The experiences of pain and stress are not only experienced more acutely in people with
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia but they very often are part of the CAUSE of Fibromyalgia as well. In fact, fibromyalgia most often occurs after a serious emotional event and has been compared to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There are likely underlying metabolic problems such as Adrenal Gland Fatigue and nutritional problems that may contribute to the development of Fibromyalgia- and stress becomes the ‘Straw that Broke the Camel’s Back’ that pushes you over the edge into having chronic pain and fatigue.

Those who have fibromyalgia seem to have a weak stress response, possibly because the adrenal glands have a genetic predisposition to be weak and small. Or possibly because of large amounts of stress that have contributed to the overproduction of adrenal hormones throughout life. No one is really sure, but what we DO know is that the Fibromyalgia patient has impaired response to stress and pain that are a downward spiral of worsening stress and pain from the ever more stress and pain!

This increases stress and pain can also lead to the stress of worrying about so many missed days at work and whether your job is secure and the financial worries that come with that. Nearly as stressful, for many, is the stress of coping with spouses who may want to help, but can’t understand the constant pain and fatigue that don’t allow you to be the lively person that they married. When just playing with your children is difficult, it’s stressful wanting to do more for them.

 

As I outline on the Fibromyalgia Cause page, this continued stress actually leads to serious damage in the body from a phenomenon called ‘Oxidative Stress’ which is LITERALLY stress on every cell in the body that can lead to MORE pain and premature aging.

So, needless to say, attempting to get rid of as much stress as possible is an important part of managing your fibromyalgia. Here are some Fibromyalgia Tips that can help you begin to improve and even overcome your symptoms.

 

1. Diet: You really MUST think about your diet and eliminate foods that cause DIETARY STRESS like sugar, caffeine and processed foods. Food allergies like Gluten Sensitivity can cause a HUGE amount of ‘subclinical’ stress that you may not even notice that you have! Eating a ‘Paleolithic Diet’, such as that outlined in The Healthy Urban Kitchen is really an ESSENTIAL stress reduction strategy.

2. Stress Management Techniques: such as visualization, meditation and breathing. These techniques decrease the level of neurochemicals circulating in your body, and help decrease both stress and pain.

3. Exercise: Even though exercising may be difficult, often the motivation to exercise is one of the hardest things to get over. Walking, yoga and light weight lifting are likely to be the most effective exercise strategies. But the MOST effective exercise strategy is the one that you DO.

 

If you decrease your stress, you will slowly begin to have less pain, less fatigue and a better quality of life in general.

 

For more tips and information to help you ELIMINATE your fibromyalgia for good, please go to EliminateFibromyalgia.com.

 

 

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System

Tags: Fibromyalgia, managing stress, stress and fibromyalgia

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