Happiness: Is it 'Mission Impossible' if You Have Psoriatic Arthritis?

Happiness, a complex feeling that is generally described as having positive emotions or satisfaction. Generalized satisfaction isn't easy to come by when managing life with a chronic pain and an incurable condition like psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Let's talk happiness and psoriatic arthritis

This leads me to ask. Is it realistic for to live a life with psoriatic arthritis and still be happy, find happiness, or bestow happiness upon others? Or is it a “Mission Impossible”?

I really wish I could start this article off with an inspirational and honest trite saying about happiness, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Mostly because, I’m not a fan of B.S. and I owe this community more than a few pithy sayings to ponder.

It has been my experience, happiness doesn’t come as easy as it did before my pain caused by psoriatic arthritis. Many days, I have to actually work for happiness, and sometimes intentionally plan it into my day.

A thoughtful story touched more than it realized...

I recently read a story that was submitted by a community member that really struck a chord with me. So much so, that even as I closed up my computer and went about my day, it stayed in my heart and on my mind.

That happens much more often here, in this heartfelt community than you might think. The story includes thoughts on happiness. How do we hang onto this notion of happiness when so many parts of life with this disease try to pull it away from us? How we need to be the protectors of our own happiness.

Additionally, at times, we need to be sure to keep others from robbing us of our own happiness.

A conscious choice to be happy. Is it really that easy?

Are we truly able to wake up each morning, despite the ongoing pain, stiffness, and fatigue, and make a conscious choice to be happy? The author of the story I've linked above makes a good point.

She says, “It might be a disease, but it affects everything.” When it comes down to us to protect and preserve our own happiness, this lives are simply too short to allow others, or even to allow our own pain and fatigue to steal those moments away from us.

Furthermore, I also think it is also our responsibility to be stewards of happiness and love for others. We all have a choice about how we go about our day and interact with those closest to us.

What can we do to prevent psoriatic arthritis from stealing our moments of happiness?

How can we keep our pain, anger, and hurt from spilling over onto those we love the most? I’m not really in a position to know any of this as fact.

What I do know is that from personal experience, looking for it actually makes a difference. For the last 30 days, I made it my mission to, in every possible scenario, to choose happiness. I kept a journal marking the moments throughout the day when I felt “happy” and other times when I made a choice in my mind to respond with happiness.

And honestly, if you struggle with this, especially because of your psoriatic arthritis, then I want to challenge you to do the same. Here are some journal prompts or even thought provoking questions for you to sit with.

• How often have I truly experienced happiness today?
• How often has my pain robbed me of my ability to be kind and loving towards others?
• Has fatigue made it difficult to be patient or respond with compassion and empathy?
• How much as a life with PsA changed who I am as a person - for better or for worse?
• How often do I allow others to “steal” my happiness due to judgements?
• Do I allow this disease to “rob” me of friends, memories, or moments? How often?
• What activities or people bring me true joy, happiness, or satisfaction? When was the last time I did them?