Living with Arthritis is like the Movie: "The Picture of Dorian Grey"

Mere Mortals Morph into real life 

Dr. Jekel and Mr Hydes

For any of us living with Arthritis, the chronic pain, stiffness and exhaustion can become overwhelming.

You have all these thoughts about what ifs or how am I going to do that. Your pain is always there, and there is no hope that it will go away. 

You manage your symptoms, flares and remissions. Some flares feel as if you will never (fill in the blank) again!

But slowly you do. Then anxiety and anticipation. When, where and how will it appear next. 

In the movie, "The Picture of Dorian Grey" a foolish young man wishes that he never ages like the portrait he was having done of himself. He was unaware that the cat statue he was standing next to had some Egyptian powers and granted his wish.

Read about the 1945 movie on wiki will ya?

The man never aged, only the painting showed the true man's reflection. He hid the painting for fear that someone would see him as he was underneath his youthful appearance.

Arthritis can be like that Dorian Grey, looking like a young healthy person, never ageing or a care in the world. You see, in the movie, Dorian is really a repulsing disfigured creature as his portrait shows, but nobody sees until the end. (spoiler alert) .

Arthritis makes you like Dorian Grey. You may look fine, but underneath you have this fiery dragon racing all through your body. Every step, in fact sometimes every breath seems to have to be calculated. It can be overwhelming, tiring and down right depressing.

Nobody can see this torment or pain.

It's hard but you have to see through the pain by living each moment. How are you right now? Comfortable, cozy with the dog on your lap? Then you are dealing with your pain.

 Zippy, my rescue Blind Italian Greyhound

I am reading a book about Living Well with pain and illness, the mindful way to free yourself from suffering, by Vidyamala Burch of Breathworks. Yes, suffering. I read from so many of you on twitter #chroniclife #spoonie and google+ and empathize.

If you have read any other of my posts, you know I strongly believe in cognitive behavioral therapy, 
or aka, therapist! A therapist can give you other coping skills, understand when the whole world doesn't and basically keeps you from going bonkers in a world of pain and suffering.

With arthritis, most people see you as Dorian Grey (not perpetually young, just normal looking), but underneath, all sorts of badness made him hideous.

Pain sufferers are hideous on the inside, and that brings on additional anxiety knowing that no one can tell what pain you are experiencing.

Mindfulness will help you deal with the emotions that come with the pain. Not to torture yourself with why me's, to why not, it is a human condition and you have to deal with it with a rational aware mind.

I am not finished with the book, but there are a lots of explanations how the author got through the toughest of pain and suffering. I urge you to try the same techniques to try and live well with your form of arthritis and/or autoimmune disease.

So head out to the internet and get this movie, and see if you see some resemblances to living with your chronic life. Until then....

Keep Up the Good Fight!