Hi Wendy,

You don't mention what kind of medications you're on for your RA, but the first step to getting better control of your pain is to get your RA suppress. Your COPD may impact what kind of RA medications you can take, but that's a question that is better answered by your rheumatologist in conjunction with the specialist who's overseeing the treatment of your COPD - if you get the two of them to team up, it would be a good idea. Getting your RA under control will not only help with your pain, but also help you feel less depressed and anxious.

It also sounds to me as if you should talk to the doctor who is prescribing your antianxiety drugs and antidepressants, because your reactions to them sound as if you may be getting too much medication or not enough, because your depression and anxiety don't sound as if they're well-managed. You may need to tinker with dosages or perhaps try another medication altogether. I'd also recommend counseling, especially from someone specialized in cognitive behavioral therapy, as it can be a terrific help in developing healthy coping skills when you live with chronic illness. To get started, check out an audio program called Mindfulness for Beginners, which is an introduction to the concept of mindfulness - again, a very good tool when you have a chronic illness. It also contains several lessons in how to meditate in that can be a great stress buster, as well.

We have several other sites that may be helpful for you, including Osteoporosis, Depression, COPD and and Anxiety, all of which have very helpful Experts specializing in the different conditions, as well as community members who will be able to support you around the specific conditions. You may also want to check out my interview with the Osteoporosis Expert, Pamela Flores, about osteoporosis and RA

Hang in there. It gets easier.