How To Build Back Your Strength After a Rheumatoid Arthritis Setback
In my 5+ decades of living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), I’ve learned that setbacks are inevitable, whether caused by flares, difficulty finding effective treatment, overdoing it, or injuries. Once the flare ends or an injury improves, you need to build back your strength and stamina, but sometimes exercise can be complicated by the state of…
You’re Not Lazy: How Rheumatoid Arthritis Affects Motivation
Motivation is your get up and go, determination, the drive and interest in doing something. Whether it’s exercise, brushing your teeth, writing (or reading) a book, painting a picture or wall, making that call to your insurance company, or simply getting out of bed on a high-pain day. All of it takes motivation. One of…
When RA Comrbidities Get in the Way
As part of Talk Over RA 2023, I prepared several video sessions on subjects related to living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One of these was a video on RA, comorbidities, and how to balance treatment and coping skills. This video was based on deep research, as well as my own lived experience. Watch the video…
How Chair Dancing Helps Me Exercise with RA and Disability
Being physically active is important when you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Exercise is useful for all of us, but when you have RA, it can be an vital part of supporting your joints and reducing pain. But for some of us, RA has caused so much damage to our bodies that exercise hurts. So. how…
The Seated View Top 5 Posts in 2022
2022 was an interesting year. Here on The Seated View I had a bit of an involuntary blog hibernation as the challenges of life with chronic illness became pretty overwhelming. But in a fit of a well-rested post-holiday optimism, I decided it was time to reawaken this site of mine and what better way to…
Talk Over RA: How to Feel Empowered in Conversations with Your Rheumatologist
Seeing a doctor is a stressful experience. There’s only a short time in which to convey your concerns and questions and your doctor has their own list of issues to cover. Becoming empowered to act as a partner in the process is an important part of living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but can take years…
Talk Over RA: How to Track Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms and Monitor Treatment Progress
“How have you been since your last appointment?” If you’re anything like me, this question from your rheumatologist instantly causes your mind to go blank. When I don’t have a clear picture of my health, it gets in the way when I try to Talk Over RA with my medical team and affects my rheumatoid…
How to Set (and Respect) Boundaries Live to Better with Chronic Illness
Boundaries can be an important part of mental health and when you have a chronic illness, they are an essential tool to maintain your physical health. But what are boundaries, exactly, and how can they help you create a better life with chronic illness and pain? In this post, I share some of my insights…
Having A Swish: How Self-Pity Can Help You Cope Better with Chronic Illness
Living with chronic illness is often difficult. There are medical appointments, work, family, keeping the dust bunnies (buffalo?) under control and it goes on and on. Not being able to stop and rest and heal makes it even harder. There’s a lot of pressure to keep going in with a stiff upper lip, not complaining,…
Journaling with Chronic Illness Finding Inspiration for Creativity
Creativity can be a wonderful distraction and comfort when you live with chronic illness. One way to express yourself creatively is by designing and decorating your planner or notebook. You have a host of choices,, including doodling, drawing, collage, using washi tape and stickers and so much more This is the fourth and (so far)…
Journaling with Chronic Illness: Tracking Your Life
Using a journal when you have a chronic illness can be helpful in many different ways. In the first post of this series, I talked about using expressive writing to process your feelings and thoughts and as a tool to cope. But as any bullet journaler knows, your notebook can also be a fantastic…
Journaling With Chronic Illness: My Favourite Supplies
Journaling can be a wonderful way to process your feelings around chronic illness, as well as a creative outlet that doesn’t need you to use a lot of energy or movement. Win-win, right? At its core, journaling is about thoughts, a pen and a notebook — or your phone or computer, if handwriting is difficult….