Rheumatoid Arthritis and Irritability
Yes, you can get quite irritable when you have RA. I think it is the same with any other chronic illness or condition one ends up with and it is quite understandable as well.
Rheumatoid Arthritis and other Arthritis related diseases have the pattern to come in waves; they are referred to as flare-ups. When having a flare-up you can safely assume that one or more of your joints are inflamed. The auto immune system tries to fight these inflammations and eats up your energy.
Due to the pain which these inflammations cause in the joints, it is very difficult to have a peaceful, continuous sleep. Waking up several times during the night, because your joints hurt and you have to change position, is very common. Even falling asleep may be a chore. Consequently, you don't wake up fit and refreshed.
The result of both of the above is that you are very tired. Add to that tiredness the constantly present pain and you have a nice recipe for irritability. Let me assure you, this combination is more then enough to make even the most optimistic person cranky!
What can you do about it?
My advice is: sleep whenever you can. Even if it is in the middle of the day, try to sleep; it is needed. Don't be hard headed in the hope that the more exhausted you are, the better you will sleep. It is not going to happen.
A good pain killer, taken a little or right before bedtime, can prove its worth. It may not help you to sleep entirely through the night, but it will prolong the periods of time that you do sleep.
Change your frame of mind; don't linger on the pain, tiredness and things you can not do. Focus on what you can do and enjoy them. Look forward to the time that the flare-up will be gone. Be encouraged with the knowledge that this too shall pass, because it will.
Hope gives life, no matter whether you are frustrated and irritable about your physical condition or any other situation. Don't linger on it; refocus and dwell on the things that are good, pure and true. Look forward and count your blessing, for there are many! :-)
Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
Rheumatoid Arthritis and other Arthritis related diseases have the pattern to come in waves; they are referred to as flare-ups. When having a flare-up you can safely assume that one or more of your joints are inflamed. The auto immune system tries to fight these inflammations and eats up your energy.
Due to the pain which these inflammations cause in the joints, it is very difficult to have a peaceful, continuous sleep. Waking up several times during the night, because your joints hurt and you have to change position, is very common. Even falling asleep may be a chore. Consequently, you don't wake up fit and refreshed.
The result of both of the above is that you are very tired. Add to that tiredness the constantly present pain and you have a nice recipe for irritability. Let me assure you, this combination is more then enough to make even the most optimistic person cranky!
What can you do about it?
My advice is: sleep whenever you can. Even if it is in the middle of the day, try to sleep; it is needed. Don't be hard headed in the hope that the more exhausted you are, the better you will sleep. It is not going to happen.
A good pain killer, taken a little or right before bedtime, can prove its worth. It may not help you to sleep entirely through the night, but it will prolong the periods of time that you do sleep.
Change your frame of mind; don't linger on the pain, tiredness and things you can not do. Focus on what you can do and enjoy them. Look forward to the time that the flare-up will be gone. Be encouraged with the knowledge that this too shall pass, because it will.
Hope gives life, no matter whether you are frustrated and irritable about your physical condition or any other situation. Don't linger on it; refocus and dwell on the things that are good, pure and true. Look forward and count your blessing, for there are many! :-)
Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
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