Why is it so important to surround yourself with people who understand and can support you when you’re fighting arthritis?

1. Because living with arthritis can be challenging on a physical and emotional level and the benefit of having someone who understands and can help is invaluable
2. Because arthritis will make it very difficult to cope with daily tasks, even quite simple ones such as opening jars or buttoning a blouse, and a helping hand will be invaluable
3. Because the emotional and psychological impact can be so intense that the need for understanding and sympathetic people in your life is important. A person who understands and provides unconditional support is so very welcome when you are at our lowest point
   It’s important to your health and well-being to know that your loved ones care about you and are willing to help whenever possible. So, you should let them. If you need emotional support or help with chores, ask them. Strong friendships and healthy family relationships can soothe your stress and even boost your immunity.

In What Ways Can Your Support System Help?

Here are a few practical tips for how members of your support system can help you deal with the effects of arthritis:

1. Plan To Exercise Together – we know that regular, appropriate exercise is very beneficial to our physical and mental health. But it can also be difficult to find the motivation to exercise alone. So it is great to have a friend or family member who can be there with you and whose companionship helps you keep to a routine, and means you enjoy it too
2. Plan meals (including snacks and treats) and prepare together, with some of the harder physical tasks undertaken by someone from within your support group. Practically, it can mean the comfort of knowing there are plentiful meals ready and available to choose from. But this approach means that you can also take time to select ingredients and devise meals that are healthy and anti-inflammatory. We have prepared a free 7-day arthritis meal plan which you can access HERE
3. Introduce aids or devices that can make the day-to-day tasks easier to undertake – for instance, in the kitchen, you may introduce a surface-top electric oven with easy to turn controls, eliminating the need for a floor level cooker that you normally bend down to and is therefore more awkward and painful to use. You can take view a large variety of kitchen aids and helpful devices by clicking HERE
4. Exploring Stress-Reduction Activities – stress is a known trigger for inflammation flare-ups and contributes to the awful vicious circle of pain, tiredness, lack of sleep, leading to more pain. It is so beneficial therefore to look for ways to cope with stress and managing and to learn the techniques that promote relaxation and emotional management, This can seem a daunting journey to having a friend or family member to c=share it with is really helpful.

Other Sources of Support

It isn’t always the case that a support system is readily available to us – we are not all so fortunate as to have friends and family close by. But thankfully there are professional sources of support that can understand and help meet your needs. Some examples of these would include:

1. Communities 1st
   A directory of UK community organisations where members gather for group activities, social support and public information. Find the ones that are nearest to where you live.
   GO HERE to view the website
2. Age UK
   Centre of advice and information an services and support in your area.
   GO HERE to view the website
3. Contact the Elderly
   Social activities for people over the age of 75 with little or no social support.
   GO HERE to view the website

Final Words

Just like other chronic diseases, arthritis can be a lot to have to deal with, affecting everything from your body to your mental strength, from your ability to work, and even to your relationships. Sometimes, you may have symptoms such as flare-ups, fatigue and severe pain that can make it incredibly hard to enjoy normal activities or even to do them. You may have to spend a great deal of time and energy dealing with medications, visits to your doctor, and self-care etc.
So, support from your family, friends and even your community when you suffer from arthritis is very welcome.
The key message is this: don’t try to go it alone in your battle with arthritis. When help is available from family, friends, and professional sources, accept it and get the most out of your life