***This content comes from the Joint Pain Programme Journal by Nuffield Health. As a Rehab Specialist running this program, I’m excited to share these helpful insights with you all.
Experiencing chronic joint pain can impact your emotional health as well as your physical health.
Understanding more about your mind and emotions can help you better manage your symptoms.
The impact on your emotional health is wide-ranging, and symptoms can include:
Anxiety
Social problems
Depression
Loneliness
Sleep problems
Body image
Fatigue
Anger and frustration
Pain
Low confidence or self-esteem
Stigma and shame
It is not unusual to experience feelings of low mood (depression or sadness), anxiety (worry, fear), or stress when you have joint pain or a related condition.
Ongoing symptoms of fatigue and sleep disruption can further impact your mood and sense of self, and you may find it difficult to do things that you would like to or could previously do more easily, e.g., exercise.
These are understandable reactions which, for some people, can start to cause difficulties in themselves.
Within this section of the journal, we will consider these difficulties and look at techniques to better manage your emotional wellbeing.
You will be able to discuss these with your Rehabilitation Specialist.
Mood changes
Mood changes are very common, especially feeling low or depressed, or anxious and worried.
Many people also feel overwhelmed. It's not uncommon to become more withdrawn or isolated, or to feel frustrated, resentful, or angry.
Many people report feeling ‘broken’ or like they have become a different person.
We will be exploring mood changes in more depth throughout this journal.
Adjusting to change
Experiencing changes to your body can be a significant life adjustment, and it’s normal to feel upset or even confused, or to have strong emotions of many kinds.
Emotional adjustment can also remind us of difficulties we have had in the past, such as previous traumas, losses, or adjustments.
It is very common for some current events to bring up the same emotions we have felt in the past about other situations.
If you are experiencing difficulties with intrusive memories or nightmares, contact your GP for advice.
Loneliness
Many people with joint pain report feeling lonely. There are lots of different reasons for that.
Some people feel they can’t socialise with friends and family in ways they would like to.
This can be because they feel they can't contribute enough to social situations, or that pain gets in the way.
Many people also feel they don’t want to share vulnerable feelings with friends and family through fear of upsetting them, being a burden, or being seen as weak.
What are the signs of loneliness?
It can be hard to know when you’re feeling lonely. Many people with joint pain may have these feelings and not realize they are signs of loneliness.
However, noticing these difficult emotions may help you to find ways to deal with them:
• Constantly feeling tired
• Feeling easily rejected
• Getting very upset in disproportion to the situation
• Feeling depressed
• Feeling hopeless.
Your Space to Reflect
📍 Starting Point
- How does joint pain affect your emotional wellbeing?
- What mental health changes have you noticed since developing joint pain?
🤔 Looking Deeper
- When do you notice the strongest connection between mood and pain?
- How does your emotional state affect your ability to manage your condition?
💡 Exploring Possibilities
- Which activities help boost both your mood and physical wellbeing?
- What support systems could you strengthen or develop?
🔄 New Perspectives
- How might treating mental health as important as physical health change things?
- What would a balanced approach to both physical and mental wellbeing look like?
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