Not that long ago my thoughts, emotions, and daily functions revolved around being sick. It was how I identified myself. I was sick, and living in a state of "I can't." Everything seemed like an enormous task and too big of a risk to take. I was certain that anything outside the safety of the small little zone of comfort I had made for myself would send me spiraling into the depths of my illness. I was sick. That was pretty much the entirety of who I was and the lens with which I viewed the entire world. But I was never happy or content with that state of being. Who is? Who could possibly … [Read more...]
5 Reasons Fibromyalgia Awareness Campaigns are a Good Thing
The month of May is recognized as Fibromyalgia Awareness month, with May 12th being the official Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. So what does all this awareness mean? And how is it really benefiting us? If you have been diagnosed longer than a few years, you most likely recognize the shift in the awareness and overall understanding of fibromyalgia. Yes, there are still uneducated nay-sayers out there, but the gap between reality and perception is definitely closing in and this is a very good thing. Awareness is key! So again, what does all this Fibromyalgia Awareness mean and how do we … [Read more...]
With Love
My heart is joyfully heavy with the love I feel for everyone I have connected with through FibroHaven. From my local support group, to our online facebook community, and to those who I interact with privately - each of you are a true gift in my life. Thank you all for helping me make FibroHaven a place of hope and support. Thank you for inspiring me this past year, and for motivating me to make next year even better. You give me strength! Wishing lots of comfort, joy, and love to each of you this holiday season. Your light shines brightly. I know, because it is what guides me. … [Read more...]
My Journey in Healing: The Efforts and the Rewards
It has been nearly two months since I started my yoga teacher training program and I have learned so much. The Benefits: Yoga heals. A recent study on yoga for fibromyalgia conducted at Oregon Health & Science University confirms what I have been experiencing since beginning my yoga practice 18 months ago - "yoga appears to assist in combating a number of serious fibromyalgia symptoms, including pain, fatigue, stiffness, poor sleep, depression, poor memory, anxiety and poor balance. All of these improvements were shown to be not only statistically but also clinically significant, meaning … [Read more...]
Is it Time to Rethink the Fibromyalgia Doctor-Patient Relationship?
As a fibromyalgia patient, what are your expectations when you arrive for your doctor appointments? Do you arrive prepared to work with your doctor on how best to manage the troubling symptoms of fibromyalgia, or do you arrive hopeful that he/she will have some treatment, some answer that will once and for all end your suffering? One of the first things I tell new members of FibroHaven support group - above everything - we need to learn to be our own best health advocates. Fibromyalgia is a condition with no known cure. There is not, and likely never will be, a single approach to treat and … [Read more...]