Stress has been shown to increase a person's sensitivity to pain when they have RA.

Christine Miller on this site wrote about stress and depression affects on rheumatoid arthritis. (Click on the blue sentences below to go to each article):

Stress and Depression in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Another Reason why Stress is bad for us

Stress can cause symptoms such as back and neck pain, trouble sleeping, hair loss, fatigue or upset stomach in healthy people. People with a chronic condition may have even more trouble.

Studies have also shown that stress can weaken the immune system or exacerbate existing conditions. In mice, stress had been shown to make symptoms of autoimmune disease like MS or RA worse.

It's very important that you work with your doctor on managing stress. Stress management is as important your health as medication, diet and exercise.

You will find that the more stress you have in your life the more you will flare, and the more your pain levels will rise.  Stress can cause health problems in the healthiest of us all, but unfortunately in people who suffer with rheumatoid arthritis, it can cause increased pain.  Life in general is stressful, life with RA is extremely stressful.  The best thing you can do for a stress induced flare is...reduce stress.  Get plenty of rest.  When you don't get enough rest you body is immediately put in stress mode.  You can also slow down a bit.  Take some time for your self.  Perhaps a nice hot bath or laughing with friends may help.  Laughing is a natural stress reliever.  Yes, it is hard to do when you are flaring, but if you can manage to it helps.  So yes, stress can affect RA on many different levels.  Reducing that stress can help!  Good luck and best wishes!

HI Robin, Stress does a real job on my ra. I don't just have the regular Ra . I have Fibromyalgia and psoriasis,Psoratit arth., Burstitis and now osteo. and I am only 34. I am just gald I am still a happy person .

I have had RA for about 10 years now and I believe that stress is a factor in stirring up the disease activity. In other words, if the conditions in your body are ripe for a flare and then stress is introduced, you'll get a flare for sure(maybe worse than if stress was not present).  There are times when the conditons in your body are ripe for a flare and there is no particular stress or stress is averted with meditation (or some other method), and you will not experience a flare.  The frustration is that there is no way to tell the exact conditions in your body (unless you are psychic!!!).  For me, the best approach is to get off my own back as much as possible. If you've got an easy answer for that, let me know!!!

I definitely think stress can cause a flare up or worsen it, but......I also think it is the cause of the stress to begin with most of the time.  I would say half or more of the things I worry about are tied into my RA!  So round & round I go.......worry, flare.  Flare, worry.....kind of hard to have the one without the other.