The Girl With Arthritis

 When you have PsA, it can take trial and error to make the office environment work for you. Here are my tips for staying comfortable and focused. I come from a family of tradespeople, nurses, and people in other professions that keep you on your feet. So, as you can imagine, I try to keep it to myself just how exhausted I am when I come home from my office job. Due to my juvenile-onset psoriatic arthritis (PsA), I initially picked an office-oriented career track. I also went to a vocational high school, where I tried hands-on careers and quickly found I had difficulty handling labor. Both of those factors sealed my fate. Read the full article at Bezzy PsA.

  "You're so young; it can't possibly be that bad." I can't tell you the number of times someone told me that after I disclosed my juvenile-onset psoriatic arthritis diagnosis. No matter how much I explain that my condition is caused by my immune system going haywire, people hear the word "arthritis" and associate its severity with age. Such comments are hurtful as well as problematic. Read the full article at psoriatic-arthritis.com

 Living with a hidden disability can be isolating and lonely. Here’s how I address the challenges while finding support and setting boundaries. Have you ever been in a room full of people yet felt alone? I have many times. I remember being at a birthday party during a horrible summer downpour. My psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was flaring at the time, but the humidity and low pressure system made things worse. I was trying to keep it together, but I knew I came off as rather anti-social. I felt separated from all the people in the room, my mind drifting from pain and only occasionally picking up on the conversation being had right in front of me. And the worst part? There wasn’t anyone there who I felt comfortable to ask for help. Read the full article at Bezzy PsA.

"Call if anything changes," my doctor will say at the end of my appointment. Hearing that is such a friendly reminder. Having a good relationship with your rheumatologist is vital for anyone with arthritis. It's so important to be able to reach out and get a response when you need help. But, when you live with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), that advice can be a little challenging... Click here to read the full article at Psoriatic-Arthritis.com.