It's not unusual for you to feel depressed or anxious at times because of changes brought about by having chronic arthritis. Sadness, fear, guilt, anger, and anxiety are normal to a degree.

Depression is a term that is sometimes inappropriately used to refer to sadness or the blues. Depression and sadness are not the same, and it's important to recognize the difference.

Depression Symptoms and Risk Factors

It's important to recognize a true depressive disorder, because there is help available. If you have experienced any of the following symptoms on a daily basis for several weeks, talk to your doctor.

• Lack of interest in things you used to enjoy

• Feelings of restlessness

• Feelings of guilt

• Feelings of hopelessness

• Cognitive problems

• Extreme tiredness

• Significant change in appetite, weight loss, or weight gain

• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

• Other physical symptoms such as headache, digestive problems, sexual dysfunction

Also be aware of depression risk factors, which may include previous depressive episodes, especially before age forty; recent stressful events in your life; a family history of depression; alcohol or drug abuse; medical conditions; and lack of a support network.

Coping with Depression

Though you recognize now that temporary feelings of depression and anxiety are normal with chronic pain and arthritis, don't dismiss persistent symptoms of depression and anxiety which need attention. If depressive symptoms are interfering in your daily life, long before the symptoms cross over into thoughts of death or suicide, get professional help. Counseling and medications that help with depression can be lifesavers.

Don't allow yourself to get into the trap of feeling hopeless. Tap into your inner strength and strong will and truly believe that life can still be happy, pleasurable, productive, and fulfilling despite arthritis.

If you don't feel that way now or have had periods where you didn't feel that way, you may be wondering how to maintain that mindset. First of all, know that it's not always easy, especially when pain and arthritis symptoms are particularly bothersome. It helps to concentrate on what you know deep in your gut such as: It's okay to be imperfect. In a world in which beautiful, high energy, highly accomplished people are celebrated, it's not hard to feel “lesser than.” Never forget that the courage it takes to live with chronic pain on a daily basis is itself something to be celebrated.

You are doing the best you can do. In spite of chronic joint symptoms associated with arthritis, you continue to do everything to the best of your ability. Though arthritis steals away parts of your life as you knew it before, there is still a lot about your life that is worth hanging onto and worth your enthusiasm.

Focus on what you can do and what you can change. Don't focus on what you have lost. In your mind, set free those things you have lost. You can easily find yourself depressed if you keep calling up images of how things used to be. Let go of those images. Focus on today and how to make today better; it's not a hopeless situation.