Arthritis is a family affair in many ways. While you may be the one with the disease, it ultimately affects everyone else in the family. Spouses pick up more of the household responsibilities. Children learn that you can’t always pick them up or play with them. And everybody knows that a flare can change family plans.

Chronic illness is tough on a marriage. Maybe your spouse fell in love with an athletic daredevil and suddenly your skydiving days are behind you. Maybe you and your beloved talked of having a large family and your doctor now  has advised you not to have children. We all change through the years and all marriages go through adjustments, but arthritis brings on many changes suddenly. It is important to talk to one another and learn how to communicate about how these changes make you feel.

Beyond your marital relationship changing, your relationship with your children changes too. Your kids might not understand why you tire so easily. Children can also think that you are dying or that they did something to cause you to get sick. Or maybe it is your child who has arthritis. It is important to talk openly with your children about your disease, how it will change your family and what they can do to help.

While arthritis can add additional stress to a family, it doesn’t have to mean disaster. The Arthritis Foundation can help you learn more about how to communicate clearly about and to deal with important issues openly. When your family learns that expressing anger, frustration and sadness are as important to a healthy family as expressing joy, love and adoration, you will be on the road to success.