I have a name for my problems, it's not all in my head. This may lead to denial or refusal to face reality.
Denial is a strategy.
Overdoing is the most common expression of denial and frequently leads to worsening of disease symptoms. Continued denial inhibits the necessary emotional and psychological adapting to arthritis and contributes to a rigid refusal to accept reality. Ibis cuts out the ability to cope and take action. The flip side of denial is a sense of empowerment, self-efficacy and hope. Empowerment and self-efficacy is the belief that you can have control over your life and your health and that you can carry out certain behaviors, such as exercise, which will help.