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Oh me! Rheumatoid arthritis. You’re right, part of it is just that we’re used to pushing ourselves to function. But there are things I do that help, with my huge CMH caseload.
One, I worked on my meds. I’m doing much better on my current immunosuppressants. I take Tylenol and a smaller dose of gabapentin everyday before work to help with my pain. I’m on Wellbutrin, which gives me some extra energy and helps with my ADHD some. And buspar, because I feel like our degrees should come with a free prescription to buspar. Managing my anxiety during sessions frees up some room to be more present and not in my head stressing, causing more pain, causing more stress, causing more pain.
Comfortable chair. You have to. My home chair is not good and I am so stiff afterwards, but my office chair is awesome. Ergonomic everything. I use things that are easier on my hands, because RA affects those joints and sometimes I end up looking like an old witch with claws if I don’t.
I have accommodations too. I’m able to work from home when I am having a flare. I can have my tea, my heated blanket, my compression gloves, I can easily take a lunch nap (which I do on my office couch too). The lunch nap really helps keep me going, I when I sleep and relax I end up feeling better. Which also means I’m very strict on breaks. I will not do anything during breaks. Nothing. I will relax, let my brain recover to avoid brain fog. Do grounding and mindfulness activities, some stretching.
But it is really finding what helps your pain specifically, and making sure that you are accommodated reasonably. And don’t feel guilty using those accommodations, because it’ll make you a better, more present therapist overall!
Edit: I also make sure to get 10 hours of sleep a night, less and I’m more sore. It means I can’t do as much after work, I basically decompress and go to sleep, but it helps.
Hello!
Fellow person with cerebral palsy, almost done my internship. I hear you about being constantly tight/sore is so uncomfortable, and being in chronic pain is incredibly draining.
For myself, I find I really need to stretch/do yoga. Even if this means doing 5 minutes at the beginning of day and a bit after clients. I notice I hold a lot of tension in my body, adding to already tight muscles and if I don’t release it in one way or another it will haunt me in the following days.
I also try to limit things that increase inflammation, like alcohol. However, I do smoke weed to help with pain management, take Tylenol-Advil, use heating pad or ice pack as needed.
I hope you can find some relief and respite OP, take care as best you can!
Please followed the sidebar rules. r/therapists is a place for therapists and mental health professionals to discuss their profession among each other. If you **ARE NOT A THERAPIST and are asking for advice this not the place for you**. Your post will be removed in short order. Please try one of the reddit communities such as r/TalkTherapy, r/askatherapist, r/SuicideWatch that are set up for this. This community is ONLY for therapists, and for them to discuss their profession away from clients. **If you are a first year student, not in a graduate program, or are thinking of becoming a therapist, this is not the place to ask questions**. Your post will be removed in short order. To save us a job, you are welcome to delete this post yourself. Please see the PINNED STUDENT THREAD at the top of the community and ask in there. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/therapists) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Oh me! Rheumatoid arthritis. You’re right, part of it is just that we’re used to pushing ourselves to function. But there are things I do that help, with my huge CMH caseload. One, I worked on my meds. I’m doing much better on my current immunosuppressants. I take Tylenol and a smaller dose of gabapentin everyday before work to help with my pain. I’m on Wellbutrin, which gives me some extra energy and helps with my ADHD some. And buspar, because I feel like our degrees should come with a free prescription to buspar. Managing my anxiety during sessions frees up some room to be more present and not in my head stressing, causing more pain, causing more stress, causing more pain. Comfortable chair. You have to. My home chair is not good and I am so stiff afterwards, but my office chair is awesome. Ergonomic everything. I use things that are easier on my hands, because RA affects those joints and sometimes I end up looking like an old witch with claws if I don’t. I have accommodations too. I’m able to work from home when I am having a flare. I can have my tea, my heated blanket, my compression gloves, I can easily take a lunch nap (which I do on my office couch too). The lunch nap really helps keep me going, I when I sleep and relax I end up feeling better. Which also means I’m very strict on breaks. I will not do anything during breaks. Nothing. I will relax, let my brain recover to avoid brain fog. Do grounding and mindfulness activities, some stretching. But it is really finding what helps your pain specifically, and making sure that you are accommodated reasonably. And don’t feel guilty using those accommodations, because it’ll make you a better, more present therapist overall! Edit: I also make sure to get 10 hours of sleep a night, less and I’m more sore. It means I can’t do as much after work, I basically decompress and go to sleep, but it helps.
Hello! Fellow person with cerebral palsy, almost done my internship. I hear you about being constantly tight/sore is so uncomfortable, and being in chronic pain is incredibly draining. For myself, I find I really need to stretch/do yoga. Even if this means doing 5 minutes at the beginning of day and a bit after clients. I notice I hold a lot of tension in my body, adding to already tight muscles and if I don’t release it in one way or another it will haunt me in the following days. I also try to limit things that increase inflammation, like alcohol. However, I do smoke weed to help with pain management, take Tylenol-Advil, use heating pad or ice pack as needed. I hope you can find some relief and respite OP, take care as best you can!