Has AxSpa affected your mental health? What has helped you cope?

Hello, I was diagnosed when I was 26 Jr's. Now at 69, got the worst flare up. Extreme extreme pain. Saw Reumatoligist, which confirms, that this is now expected forward, and my mobility will get affected forward. I felt also sistemic ill. The pain was like nuclear energy generated, a fever in my lower back, all the way up my spine into my neck and head. Also in my ribs and joints. The severity was a HUGE shock, to come to terms with, and it did make me so anxious, and depressed. I realized I must not take on too much, when in pain. I am usually very active and overdo things. I am going to Aqua aerobics, that help me so much to exersize my joints and to keep the best posture I can maintain. I am now on new medication that I hope will minimize it. I look it now in the eye, to manage it, and listen to my body. We must not let it pull us down!

Such a great topic to discuss. I have struggled with my mental health for a few years now. Some of the things that have helped me cope is, keeping busy i love to dance so I try to Dance everyday even if it’s for 60 secs there’s something about music that brings me joy. I also take a self care day every weekend and just pamper myself all day. At night I turn on my Himalayan Salt lamp and I stretch with relaxing sound wave sounds. I hope this can help someone else who is struggling! Sending you all love and light 💙💙 Nadine (Community Member)

Hello and everyone here,
Such an important topic to discuss! And we have lot of awareness to raise in May about AxSpa and Mental health 😉
My diagnosis shook me a great deal few years ago and it took me some time to realize that I needed to address my mental health on top of my physical health. Once I got my physical symptoms under control, I was still struggling, fatigued and with low mood. I then decided to look into ways to get better mentally and emotionally. I knew part of my answers about how to live better with Axspa was in the management of my mental health. Like others, when things are tough, experiencing flares and other things triggering symptoms, if I let it set and do nothing, I feel my level of stress going up and my mood going down quite quickly. So I have learned over the years to be ready for the potential flare or set back, and in my toolbox not only some medications and alternatives are there but also ways to lift my mood, feed my soul, and relax my mind. I like meditation, sound healing, listening to music and move gently to it, walking in nature, spending time with animals. I also do artistic activities which I think help me to process things and express struggles, as well as being equipped to make something out of the difficulty of living with AxSpa sometimes, so writing, singing, crafting, playing music, all these can be done at home and nourish me so I feel a sense of fulfilment and pleasure even if I have to stay put for a while. These ways to look after my mental state, my emotional state, and feed my spirit became part of my self care routine. In a way, I am glad I had to search for these and discover the benefit I could get by doing those things. My life is richer now and I am more resourceful.

My mental health is definitely affected. When I am in too much pain to function the depression and anxiety creeps in. I get angry at family member which is a new thing and very disturbing. I do the adult coloring when having a bad day or paint when I am not. What helps is belonging to this group where I can read that others have the same experiences. Support is really key to those with chronic illnesses. I have being struggling with this for 25+ years and getting weary. Thank you everyone for sharing.