Thursday

Mental Health and Fibromyalgia.

Mental Health and Fibromyalgia.

Mental Illness is something that affects many of us with Fibromyalgia. Anxiety and depression are commonly experienced and diagnosed in fibromyalgia patients. 

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America about 20 percent who live with this chronic pain also suffer from an anxiety disorder or depression.
Many studies have been done on fibromyalgia and mental health. 
Researchers have studied the effects of depression on brain chemistry. Some have looked at abnormalities of the sympathetic nervous system.  But today we are looking at mental health from the perspective of people living with it.
Tackling these issues in our personal lives is difficult and writing about it is even harder.

We hope that these articles, written by people living with Fibromyalgia, help bring awareness to mental illness and help people living with these illnesses and the people who love them. I have included excerpts from the articles because these fibro bloggers explain the issues best. You can read the full articles by clicking on the names of the blogs.
Depression and fibro feel so similar sometimes that it’s hard for me to tell which one is affecting me. They both make my body, mind and spirit hurt. From Fibromyalgia & Mental Health ~ Part I by Suzanne at Fibro Mom Blog
This is is where things need to change. Conversations about mental health should be accepted and encouraged, so that those who want to speak, can do so without fear or shame or embarrassment, and without stigma, ignorance and judgement getting in the way. From It’s Time To Talk… Mental Health 2019 – Why It’s Important & My Experience by Caz at Invisibly Me. 
I have Major Depressive Disorder. I have had two major episodes of it in my lifetime and currently in one being treated by medication. And I am not ashamed of it. I know much of it has to do with chronic pain and coping with pain and all its aspects. And some of it is just me and genetics and other factors. Either way, it is a beast of a disease to have. It lies and it deceives and it steals a lot of your life. From Mental Illness: Things Not To Say by Nikki at Brainless Blogger. 
I went to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy a few months ago and found it really helped me manage my anxiety, refocus my thought processes and found new strategies I could use whenever I overthink. I only found my way to CBT by calling a helpline who put me onto the sessions. If anything, it helped just to talk to someone I didn’t know absolutely freely without worrying about what they would think. Sometimes it’s easier to speak to a stranger than someone you know. From Chronic Illness and Anxiety by Bethan at Hello Fibro
Shelley talks about the causes of her depression, (I became home bound as my body failed, and I became disconnected from all the healthy people in my life.), how she felt and what finally motivated her to ask for help at The truth about chronic pain, depression, and suicide at Chronic Mom
Today, I am on the proper medication, seeing my psychiatrist regularly, and I am not so afraid of my own mind anymore. But I wanted to truly open up a conversation about Purely Obsessional OCD. I barely see it anywhere, and it needs to be talked about more! From Jennifer at Corter Moon.
I found that any amount of anxiety had a direct impact on my symptoms sometimes enough to send me into a flare, where pain and fatigue would knock me for six. From 6 Top Tips To Alleviate Anxiety by Fibro Flair.
I live with a number of chronic health conditions including fibromyalgia, clinical depression, anxiety, & Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and for much of my life have suffered from debilitating symptoms. I want to raise awareness to help people understand but moreso to share and engage with all those whose lives are touched by fibromyalgia and mental health problems in one way or another, so they know they’re not alone. From Facing Complex-Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder By Alisha, at The Invisible F.
When you live with Chronic Pain, you can find yourself spiraling in a dark hole. Sometimes depression becomes as big of a problem as the physical pain you live with, and in a desperate need to feel better, you find yourself turning to your medications too often, or you resort to drinking or eating as a way of filling the gap. From Chronic Pain and Addictions by Pamela is There Is Always Hope. 
We are all wonderfully and fearfully made. But sometimes in our genetic makeup, we inherit or are "assigned" genes that are predisposed to anxiety.  Or we do not produce sufficient neurotransmitters such as Seretonin or endorphins, which result in our nature being one of anxiety and fear. From In a panic attack, God is right there with us by Glenys at Morning Cuppas With Glenys
The toughest challenge on my wellness journey was to heal my thoughts. I discovered that my body felt and experienced every negative emotion. My inner guide again kicked in, telling me to have patience with my progress. Healing takes time. I found far healthier ways to deal with stress than the negative self-talk I was accustomed to. Wonderfully healing practices such as tai chi and restorative yoga became lifesavers for me. From The Isolation of Healing by Sue at Rebuilding Wellness.    

No comments:

Post a Comment

We love your comments