I don't think you want to do that. You would be working against your prescription medicine. The point is to weaken your immune system so it doesn't hurt you. The trick is finding the balance.

Maybe finding an anti anxiety med to help you deal with your new reality might be something to consider. It is difficult to adjust to RA and all of the fun little side effects that come with it. Many doctors prescribe these types of meds to patients with chronic diseases and there is no shame in taking them if anxiety is interfering with your life more than the RA.

I would encourage you to talk with your doctor about it before doing anything.

Hang in there.

I would encourage you to find a family therapist to see if learning behavior modification tools will help. This professional will be able to assess whether anti-anxiety drugs are needed.

Frankly, I don't feel anyone other than board certified psychiatrists, or neurologist should prescribe these drugs......if needed.

At the very least, try this:

https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=feeling+good+the+new+mood+therapy&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=241588388340&hvpos=1t2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15526615457000058899&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031528&hvtargid=kwd-94115236&ref=pd_sl_4zjn9abvfz_e

It's hard, isn't it? First there's the disease itself. Next, there's the hassle of dealing with the bureaucracy regarding insurance. Then we worry about the side effects of the meds. And we have people in our lives who either tell us it's all in our heads, or tell us that we're handling it wrong. Then, we go for our next appointment, and the rheumatologist suggests we 'reduce stress'.

Consider these things, though:

Every Mama has stress, and every Mama (every parent, not just women) worries about the what-ifs.

Everyone is freaked out about this flu this year. Hearing bad news about it nearly every day raises everyone's anxiety level.

Two year old = exhausted parent, more often than not. The odds are good that you aren't getting enough sleep, you probably answer the question 'why?' fifty times an hour, and I bet you haven't been able to go to the bathroom without company for awhile.

This is NOT to make light of your situation. It's just a reminder to make sure you're giving yourself enough credit for all the amazing things you're doing raising a little one. As you sort out how to handle your anxiety, give yourself a pass for the bottom layer of it - because we all have that.

I'd like to gently suggest that you tell your doctor about your specific fears. This whole business of being immuno-suppressed is a complicating factor for us, but it does not mean we are all going to automatically die early from contagious diseases. It is possible that your fear is out of proportion with the facts. This happens to all of us - we get our brains stuck on one thing, like a particular side effect of a med, and it becomes difficult to look at the whole picture. Please give yourself the chance to understand the risks, and percentages. You will not be the first person to ask your doctor to clarify this.
You'll feel a lot better. If you're going to worry, might as well be completely sure your worries are justified. Maybe you do need anti-anxiety therapy or medications - but maybe you have misinterpreted the degree of the danger, too. So, start with as many facts as you can get from your doctor.

And finally, it's not a bad idea to think about the practical things you can do to minimize your exposure to germs. I've spent my whole life shrugging off anything other than basic handwashing, but now I'm wiping down the grocery cart handles, and I decided to pass on a conference I usually attend in February because it's notoriously crowded there. When you figure out a few changes you can make to protect yourself, it gives you a sense of empowerment that helps alleviate the fears.

Thank you for all the feedback. It's hard to find someone who can relate on what I am going through. So I am very grateful for this website. I didn't mention this on my post, but I am currently taking Zoloft. I have been taking it for the past two years. Will talk to my rheumatologist about the situation. Maybe I will need to up my dose :( but I wish I didn't have to rely on more medicine.

@californialynn Thank you for the book suggestion I will definitely check it out.

@Katie I really appreciate your feedback. I will be giving my rheumatologist a call to talk to her about what is going on. 2017-2018 has been a little rough on me because I have been constantly sick. Because of this, my anxiety has blown off the roofs. The news on tv isn't helping either! I just want to be in my best shape for my daughter.

I've been on methotrexate for 10 years and it absolutely causes anxiety. i take klonopin at night for anxiety and sleep. I am a lot better since starting this.