Fibromyalgia and Trauma

[mrs muir]

I am very interested in finding out more about the connection between childhood trauma and fibromyalgia. My impression is that a lot of the pain and issues are a manifestation of fear in the body.

Growing up for me was very painful, I did not feel safe and I did not feel connected. I was born in Germany 15 years after WWII had ended. There was some violence, there was alcoholism, there was no real communication or understanding. Also in school there was no support. Despite being highly intelligent I had a difficult time. I did especially poorly in sports due to a lot of fear, and instead of support I only got bad grades and ridicule. Being forced to participate in these lessons for years was also traumatizing for me.
My mother's family were refugees from East Prussia during WWII, and they had to escape in a very severe winter, with temperatures of -30 degrees Celsius, with the Russian army at their heels and dropping bombs at the refugees. My great-grandfather died during this. My mother and the rest of the family were not aware that they were traumatized, and I only found out about this when a therapist suggested for me to read up on refugee children and grandchildren. In Germany there has been some research into this in recent years. So it is very likely that I also suffer from this transgenerational trauma on top of my own.

In a way it would be surprising if the bodymind did not react to all this in some way.

 

[sunkacola]

Many people who have fibromyalgia do report that they have trauma in their personal history. But I have come to realize that many, many people have trauma in their lives, not to mention generational trauma. I don't think I know a single person who could say they have no trauma or generational trauma in their personal history!

I think it's highly probable that the majority of people on the planet could very easily say they have significant trauma one or both of those ways. And of course the body and mind are not the least bit separate, but are the same thing, so it only makes sense that there would be a connection between trauma and being physically and/or mentally unwell in one way or another, and most people will at some time in their lives have physical repercussions from emotional trauma. It's only matter of which kind of physical problem will emerge.

 

[HighMaintenance]

I can help you. Please get the book "The Body Keeps the Score" It's amazing what you'll learn about the different ways trauma attacks your body. Blessings!

 

[marmicros]

Yes, Mrs Muir. I believe you are correct in associating your traumatic childhood with fibromyalgia. My childhood was also quite traumatic, although not comparable to the dreadful fear you must have experienced. The lack of support throughout your life made you completely dependent upon yourself, even as a child. This causes us to develop into insecure adults, and this invites other problems in ongoing relationships. Give yourself a big pat on the back and remember you are a hero.

 

[kashmira]

Read the work of Gabor Mate if you can, well worthwhile.