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Reader Stories: Has Arthritis Affected Your Body Image?

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In a world that places heavy emphasis on being attractive, body image is something that often suffers for many people with arthritis and other related conditions. Visible joint deformities, walking with a limp, rashes, and even less-than-perfect grooming can all contribute to a negative body image. Pain itself can make you feel poorly and put a frown where there should be a smile.

Has your body image suffered because of arthritis? What has shaped your body image? Has your body image been based totally on your own perceptions or based on how others react to you?

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Explain how you view yourself.
Has arthritis changed your body image from what it was before? How?

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What could you do to improve your body image?

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