The Psychological impact of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Coping strategies

I suffered from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatiguebereavement. The losses and emotions involved
for 4 years before reaching a point where I amare very similar. Giving up works means not only
90% better than I was at the beginning of thethat you lose income but you also lose status,
illness.friendship and a purposeful role in life.
I will say from the outset that I believe this is oneFibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
of the worst afflictions that can strike anyencompass the full range of human emotions and
person, at any age and at anytime.magnify the negative ones ten-fold.
Not only is it so debilitating that it now has theThis disease really is a monster. The usual
same disability rating assigned to heart diseaseresponse is to want to hide away from the world.
patients, but at the same time you have to dealHowever, confronting these emotions can be
with negative connotations that surround it.very important as part of your psychological
Even the name doesn't sound credible, "Chronicrehabilitation which should be addressed in
Fatigue Syndrome", "what is that like a badconjunction with the manual therapy discussed
hangover or something" people will say. At a timelater.
when you need the most support in your life,This really is an area where a healthy mind can
often, people are turning their backs and walkingassist a healthy body towards better recovery.
away or muttering under their breath. It is aThe pain that comes with Fibromyalgia and
frightful condition.Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can be frightening and
This will be a pivotal point in your life. You will findthis in itself can cause fear, loneliness, isolation,
that during the course of your illness you will findpanic and anxiety.
out who your real friends are, and who reallyFibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can
cares.create a fear of rejection by others even when
There is no point disguising the reality which is, I'mthere is no evidence of this happening. I mean,
afraid to say, that you will lose a lot of friendswho wants to be around someone who is like
and colleagues along the way to the monster thatthis, we say to ourselves.
is Fibromyalgia and CFS.Again this is a normal reaction, our self esteem is
It is NOT possible to explain this condition tobased on what others think of us, and usually that
people who have no experience of it either byis based on what we "do" or "how we play" , or
having suffered, or through having a particular"what we say", generally how we interact with
medical interest in the area. They WILL NOTother people. As we take to "doing less", "playing"
understand what, or to what extent, you areless and generally interacting "saying" less, then
suffering. Again, I'm afraid this is the norm. Acceptour self esteem plummets along with our health.
it as such and you will not then be personallyWe are worried about the future; the dark
offended by acts of prejudice. Easier said thanshadow of uncertainty is round every corner. Will
done I know. Let us examine a commonI ever get better? What if I don't? How long is
sequence of events which may ring a bell withthis going to go on? We ask these questions
sufferers, to understand the prejudice from anevery day. We begin to experience life in a
outsider perspective.shadow land. Our hopes and dreams have been
You had a viral/ bacterial/ chemical exposure ofshattered and the road ahead can be bleak and
unknown etiology, the same as happens to millionsnever ending.
of people throughout America every day, and forAnger is very common emotion - Why me? -
some reason that no-one can explain to you, youWhy now? - What have I ever done to deserve
have felt generally ill and exhausted with multiplethis? Unfortunately this anger alienates those we
symptoms and multi-systemic involvement everlove even more.
since. Your doctor appears cynical and can't giveYou will find supportive people, often, and
you an adequate diagnosis so you may by nowencouragingly the last people you would expect.
have been referred to a psychologist for analysisThose who are supportive are often people, or
as a suspected depressive incident. "hmmm okay"those close to them, who have experienced
you hear them mutter.serious illness and are living with it, or have come
Ask yourself this question.through it.
If you had no knowledge about Fibromyalgia andOr, those who have experienced Fibromyalgia and
CFS what would your reaction be to someoneChronic Fatigue Syndrome or have someone
else developing these symptoms?............ You see?close to them who has it. These are the people
Its human nature, it's cruel isn't it?you should aim to spend your limited energy
So how do we as sufferers cope and rationalizeresources building relationships with for the
what is happening.moment.
Knowledge is power. Educate yourself about yourDo not feel bitter towards people who you lose
condition.at this stage, hold on while you can then just let
Concentrate on yourself and try not to dwellthem go lightly, they are not your problem.
morbidly over the people that you have lostFibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome IS
already. Those that do not stand by you, andyour problem, and fighting it hard is your duty to
there will be some, are what we termyourself, to get your health back, for you and
fair-weather friends, usually activity based theyyour loved ones. You are going to need the
were your friends due to your common interestenergy you have left for this fight.
in a certain activity, be it sport/ work etc.I do advocate counseling and support groups. You
The activity has gone due to your illness,will need to find someone who has specific
therefore by association so does the friendship,knowledge about the emotional effects of
this is okay because we are going to get you toFibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue, again a good
a stage where you can resume the activity, youdoctor should be able to put you on the right
can forgive those "acquaintances" if you wish andpath, there are also Fibromyalgia and CFS support
resume the activity with them, you will also begroups based in most cities and towns across the
wiser and more aware of "the type" of friendshipUS.
you have with this person.Once you have found a good support group you
What goes around come around and what iswill also find good counseling.
going around is that you are going to get better!!However, the majority of cases will NOT need to
There is a small consolation that I allow myself,see a psychologist unless you are being referred
and this is the level of self-knowledge and wisdomfor Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, as your illness
that you will gain from this painful journey. It's ais NOT depression, and therefore you should not
small consolation I know and I hear most of youaccept anti-depressants, with the exception of
screaming, "it's wisdom and knowledge I could wellpossibly low dose amitriptyline if your symptoms
do without", but it is there and when you doinclude severe nervous pain and sleep disturbance.
come out the other side in the following weeksHowever I cannot personally vouch for this but
and months what you have been through willthere is enough evidence to suggest is a valid
make you ten times the person you were before.treatment.
You have plumbed the depths of pain and despairMental and emotional preparation, knowledge of
and in the future you will be scaling the heights. Ifyour condition, and the correct course of
you come through this nothing in life will phasetreatment are all essential and work symbiotically
you again. You will value the simple things in life.to assist your recovery.
You will live every day. You will scoff at theIn my next article I will explain new research
vanities and selfishness of our systems andwhich is allowing us to determine how genetic and
culture.biomechanical anomalies, predispose certain
Fibromyalgia and CFS will create emotional havocindividuals to attacks of Fibromyalgia and Chronic
for you and for your loved ones. This is normal.Fatigue Syndrome.
Becoming chronically ill is very much like a