Living with rheumatoid arthritis is tough, but try not to think of your relationship as a marriage between a sick person and a healthy one, says David B. Seaburn, Ph.D., LMFT, a family therapist who specializes in working with people with chronic illnesses.
Instead, consider yourselves a team working together to solve problems caused by the illness, he advises.
4. Ask for help
With rheumatoid arthritis, pain and fatigue can make simple tasks – like bathing children, walking the dog and cooking dinner – too tough to handle.
And it's natural to be reluctant to ask for help with routine tasks, Dr. Kolasinski says.
"We don't want to burden our loved ones," she says. "We act like everything is fine." But it's best to be honest. "When you're in pain and fatigued, let your family know," she says.
Asking family members for help can make them feel less helpless as you cope with your disease, Batterman says.
Your husband, children and other relatives may feel frustrated watching you suffer.
But, again, phrasing is key, so that you don't offend with your demands. Before asking for help, think about what you need exactly, Batterman says.
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