Supporting A Loved One with Psoriatic Arthritis

So the one you love has Psoriatic Arthritis and you don’t have a clue what to do.

Your loved one with PsA:

• Can’t do what they used to do
• Can't be what they used to be
• Can't be what they want to be
• Are active one day and it’s crash and burn the next
• Consumes the budget with doctor and medication bills
• Are doing less work around the house
• Are fighting guilt, depression and anxiety

And you wonder:

• Why they can’t get off their butt and do something
• Why they can’t snap out of it
• Why they don't change their diet and exercise
• If they should get on a medication to help with depression
• Why they don't have a better attitude

Relationships and Psoriatic Arthritis

You keep searching for a way back to who they used to be and stuff your feelings of frustration and anger within you. All you see is the person you used to know morphing into a person you are not sure you can continue to love, appreciate and care for. Now you withdraw because you fear the depression, anxiety, and withdrawal that you see in them will send them into a downward spiral of hopelessness.

So the question is, how is that working for you and your relationship? We don’t need your answer, we already know your strategy is failing and that every time you stuff away your feelings, you are adding another proverbial “brick in the wall.”

Here is where you can now start to make positive changes. It looks easy but it is not because you are going to enter the world of all kinds of feelings.

Ways to support your loved one with PsA

• Ask "would you be willing to talk to me about what it’s like living every day with this condition?"
• Ask if they would open up to you about how they feel about themselves. This will stir up a flood of emotions so get ready.
• Keep listening!
• Be a servant and not a taker. Give and Give some more.
• You want to get into their world, so learn as much as you can about that world.

If you take these or similar steps, you will find the quality of your relationship will skyrocket to a whole new level and you will be demonstrating true unconditional love and their fight song will become your fight song.

Have a story to share? You can submit your PsA story here!