I've been on a biologic for coming up on three years and during most of that time, I seldom flared - or when I did, they were minimal and didn't lay me out flat. But now I've had two in a little over a month and both times, they caught me off guard. I've gotten so used to NOT flaring, I'd forgotten what it felt like coming on and didn't even realize what it was at first. When I did, I flew into that mental panic - "This can't happen now, I have too much to get done!" And worse, "Oh no, is my medication failing? Am I going to have to start over? How will I function and hold everything together in the interim?"
In both instances, the first key for me is to turn off that inner panic switch. Everyone still has the occasional flare even on medications that work - so don't freak out about something that may not even be the case. And second, get through what absolutely cannot wait, then give myself permission to rest. Finished a work project that couldn't be postponed, asked my daughter-in-law to handle the errands that I'd planned to do, tended the animals, then got comfortable in my recliner with a tablet loaded with digital and audio books, and the TV remote. I set my phone to silent, dozed through documentaries and audio books, heated up frozen soup I keep on hand just in case and left the dishes in the sink, walked around the house and/or yard for a few minutes between naps, took anti-inflammatories to ease the symptoms, and didn't allow myself to worry. If I continue to experience flares, I'll deal with it then.