Going to school

Having pain in your joints, taking medication daily, and having to take time off school because of your arthritis can make school life difficult. But help is always at hand, and you can always find ways to make life easier.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed try making a list of the problems, and think of ways you could deal with them – like if your joints start to become stiff in class, ask a teacher if you could walk around for a bit.

Teachers

It’s really important to communicate with your teachers about your arthritis. They should know a bit about it from your parents, so hopefully they will be understanding. But they will rely on you to explain when things are difficult for you. You may have to explain to them that:

• you may need extra time for homework
• getting to class might take longer for you, so you may have to excuse yourself early from class, or arrive a little bit late
• sometimes you will be more tired than usual, which may affect your concentration
• you don’t want to be treated differently just because of your arthritis
• you may need help to take your medication
• you will feel worse on some days than others, and only you can decide whether you are up for more energetic activities like PE
• you will need time away from school for doctor’s appointments or when you have flare-ups

Friends

Having arthritis is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about. You may worry about how to tell your friends, or what they might think of you. It’s normal to be nervous, but consider:

• telling other people about your arthritis shows that there is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about
• you’ll be allowing your friends get to know you better, by sharing an important part of who you are
• you’ll be giving your friends the chance to understand the condition, and to be able to help you, or other people with arthritis
• people will understand that sometimes you genuinely need time off for medical reasons, that you are not just bunking off school or getting special treatment
• once you’ve told people you can relax, because you are not hiding anything, and you are being honest about yourself and who you are

Bullying

A lot of people get teased at school – it’s certainly not just people with arthritis. It can be very hurtful though, and you should talk to someone about it. If you’d rather not talk to your friends or family you can contact The Source, Arthritis Care’s helpline especially for young people with arthritis. You could also get in touch with Kidscape an organisation that deals with bullying.

Most schools have an anti-bullying policy. This means they will have to take action if a bully is reported. The school can deal with the bully without them finding out who told – especially if there are a number of people who have been targeted.

Try to be strong. Bullying is about power, and bullies want to see that their unkind behaviour has had an impact. If you are being bullied at school, here are some suggestions that may help:

• try not to show the bully that they are upsetting you
• walk away – the bully can’t bully you if you don’t stand there and listen
• keep a diary of what’s happening
• talk to a friend, family member, or adult who you trust
• do not try and fight back – you could get hurt, or blamed, and it won’t solve the problem