Mental Wellbeing

The thought of exercise may not be appealing right now, and you may be concerned that exercising could make your symptoms worse. However, exercise is one of the best things you can do to improve your symptoms as well as your mental wellbeing. If you are able, why not try adding a bit more movement to your day? Try to do some physical activity every day, be it a short walk or yoga class – every little helps.

It can be hard to sleep with inflammatory arthritis. This may be due to pain or worrying about your condition. A lack of sleep can actually make your pain worse, leaving you feeling even worse. Try and stick to a calm routine, with a regular bedtime. Switch off your mobile phone, computer and TV. A comfortable temperature will help you drift off. If it’s not working, ask your GP for advice.

Taking a short walk and getting away from it all can help take your mind off some of your worries and do wonders to improve your mood.

To reduce stress and promote calmness, which may help you manage your pain, give this one a go! Some people find it useful to meditate and repeat a positive mantra every day. There's lots of online support to get you going or you can ask your GP or nurse for some tips.

It's important to stay in contact with your friends, family and community. Some days, this can feel difficult when you’re in pain and perhaps you’re not feeling sociable. But feeling connected to other people can boost your emotional health and wellbeing.

One of the hardest things can be asking for help. But if you're having more down days than ok days, it's really important to speak to someone. There’s lots of help available so please talk to your GP or nurse.