Managing flares can be difficult, not only physically but emotionally. As one patient put it “the psychology” behind flares can be hard in the sense that you become more aware of your physical limitations when you are not feeling well and that can lead to self-judgement.
To be mindful and be present in the moment means to be without judgement. During flares, it is easy to judge yourself and maybe others around you. Mindfulness meditation can be a helpful tool to avoid these negative behaviors. The goal of mindfulness is to pay attention to your experiences, on purpose, without judgement and without seeking to change what you are experiencing. By practicing mindfulness, it may become easier to let go of the “story” attached to prior experiences. Prior memories can lead to repetitive thoughts of physical suffering. It can also lead to distressing thoughts of what may happen in the future. This can make the current flare worse and more difficult to manage.
Disease Flare Meditation #1
Disease Flare Meditation #2
Disease Flare Meditation #3
Share Your Feedback
Thank you for your interest in the Johns Hopkins Division of Rheumatology’s Mindfulness Program for People Living with Rheumatic Disease. We welcome feedback regarding our exercises. Your response to this questionnaire will remain anonymous and no personal identifiers will be recorded. Completion of this questionnaire is purely voluntary and by taking this survey, your consent to this research study is assumed. Please complete this survey if you are at least 18 years of age and have a rheumatic disease. You may complete this survey for each meditation you have practiced. The information gathered from your responses will help to improve this resource and gain information for research purposes.
Research Study Name: Mindfulness for People Living with Rheumatic Diseases Study ID: IRB00289772 Principle Investigator: Clifton O. Bingham III, MD For more information, contact Michelle Jones: 410-550-9674 or mrkjones@jhmi.edu