Denial vs. Acceptance: Do I Really Have Arthritis?

Early symptoms of arthritis are often overlooked or denied, with the hope that they will disappear. It's not uncommon to think "it'll go away" or "it's nothing". A chronic disease though, such as arthritis, does not vanish.

A doctor or rheumatologist should be consulted when symptoms don't disappear but that is just the beginning of realizing how much arthritis will impact your life. Many patients have difficulty accepting the reality of arthritis while some use denial as a coping mechanism. It can be a gradual process to accept arthritis. Read more in Denial vs. Acceptance: Do I Really Have Arthritis?

Related Resources:

• 8 Best Things to Do for Arthritis
• A Positive Approach to Arthritis
• The Many Emotions of Chronic Arthritis
• Recognizing Early Arthritis Symptoms
• Is Early Diagnosis of Arthritis Important?

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