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Anxiety is what happens when you’re worried or nervous about how things will work out. It’s a very uncomfortable feeling. And if affects your whole being. Adopting strategies that counteract stress, panic, and negative self-talk may help you better manage the anxiety associated with living with rheumatoid arthritis.RA Guy and Kat talk about their own personal experiences of dealing with (and not dealing with) the challenges bought on by anxiety. They share tips on how to cope with this constant anxiety. They discuss the importance of focusing on things that you can control. And they share coping statements that help pull them through difficult times. How have you successfully dealt with situations like this in the past? What’s one small step you can take right now to feel better? What’s the best, worst, and most realistic scenario that is likely to play  out? Dealing with anxiety can be challenging but there are many effective ways to cope with it.The emotional pain of living with rheumatoid arthritis is not talked about enough. Together we can make a difference.To learn more, visit www.raguyfoundation.org

The feelings that we often experience as a result of living with rheumatoid arthritis are completely natural, but that doesn’t mean that we have to let them control us. Facing these emotions head on and focusing energy on learning which coping strategies work best for you can result in improved health and happiness.In this episode, RA Guy and Kat talk about their own personal experiences in dealing with anger, both past and present. They share some tips on how to manage anger.  They also talk about the importance of being able to recognize and express our anger. They ask and answer questions such as: What have you learned about your anger? What are some other ways of handling your anger? How can you use your anger to help yourself? And they remind all of us that no matter where you are on your journey with rheumatoid arthritis, you have many options to help manage your mental wellbeing. The emotional pain of living with rheumatoid arthritis is not talked about enough. Together we can make a difference.To learn more, visit www.raguyfoundation.org

Every so often, you come across a podcast episode that you don't just listen to, but that you really experience...and that you really feel. This is one of those episodes. Join us, as we talk with Kat's mom about what it's like to find out that your young child has an illness like rheumatoid arthritis. We discuss feelings of worry and guilt. Mother and daughter share stories of the impact of this disease on the family dynamic, and on their own personal development and identity. And we talk openly, and honestly, about working through misunderstandings and disagreements, because what matters most in the end is being there for one another; for care, compassion, and most importantly a listening ear.***The emotional toll of living with rheumatoid arthritis is not talked about enough. The RA Guy Foundation is changing this. Be part of the change. We can’t do it without you.***To learn more about the RA Guy Foundation, please visit www.raguyfoundation.org

We've all been there at one time or another—dealing with the effects of having overdone things...and subsequently promising ourselves to never do so again. (Haha!) Yet, the reasons why we oftentimes push ourselves past our physical and emotional limits are not only quite complex, but also completely valid. Join us for an uplifting discussion on this most challenging of questions, as we talk about what "acceptance" means to each one of us, and as we share tips on how to get through your day, without overdoing it!***The RA Guy Foundation surrounds the person affected by rheumatoid arthritis with vibrant, life-changing connection. We do this without selling or sharing your data, because we believe in (and respect!) your PRIVACY. We also don't accept pharma funding or sponsorship, because we want to ensure that we continue to have OPEN and HONEST conversations about the difficult emotional challenges that are associated with rheumatoid arthritis. This means that the HEARTFELT CONNECTION of individuals like yourself plays an ESSENTIAL role in the support and encouragement that so many people living with RA rely upon to get through each new day. To CHANGE A LIFE today, please visit raguyfoundation.org/donate. THANK YOU for your continued support. We can't do all that we do, without YOU. ❤️❤️❤️

In today's conversation, Kat and I talk with our good friend Wendy about resiliency, and about never giving up! We share stories of always moving forward, and trade ideas as to what to do during those moments when we feel like we just can't do this anymore. Kat and Wendy discuss what it's like to have lived with this almost their entire lives, and offer advice to the parents and friends of infants and youngsters who have been diagnosed with JRA. We go around the table and open up about the aspects and challenges of living with rheumatoid arthritis that still manage to surprise us. We talk about feelings of anger and frustration (and even more importantly, how we work through these feelings). And we share our favorite quotes and affirmations; those words and thoughts that keep us moving forward even during the most difficult of times. Join us for a heartfelt conversation on the ups and downs of living—and coping—well with this disease, and share moments of true inspiration and awe, as the three of us share our experiences of never giving up, no matter what challenges come our way!

In this latest conversation, we talk all about how and when we need to get beyond "I'm fine," when asked how we are doing. We share our personal stories of realizing (after years of using this response all the time) that it might be better to more clearly communicate how we are doing at any given time, to those who really need to know.We discuss the experiences that led us to the place we are now, and open up about how challenging it was (and still is) to get past feelings of sounding like a broken record (Am I complaining too much?), and of the desire to "protect" our loved ones from what we're going through. (But are we really protecting anyone when we do this?)We share ideas about how to reach this point where we can a little more easily tell our loved ones exactly how we're feeling: patience, small steps, practice, journaling, or maybe even changing the questions we ask one another. Join us on this journey of getting beyond "I'm fine," and let us know what's worked for you!

In this episode, we talk about overcoming the fears that are inherent with recording oneself for a podcast (just like we're doing for this inaugural episode!), and how this relates to the day-to-day challenges that one encounters when living with chronic illness. We discuss the importance of growing our circles of care, because while we have to do a lot on our own, we can't do it all by ourselves. We focus on how all of this requires strong and healthy communication (and patience, and humility) in both directions. We need our loved ones to listen to our dreams, hopes, and fears, just as much as we need to understand their issues and concerns, and how this disease impacts them, too. And while building this foundation of communication isn't always easy, it is most definitely worth the effort, because we know that we are all stronger when we walk this journey together.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis can often be a very lonely and frightening experience, but when we come together for encouragement and support, we realize that we’re not alone. Welcome to RA Guy and Friends: A Curiously Hopeful Podcast! In this podcast, we talk about the ups and downs, and the laughter and tears  that come from living with chronic illness. We talk not just to people living with rheumatoid arthritis, but also to their friends and family. Because we know that we’re ALL stronger when we walk this journey together.  We believe that curiosity is one of the most important aspects of living well with this disease. There are a lot of answers out there, and we have to find what works best for each one of us. And we’re all about being hopeful, because we know that we CAN live a healthy, happy and fulfilling life, no matter what challenges come our way!