sometimes we have to distract ourselves and get to thinking about something else. We are lucky and unlucky in that we have so much information at our disposal, that we go and try to diagnose ourselves because all the symptoms match and then we get worked up and it drives up our stress which pumps of the inflammation and causes a pain cycle.

i am saying this while i am sitting on my butt concentrating on my RA just like the rest of us who are reading this. LOL!!!

We need to disconnect from RA, but being distracted by RA is also a part of the malady as well.

Best wishes

I agree with 50%, I think it's hard to live with any chronic disease that has such an impact on you and not feel some degree of anxiety. I find it very hard to turn off my mind with all the " what ifs". I know my self that I did have anxiety long before being dx with fibro and RA. I found that Cymbalta has helped a bit with both. As does progressive relaxation and meditation. hope you feel better.

As to what Sally said, the second time I was on Enbrel it really hit my mood- made me just plain furious for about 3 days after taking it. If you are having anxiety that seems out of proportion to the $#!t show we're all starring in, see if it ebbs and flows with your Enbrel injection.

I had not thought of Enbrel adding to the anxiety at all but that's a good thing for me to monitor!

I've been like this before. When my liver enzymes skyrocketed, I didn't feel a thing physically but emotionally, I was off the charts.

After reading everyones' comments, I felt better. I think part of me is truly EMBARRASSED of my worry, so that adds even more pressure to the situation. I went over to the anxiety forum and even to the hypochondria forum and realize I am not a hypochondria. The things people worry about on the anxiety forum are more like what I feel but also what you've stated here.
I can't shut down and that gets my body jumpy.

Thank you so much for you kind words and supportive stance! I have a dr. appt. Friday to check my muscle enzymes plus I need refills on a couple medications. Hopefully I can remain calm til then. :)

Enbrel, Humira, etc., I don't think it matters...

I've noticed a change in my symptoms now being on Humira for 6 months now - they have shifted. Before being on a biologic I would get those really nasty one-joint flares where the joint is swollen to almost double its size, red, hot, and so painful. Now that what I think is the Humira working I only get those single joint flares about once a month. But what I do get now is severe aching in both legs, both arms, or all together especially when I am tired. I got to wondering if I now had some other malady showing its face since the Humira has somewhat calmed my major RA symptoms.

I did the same - research until I was about nuts. At the end of the day I just pass it off as just a different symptom of my RA - one that has come to the surface now that the Humira is suppressing the other symptoms.

At this point I will not say anything to my Rheumatologist but may casually mention it to my PCP (who prescribes my pain med).

It is what it is.

You sound a lot like me, sometimes I think I am just driving myself crazy. This is an awful disease. Regarding your muscle weakness; let share my experience. Once I finally got on meds that worked, my muscles were so weak, I could hardly stand up or do much of anything. After two years in my water aerobics class I have regained some strength and a lot mobility. It took two full years! Can I whine a bit? I was in pretty good shape before RA, so I was sure exercise would help, but I never thought it would take that long! You know, you must take it very easy or you will just give yourself a flare, which still happens anyway. There have been many, many people with autoimmune issues show up at my class, come a couple of times and never come back. I talk to every one and advise to not be in a hurry to see benefits. I hope I'm not saying something wrong, but I have heard lots of interesting stories. I know why they don't come back, flares are really crappy. Anyway, I get that twitching too. Just another crummy RA symptom.
You are perfectly sane, you just have a challenging illness.
Lynne

I think anxiety brews anywhere there is uncertainty. WIth this disease and the crazy symptom spectrum, there is always uncertainty if it is acting alone, or if there is another disease process going on. This has been, as least for me, a significant source of anxiety.

Distracting myself has been the only thing to help. I bought a sound machine for nighttime, because that's when my mind seems to think of all of the worst case scenarios possible. While my husband is snoring with no worries HAHA :) I also exercise more now on my days off. It's easy to disconnect when you are feeling OK, but on days I'm flaring, it is so hard to think of anything else!

Hang in there

the original poster, bcatz you asked this question what ideas say you? thus I answer :).

we all have different coping or reducing skills. i support you all in whatever works for you. this is my personal list!

I use humor, a lot.

I also only allow myself so many minutes per day rumination. i define my OWN rumination as non constructive wondering and wandering.

I read package inserts, once.

I call in troublesome (urgent) symptom to my rheumie's NP and do not google the symptom.

I keep a list of questions for my next appointment when it is a what-if symptom that is not urgent

I have good specialists that augment my RA care

I compare RA symptoms live with an INCREDIBLE local RA support group friend (i can't tell you how great it is to have a local RA buddy) and and INCREDIBLE phone RA buddy.

I do not talk the disease with my other close friends

I have a group of friends that I call to talk about their problems, I act as their support person emotionally..

i use more self healing techniques when I feel the despondency of unrelenting pain. these can be sleep, heat, ice, elevation, wrap, pain meds, cream, nutrition, or a combination - sometimes that "feeling" means my pain is climbing and I need to be proactive

sometimes I have to be in the salt. meaning when I am pillar (movement slows)I tend to mentally agitate. i find that like childbirth it is easier if I do not fight it.

my final two cents is that when I am in full flare and have severe drop in function this is when worry becomes an issue. I have to remember my outcome and practice healing and retreat. these times, that I can not avert, are frequent enough for me to know that I do not want any additional items to dwell on, voluntarily.

enter humor and all the other things above I practice.

I hope this helps someone.

depot

would you like for me to ask around Hickville and get some of their sage and undisputable advise ?

Edwina at the grocery produce restock shelf is real good at taking something and getting it around ....

She knows ..... she saw .... someone told her ... you get my drift

Smile when you can

Peace
Bluedogs2

Thank you all!

Rumination - yes, that needs to be limited. And so does the internet.

Here's a little "off" humor - I was on this site looking at weak muscles. I searched within our forum and was so excited - a reference just like me in 2012...I read it...IT WAS ME! Ha! I told my husband that my issue of my legs slimming (back when I lost weight after getting RA) and muscles getting weaker was officially not new as I griped about it almost 3 years ago. It's just now at the forefront because my pain is lessened.

Life is crazy! Having RA can be maddening even when it finally relents a little. Thanks so much everyone!

I have anxiety. It started a few months before the pain actually so I am convinced it is something chemical that occurs and we cannot fully control it. When I first got diagnosed and before I found this forum I was obsessively researching things and the more I read the more anxious I became. I was like a crazed woman and it actually was affecting my work and my relationship with my husband. So everytime I would get the urge to research, I would put on a funny show or pray, or fold laundry. The more I fought the urge, I eventually regained control. I was also waking every night at 3 with horrible night sweats and weird tingly sensations. Started taking trazadone which dr. says is for sleep and anxiety. I take it right before bedtime and I now sleep through the night and have less anxiety. Also started going to therapy to cope better.

With everything you are feeling, it no wonder you are worried. We already have something wrong with us and makes it easy to convince us there is something else wrong too. I hope you can let go of the worry and enjoy life, especially since it sounds like you are on the road to feeling better. Wishing you well.

Glad you are getting some good results from the enbrel. I know my legs feel weak and i have also gained about 25 polund in the last 6 months. Im sure all this is due to being inactive. Maybe some light exercise would be good for your leg strength and your anxiety. Congrats on the success and hope it gets even better for ya.

To some degree I think it's normal to worry with a life changing disease. Anxiety is listed on the form I fill out before each visit.
Yes I'll have anxiety. Mostly if I'm under stress, have obligations I'm fearful of not being able to fulfill. Loosing treatment & care triggers it. I try hard not to think about the future & what ifs.

Now the list of side effects are endless with these meds. So perhaps calling the nurse at the hotline if your in doubt. They were more helpful then my doctor.
I don't research near as much. I will attempt to educate but it's to overwhelming when you start into unknown territory.
I make a list for the doc & pray I remember it.

As for as muscles thought I seen a post on that not long ago.
Big changes in mine. I'm as active as I can be for the most part.
Not that I exercise but I rarely have time for just me. Up & going when I can minus mornings where it's not possible.
Much like the comment made. Whether I complete tasks that are risking soreness or sit in the recliner for PJ day I never know how I'll feel. I can be just as sore from my rare PJ day.
I have limits with the spine I don't dare risk. RA does as it pleases without cause & justification.

To some degree anxiety here & there would be normal I'd think. As would those down days. Who in their right mind would want to live in these bodies?
It's not handing life over to it.
Sammy