Here’s an unpopular opinion I feel strongly about: many common stress-reduction techniques simply don’t work for people living with chronic illness.
If you’ve ever tried meditation apps, “positive thinking,” or generic CBT tools and felt more stressed afterward… you’re not alone.
And it’s not your fault.
It’s not because:
- You’re doing the techniques incorrectly
- You’re “too anxious”
- You’re not trying hard enough
The real reason?
Most popular stress-management strategies were not designed for bodies that flare unpredictably, or for people navigating the constant uncertainty of a chronic, lifelong condition.
As an occupational therapist and someone living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for over 20 years, I’ve learned (the hard way!) that chronic illness requires a different approach to stress management.
It requires an approach that acknowledges the realities of pain, fatigue, flare unpredictability, and the emotional roller coaster of a fluctuating condition.
But here’s the good news: There ARE evidence-based, chronic-illness-specific ways to manage (and even reduce) stress!
What Actually Helps With Chronic Illness Stress?
Over the past decade, I’ve supported hundreds of people with rheumatic and autoimmune diseases through my Rheum to THRIVE program. I’ve also studied chronic pain science, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral strategies, and lifestyle medicine.
In that process, I’ve discovered several tools that consistently help people feel less overwhelmed, more grounded, and more capable of navigating stress.
These tools work with your chronic illness, not against it.
In my free upcoming webinar, I’ll be sharing:
✔ Why “just relax” and CBT-only approaches sometimes backfire
Deep breathing and thought reframing can be helpful, but not when your body is overwhelmed or in a pain flare. I’ll explain why, and what to do instead.
✔ How to cope with uncertainty when symptoms feel unpredictable
Chronic illness creates a level of uncertainty few people talk about. I’ll share ACT-based strategies that help you move forward even when the future feels unclear.
✔ How to identify whether your stress is solvable, thought-related, or persistent
This distinction changes everything. I’ll teach you my Chronic Illness Stress Decision Helper framework.
✔ What actually works from my personal coping toolbox
I’ll walk through the exact tools I use as both an OT and an RA patient — plus insights from hundreds of Rheum to THRIVE members who’ve shared what has helped them.
If unpredictability, flare stress, and mental overload have been wearing you down lately, this webinar is for you.
Free Webinar: What Stress-Reduction Techniques Actually Work for Chronic Illness?
📅 Date: Thursday, December 4th
⏰ Time: 7:30pm ET / 6:30pm CT / 5:30pm MT / 4:30pm PT
🎥 Replay: Yes — but you must register to receive it
You’ll receive:
- Access to the live class
- The replay
- Downloadable slides
- Chronic illness–specific stress tools you can start using right away
This webinar is especially helpful for people living with RA, autoimmune diseases, chronic pain, fatigue, fibromyalgia, and other fluctuating conditions.
Final Thoughts
Stress is a normal part of being human, but chronic illness adds layers of complexity most people don’t understand.
You deserve tools that honor your real-life experience, not generic advice that leaves you feeling like you’re doing something wrong.
I hope you’ll join me on December 4th so we can explore these tools together. 💛👉 Save your spot here: bit.ly/stressarthritis
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