Comments on: Which Came First, The Pain or The Emotion? http://www.fibrohaven.com/2009/04/03/which-came-first-the-pain-or-the-emotion/ Learning to Balance Chronic Health with a Chronic Love of Life Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:12:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Current Psychiatry “Gets” Fibromyalgia « Fibromyalgia Haven http://www.fibrohaven.com/2009/04/03/which-came-first-the-pain-or-the-emotion/comment-page-1/#comment-364 Current Psychiatry “Gets” Fibromyalgia « Fibromyalgia Haven Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:16:58 +0000 http://fibrohaven.wordpress.com/?p=891#comment-364 [...] Sharon B. Stanford, MD is the Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Family Medicine, Assistant Director, Women’s Health Research Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The article is for partly an examination of the current drugs approved and used in the treatment of Fibromyalgia, and Dr. Stanford discloses that she receives grant/research support from several drug companies, but beyond the drug exploration, Dr. Stanford has written a very accurate and empathetic report on Fibromyalgia. She even touches on a recent conversation we had here on FibroHaven - which came first, the pain or the emotion.  [...] [...] Sharon B. Stanford, MD is the Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Family Medicine, Assistant Director, Women’s Health Research Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The article is for partly an examination of the current drugs approved and used in the treatment of Fibromyalgia, and Dr. Stanford discloses that she receives grant/research support from several drug companies, but beyond the drug exploration, Dr. Stanford has written a very accurate and empathetic report on Fibromyalgia. She even touches on a recent conversation we had here on FibroHaven – which came first, the pain or the emotion.  [...]

]]> By: David Shores DC http://www.fibrohaven.com/2009/04/03/which-came-first-the-pain-or-the-emotion/comment-page-1/#comment-363 David Shores DC Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:45:34 +0000 http://fibrohaven.wordpress.com/?p=891#comment-363 When I think about growing older, I think about growing wiser and more mature emotionally. However, what I see is that many people as they accumulate emotional baggage is that they become more emotionally dysfunctional. So I guess the trick is to learn to unload for your self. I have used Emotional Freedom Technique along with other techniques on myself and others with great success. If you go to www.emofree.com there is a free download that gives you everything you need to use EFT. When I think about growing older, I think about growing wiser and more mature emotionally. However, what I see is that many people as they accumulate emotional baggage is that they become more emotionally dysfunctional. So I guess the trick is to learn to unload for your self. I have used Emotional Freedom Technique along with other techniques on myself and others with great success. If you go to http://www.emofree.com there is a free download that gives you everything you need to use EFT.

]]> By: fibrohaven http://www.fibrohaven.com/2009/04/03/which-came-first-the-pain-or-the-emotion/comment-page-1/#comment-352 fibrohaven Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:25:24 +0000 http://fibrohaven.wordpress.com/?p=891#comment-352 You are right. We probably do just have more questions now. But we have engaged in a thoughtful conversation along the way, and I love that! It is interesting that you say "I think I would have been better equipped to handle that stress on my body if I was more emotionally healthy prior to the pregnancy." Maybe that is the "gift" Fibromyalgia will be for some of us. Maybe it will lead us to better emotional health. I think I am on that path, but it requires a certain level of self-honestly that I am not always comfortable with, or even good at. Healing will not be a easy or quick process for any of us, but if we continue to question and consider and move forward, there will come a day... I am certain of it! You are right. We probably do just have more questions now. But we have engaged in a thoughtful conversation along the way, and I love that!

It is interesting that you say “I think I would have been better equipped to handle that stress on my body if I was more emotionally healthy prior to the pregnancy.” Maybe that is the “gift” Fibromyalgia will be for some of us. Maybe it will lead us to better emotional health. I think I am on that path, but it requires a certain level of self-honestly that I am not always comfortable with, or even good at.

Healing will not be a easy or quick process for any of us, but if we continue to question and consider and move forward, there will come a day… I am certain of it!

]]> By: fibrohaven http://www.fibrohaven.com/2009/04/03/which-came-first-the-pain-or-the-emotion/comment-page-1/#comment-355 fibrohaven Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:12:45 +0000 http://fibrohaven.wordpress.com/?p=891#comment-355 Kathy I have a fun-loving husband too! I told him you think I am sane and he said, "Well she clearly doesn't know you very well!" (At least I think he was joking!) ;) Kathy I have a fun-loving husband too! I told him you think I am sane and he said, “Well she clearly doesn’t know you very well!” (At least I think he was joking!) ;)

]]> By: Nicole http://www.fibrohaven.com/2009/04/03/which-came-first-the-pain-or-the-emotion/comment-page-1/#comment-362 Nicole Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:17:08 +0000 http://fibrohaven.wordpress.com/?p=891#comment-362 Buddhism and mindfulness are awakening me to being in the moment, but also to knowing that everything is temporary. Moments of joy come and go just as moments of pain will. I am also learning to be thankful for pain, anger, frustration, etc because they give me an opportunity to practice patience, acceptance, and finding good in the bad. When I'm driving and get "road rage" I stop more often and think, is this the type of energy I want to be putting out into the world? And no, it is not. When I'm in a flare or in pain that is perhaps the most difficult, because it's hard to be mindful when distracted by pain. But I take comfort in it's temporary nature, even though I know it will return. I am thankful for the moments of joy in between. Not to say that in everyday life I am always this rational and accepting, but the more I practice it the easier it is to maintain a path of mindfulness. Buddhism and mindfulness are awakening me to being in the moment, but also to knowing that everything is temporary. Moments of joy come and go just as moments of pain will. I am also learning to be thankful for pain, anger, frustration, etc because they give me an opportunity to practice patience, acceptance, and finding good in the bad. When I’m driving and get “road rage” I stop more often and think, is this the type of energy I want to be putting out into the world? And no, it is not. When I’m in a flare or in pain that is perhaps the most difficult, because it’s hard to be mindful when distracted by pain. But I take comfort in it’s temporary nature, even though I know it will return. I am thankful for the moments of joy in between.

Not to say that in everyday life I am always this rational and accepting, but the more I practice it the easier it is to maintain a path of mindfulness.

]]> By: Kathy http://www.fibrohaven.com/2009/04/03/which-came-first-the-pain-or-the-emotion/comment-page-/#comment-361 Kathy Sun, 05 Apr 2009 06:25:28 +0000 http://fibrohaven.wordpress.com/?p=891#comment-361 Thank goodness all that is far in the past and I've got a very supportive and fun-loving husband. It's all good now! And as for the panic attack in the doctor's office...some small part of me that wasn't focused on the fact that I thought I was dying (or at least having a heart attack) was cracking up about the mess I made in their schedule. Thanks for this blog...you are so utterly sane and what you write really resonates. I've got my fingers crossed that when my husband finally gets transfered to SoCal, it's San Diego or Laguna Nigel...somewhere where I can at least get to the Wellness Center! Thank you! Thank goodness all that is far in the past and I’ve got a very supportive and fun-loving husband. It’s all good now!

And as for the panic attack in the doctor’s office…some small part of me that wasn’t focused on the fact that I thought I was dying (or at least having a heart attack) was cracking up about the mess I made in their schedule.

Thanks for this blog…you are so utterly sane and what you write really resonates. I’ve got my fingers crossed that when my husband finally gets transfered to SoCal, it’s San Diego or Laguna Nigel…somewhere where I can at least get to the Wellness Center!

Thank you!

]]> By: abeeliever http://www.fibrohaven.com/2009/04/03/which-came-first-the-pain-or-the-emotion/comment-page-1/#comment-360 abeeliever Sun, 05 Apr 2009 05:32:16 +0000 http://fibrohaven.wordpress.com/?p=891#comment-360 This is the ultimate question with Fibromyalgia isn't it? I appreciate Dr. Shores short and sweet response and I agree with it fully. This is the part of humanity that is so tricky, not being able to study us in a controlled environment, some questions will always linger. Had I never experienced emotional trauma in my life or childhood would I have fallen prey to Fibromyalgia after my exceptionally difficult pregnancy? There is no way to know for certain. The pregnancy that preceded the development of Fibromyalgia was so taxing on my body, it is not surprising that it had a long term effect on me. But knowing myself as I do, and knowing the trauma from my past, I think I would have been better equipped to handle that stress on my body if I was more emotionally healthy prior to the pregnancy. So, like what Pamela said above, I was emotionally injured, leaving me more vulnerable to this illness at the time I developed the symptoms. Have we solved the riddle or do we just have more questions now? :-) This is the ultimate question with Fibromyalgia isn’t it? I appreciate Dr. Shores short and sweet response and I agree with it fully. This is the part of humanity that is so tricky, not being able to study us in a controlled environment, some questions will always linger.

Had I never experienced emotional trauma in my life or childhood would I have fallen prey to Fibromyalgia after my exceptionally difficult pregnancy? There is no way to know for certain. The pregnancy that preceded the development of Fibromyalgia was so taxing on my body, it is not surprising that it had a long term effect on me. But knowing myself as I do, and knowing the trauma from my past, I think I would have been better equipped to handle that stress on my body if I was more emotionally healthy prior to the pregnancy. So, like what Pamela said above, I was emotionally injured, leaving me more vulnerable to this illness at the time I developed the symptoms.

Have we solved the riddle or do we just have more questions now? :-)

]]> By: fibrohaven http://www.fibrohaven.com/2009/04/03/which-came-first-the-pain-or-the-emotion/comment-page-/#comment-359 fibrohaven Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:21:28 +0000 http://fibrohaven.wordpress.com/?p=891#comment-359 I am much more aware of MY emotional component since beginning my work with you Dr. Shores. I feel like I am being more honest with myself with your guidance. I certainly feel much better! Thank you for the great work you are doing with me and my fellow support group members. I wish everyone had a Dr. Shores! I am much more aware of MY emotional component since beginning my work with you Dr. Shores. I feel like I am being more honest with myself with your guidance. I certainly feel much better!

Thank you for the great work you are doing with me and my fellow support group members. I wish everyone had a Dr. Shores!

]]> By: fibrohaven http://www.fibrohaven.com/2009/04/03/which-came-first-the-pain-or-the-emotion/comment-page-1/#comment-358 fibrohaven Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:18:08 +0000 http://fibrohaven.wordpress.com/?p=891#comment-358 Kathy, I am sorry for the loss you suffered at such a young age. Someone told me once to look at each symptom and flare of FM as a message from my body and an opportunity to address what is keeping my body from healing. To have a panic attack IN your doctor's office seems to be some sort of loud message. The trouble then is trying to figure it all out! In some ways we are all breaking new ground in our search for answers and well-being. You do not accept that you are chronically depressed so you make healthy choices and work hard to keep it at bay. Bravo! You have given me a lot to think about. No sloppy thinking on your part. I think it is healthy to question. How else will we get to the answers! Kathy, I am sorry for the loss you suffered at such a young age.

Someone told me once to look at each symptom and flare of FM as a message from my body and an opportunity to address what is keeping my body from healing. To have a panic attack IN your doctor’s office seems to be some sort of loud message. The trouble then is trying to figure it all out!

In some ways we are all breaking new ground in our search for answers and well-being. You do not accept that you are chronically depressed so you make healthy choices and work hard to keep it at bay. Bravo!

You have given me a lot to think about. No sloppy thinking on your part. I think it is healthy to question. How else will we get to the answers!

]]> By: fibrohaven http://www.fibrohaven.com/2009/04/03/which-came-first-the-pain-or-the-emotion/comment-page-1/#comment-357 fibrohaven Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:55:41 +0000 http://fibrohaven.wordpress.com/?p=891#comment-357 "Our emotional traumas are an injury not illness." Pamela I may just steal that for a blog post! What a wise answer and response. So I guess it may come down to how we treat our "injuries." Do we tend them as we would an open wound or broken bone, or do we ignore them, suppress them, push them away until they demand we pay attention to them? Oh no! Here goes my mind again! “Our emotional traumas are an injury not illness.”

Pamela I may just steal that for a blog post! What a wise answer and response. So I guess it may come down to how we treat our “injuries.” Do we tend them as we would an open wound or broken bone, or do we ignore them, suppress them, push them away until they demand we pay attention to them?

Oh no! Here goes my mind again!

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