“Anyone dealing with chronic illness of any kind can really come up against challenges, particularly when there is no cure, or there’s uncertainty in the progression of the illness.”

Dr. Sarah Gray, who specializes in pain psychology, shared this important insight during MyHealthTeam’s live Q&A on May 18, 2021, where members of the arthritis community had a chance to learn how living with a chronic condition can impact mental health.

Dr. Gray and occupational therapist Cheryl Crow answered members’ questions about managing mental health issues like anxiety and depression while also living with a chronic condition. They also discussed the best ways to support a loved one who has been diagnosed with a chronic condition, and how to differentiate a mental health condition from general feelings of being blue or down.

Here are some of the things Dr. Gray and Cheryl Crow discussed during the live Q&A:

• Which lifestyle changes can help you manage your mental health
• How mindfulness and meditation can quiet your stress levels when living with chronic pain
• Which simple changes can allow you to perform your activities of daily living in a comfortable and stress-free way

Check out the video to see the entire one-hour event, and register to be notified about future upcoming live Q&A sessions on myRAteam.

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Disclaimer: The information, including but not limited to, information from presenters, text, graphics, images, and other material shared during this event is for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you heard during this event.

Speakers:

Dr. Sarah Gray is an Instructor of psychology at Harvard Medical School and a psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. She also serves as a clinical health psychologist and director of outpatient rehabilitation psychology with the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the director of Integrative Psychology, PC, in Arlington, Massachusetts, where she provides innovative and evidence-based therapy, coaching, consulting, and presentations.

Dr. Gray’s current clinical and research interests involve health psychology and behavioral medicine, chronic pain interventions, mindfulness for brain injuries, evidence-based integrative and complementary alternative medicine (CAM) approaches to wellness, stress-management interventions (such as mindfulness, biofeedback, neurofeedback, and clinical hypnosis), and subjects related to creativity and art therapy, learning styles, and the role of nutrition in mental health.

Cheryl Crow is an occupational therapist who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for 18 years. In 2019, Cheryl created the company Arthritis Life to educate, empower, and support others with inflammatory forms of arthritis. She is known for her entertaining — yet educational — videos featuring arthritis life hacks, product demonstrations, and insights into the psychosocial aspects of life with an invisible chronic illness. She also hosts the Arthritis Life podcast and runs online self-management courses and a membership community called Rheum to THRIVE.

Cheryl is a fierce advocate for meeting the full picture of patients’ needs beyond joint pain. She’s an active volunteer with the Arthritis Foundation, American College of Rheumatology, and the American Occupational Therapy Association.

Mary Ray, co-founder and COO of MyHealthTeam, has a deep understanding of consumer behavior and social networking, which has made the company’s mobile and web apps a daily habit for millions facing a chronic health condition. Her innovative vision for digital health solutions has transformed the way people connect with others who share their diagnosis, facilitating unfiltered conversation and accelerating access to trusted information.

Recognized for building scalable platforms that drive consumer engagement, Mary was honored as a DTC Innovator and a PM360 ELITE in 2019. She has contributed to Forbes and been quoted in industry publications at the intersection of health and technology. She has spoken at conferences including the DTC Forum on Social Media and Technology, Health Datapalooza and Digital Pharma. Mary is an advocate for women in technology and has served as a SXSW mentor and a speaker at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She is a graduate of the College of William & Mary School of Business and George Mason University.