u/SheInPhases

27F here. I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2023, and lately I feel like my body and mind are both giving up on me.

For the last few days I have been having excessive RA flares. The pain, stiffness, fatigue, and overall weakness have become so intense that it has completely drained me physically and mentally. I can barely sit, sleep properly, or function normally. Even eating has become difficult for me and for the last 2 days I have mostly been surviving on liquids because I just don’t have the energy or appetite.

Today I went to see my doctor along with my family. During the consultation, my doctor found out that I smoke. I was strongly advised to quit smoking immediately because it can worsen RA and also create complications in the future, especially related to pregnancy. Hearing all of that honestly scared me and made me feel even more overwhelmed.

I am only 27 and sometimes it feels very hard accepting that this is my reality now. Along with RA, I also struggle with severe depression. Most days I don’t feel interested in doing anything anymore because the pain and exhaustion take away all my motivation. It feels like my whole life revolves around pain, flare-ups, medicines, fear, and trying to get through the day somehow.

I wanted to ask people here:

Has anyone else experienced RA flares this severe?

Does smoking really make a noticeable difference with RA symptoms?

How do you manage mentally during bad flare periods?

Does anyone else lose appetite completely during flares?

How do you stop feeling hopeless about the future?

I think I mostly just needed to vent because I feel very emotionally exhausted and lonely right now. Any advice, shared experiences, or support would genuinely mean a lot to me. Thank you for reading.