FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 5, 2019 • HEALTH • THE QUEENS COURIER 35
health
Finding support when living with a chronic illness
When a person is fi rst diagnosed with an
illness, support from friends and family can
be instantaneous. People want to know what
they can do to help, off er to lend a hand or
an ear to listen, and are frequently checking
in. Th is support can be key to helping someone
cope with a new diagnosis.
But those living with a chronic condition
may need support beyond the initial
diagnosis. Th is is particularly true for
conditions that are not always well understood,
like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) -
an autoimmune disease of the joints that
impacts approximately 1.6 million adults
in the United States., In fact, people with
RA may fi nd their need for support from
family and friends is even more important
as their disease progresses than when they
were fi rst diagnosed.
Why a “support squad”
is important
Research shows that for people living
with a chronic condition, the support of
family and friends may be associated with
improved health outcomes. Th is could
include additional assistance with everyday
tasks or someone to listen for emotional
support.
Building a “support squad” also means
having someone or several people to lean
on for encouragement, motivation and,
most of all, understanding. Th ese people
can help navigate new obstacles in
the condition over time and remind their
loved one that he or she is more than just
the disease.
Tips for building an
RA support squad
With an “invisible” chronic illness like
RA, someone may not look sick on the
outside, and it can be diffi cult for loved
ones to recognize symptoms such as joint
pain and stiff ness, and fatigue. If you
or someone you know has RA, consider
the following tips for building a support
squad:
Set clear expectations with friends and
family. While some people with RA may
fi nd it helpful if their loved ones ask them
how they are feeling, others may feel
overwhelmed with constant questioning.
Being clear with your specifi c needs, and
helping friends and family understand
the best way to support the management
of RA, can alleviate confusion and frustration.
Make it a family aff air. Bringing a partner
or parent to a rheumatologist appointment
can create support in between
appointments and help ensure the person
living with RA does not feel alone.
Extend support systems beyond friends
and family. Sometimes an immediate support
system doesn’t fully understand what
a person with a chronic condition like RA
is going through and what he or she may
be facing. Support can be found in other
places, whether that be a social or online
community of others living with the same
condition or experts such as a healthcare
provider. A support squad should include
people with all diff erent types of backgrounds,
as each will have a diff erent perspective
and advice to give.
Encourage loved ones to build their
own support squad. Support squads aren’t
just for a person living with a chronic condition
like RA. Signifi cant others or loved
ones should have someone to talk to when
they’re not sure what the right approach is
for off ering support. Th is can be a friend,
spouse of someone else living with RA or
even a healthcare provider.
For more tips about building a support
squad and communicating with friends
and family members about living with
a chronic condition like RA, visit www.
Arthritis.com.
Content was provided by Pfi zer.
— Courtesy BPT
/WWW.QNS.COM
/www.Arthritis.com
/www.Arthritis.com
/Arthritis.com
