafts and my music (bassist). But I’m alone for most of the day. That’s where the THC comes in hand. It helps me get creative witch helps keep the mind in motion not just stuck on one thing. It alouds me to express my feelings in a artistic creative way. Not like the antidepressant, that just had me sitting with nothing inside. So other than the head it also helps relax the body I feel it helps me with everything over all. Thank you for reading through my rant!! Lol be safe out there. This is one of my favorites. It has a very cool meaning no one knows it.

My personal reason why I didn’t last long on the antidepressant.
I realized that it took all feelings away. I’m a jokester, I like the cut back and forth in conversation. I didn’t notice till I made a trip to back home to Colombia all family is there. Just imagine you have not seen mom and everyone else in years. And not really feel any type of emotions. I was just there. I really wanted to actually cry from joy. But nop nothing. I rather feel everything that nothing at all. Again it was my decision to get off. And of course everyone that “knows better “ are out to say there 2cents. Be careful n be safe out.