Smile Therapy

Everybody has bad days, but frequent, recurrent blue moods can signify a more serious condition. Arthritis and depression often go hand in hand. When you are in pain, it is difficult to keep a constant positive outlook, especially when the cause is a degenerative, debilitating condition like arthritis. Mental and emotional stress often manifests itself in the body physically so depression can exacerbate pain.

One of the main reasons arthritis and depression are commonly linked is that people with arthritis tend to stop doing things they enjoy, like walking, biking, swimming, golfing, gardening, etc., because they think it will be too painful. Removing such activities from your life can lead to boredom, sadness, and loneliness, all of which are symptoms of depression. Though the combination of arthritis and depression may seem like a “catch-22”, with each working off of the other, making both conditions worse, there are things you can do to lessen the severity of both.

First of all, don’t give in to the fear that your illness is going to remove the joy from your life. It is important to keep doing all the things you love to do. Modify them, if you must, to accommodate any changes in your abilities, but don’t give up your favorite hobbies, activities or social events. It is widely accepted by most health care professionals that continued activity helps to ease the pain of arthritis by keeping joints and limbs flexible.

Being around people whose company you enjoy gives you a mental and emotional boost, as well. Social activities such as church, cards and games, hobbyist clubs, and the like are helpful in warding off the blues. Not only are you engaged in an activity that you find uplifting, you are with other people finding similar joys. But even if you do not belong to a group or club, you can still have the benefit of being with others. Visit family, or have coffee with a friend. Go for a walk in the neighborhood, or in town.

No matter where you go or what you do, whenever you encounter other people, SMILE. Smiles are contagious; spread them around. Smiling is the single most effective method for altering a negative mood. No one is happy every day, but don’t give in to the despair that often accompanies arthritis, and depression can be kept at bay.