Why is it important to talk about arthritis?

28 January 2022
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Sometimes things can feel overwhelming when you are living with arthritis. You may be having a bad day, or you might have just been diagnosed and have a lot on your mind about treatments.

When you’re having a tough time, it’s important that you are not struggling on your own.

You can reach out to friends, family and speak to your healthcare team about how you feel and any questions you might have.

Our helpline advisor Jane shares how talking can be helpful for your physical and mental health.

Our helpline (0800 5200 520) is open Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm. Our advisors aim to bring all of the information and advice about arthritis into one place to provide tailored support for you.

How can talking about your arthritis help?

Living with arthritis can be challenging. There will be bad days, ok days, and good days.

Our helpline advisors will listen to your concerns and help to guide you through different options.

Callers will often say that just talking to us has really helped them, knowing they are not alone. To be able to say out loud to another person what is your mind can feel like a release.

Living with a long-term health condition can knock your self-confidence, there’s uncertainty and being in pain can affect our emotions. Taking that initial step to reach out for support can be daunting but it can make a real difference.

Talking things through can give you new perspectives and suggestions on ways to manage your condition. You might also find it helpful to join one of our local support groups and talk with people with arthritis on our online community.

For anyone who is worried about asking for help, what advice would you give?

On the helpline we find some people prefer to talk things through with someone who isn’t in their family or friendship network.

The helpline is a confidential service where you can take your time to talk through how you are feeling and how your condition may be affecting you. You will not be judged and there’s no pressure.

We understand that arthritis can be a complex condition and by having the opportunity to express what’s on your mind, this can help both your physical and mental health.

What have you learnt by being part of the helpline?

Being on the helpline means you never stop learning. There is something new to learn and take on board every day in the role.

Every caller is different and it’s important to have patience, kindness, and a sense of humour to help in challenging times.

Having always worked within a customer service role, I've always taken pride in offering the best customer service. With my role on the helpline, I care deeply about giving people support which will help them in everyday life.

Being part of a great team is key and we support each other to look after our wellbeing.

We’re here for you