so I've been thinking since my fibromyalgia diagnosis 14 years ago we had adopted a three sibling group been up and down for the last 14 years been very stressed. Had one breakdown. I'm wondering if maybe I just can't take on anymore stress and my body is just reacting to the stress in this way. any feedback on that thank you.
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It's a solid, proven fact that stress is one of the worst things for human health. For the health of any living being, actually, even trees.
Any living thing that is under overdue stress for a prolonged period of time will suffer physically, mentally, or both. How early in life the stress starts is significant as well...the earlier it starts, the more damage it does. But even if it starts when the individual is fully adult, if it is prolonged or if it happens often, there will be a negative effect on that individual's health. It's pretty much guaranteed.
What form the damage takes, what kind of mental health issues or physical health issues the stress causes will depend on many factors that are not yet fully understood, but which include things like genetic inclinations and/or weakness or strength, and how that individual deals with their stress, and in general how they live and how healthy they are.
If you have been under a lot of stress, it has very likely contributed to (or caused) the problems you are having now. Whether or not it is fibromyalgia, I cannot say of course. But many of us here who know that we do have fibromyalgia have had unusual stress in our lives at one time or another, or for most of our lives, or during very early formative years, and that has no doubt contributed to, or caused, fibromyalgia to develop in our bodies.
JamieMarc
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I have come to the conclusion and I completely concur that much of my own pain is due to a hyperactive stress response. I believe that it plays a major role in my pain and why I have fibromyalgia. This is why I embrace only those things that bring me joy, peace and happiness. I was not like that for most of my life, especially my childhood and young adult years.
Abused by my parents, my whole life has been one seemingly drawn out stressful existence. So much so that I became an alcoholic, a binge drinker, to escape the pain if only briefly. Needless to say, I quit drinking years ago when I finally realized that I didn't deserve to hurt myself, that I wasn't all of the horrible things my parents and others said I was. I started to finally stand up for myself and I'm still in therapy today always striving to be a better me, to recover from all of the damage the abuse and the stress have caused my body and mind.
So I totally concur that stress is a major player in fibromyalgia. It makes perfect sense to me that if the body is in an almost constant state of stress, pain will follow. The one thing that I wonder about is can it be reversed? Can the damage be reversed to at least some degree?
The question for me is not if stress is a factor, but what can I do to reverse its damaging effects.
Abused by my parents, my whole life has been one seemingly drawn out stressful existence. So much so that I became an alcoholic, a binge drinker, to escape the pain if only briefly. Needless to say, I quit drinking years ago when I finally realized that I didn't deserve to hurt myself, that I wasn't all of the horrible things my parents and others said I was. I started to finally stand up for myself and I'm still in therapy today always striving to be a better me, to recover from all of the damage the abuse and the stress have caused my body and mind.
So I totally concur that stress is a major player in fibromyalgia. It makes perfect sense to me that if the body is in an almost constant state of stress, pain will follow. The one thing that I wonder about is can it be reversed? Can the damage be reversed to at least some degree?
The question for me is not if stress is a factor, but what can I do to reverse its damaging effects.
I'm glad to hear that you are doing well mentally and realize that you are better then what people tell you. as far as reversal of the damage -some damage will never go away how ever I am on medication that has helped to a degree that has given some of my life back. If that is all I get then I will except that. Sometimes you have to let go and realize that you have to embrace what you are now and make it work for you.
SBee
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Beautifully put @chestert6 ' embrace what you are now and make it work for you. ' thats a beautiful strong yet self caring phrase.
something I strive to do as best I can, some days easier than others - but thats improving.
something I strive to do as best I can, some days easier than others - but thats improving.
SBee
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@JamieMarc sending one of your famous hugs back at you.
In my mind I believe you are reversing the effects in some ways. By acknowledging your own self is worth more than how others have seen you and treated you I think lessens the strength of their behaviour. You hurt of course, but your recognition that you are full of good, and are worthy, kind of smashes their abuse into pieces. In other words they didnt win. You did.
I believe in therapy, once you establish a good working relationship with the therapist. Its not easy, it wont ever go completely. You realised binge drinking was causing you harm, so you made the difficult steps to stop. Credit yourself Jamie. We know we are crap at doing that.
Talking with a therapist is healing, if at times very painful. You are making it reverse, even just a little, by facing the stress of your hideous abuse ( by people you should have been able to trust ) head on.
We know you are worthwhile. And I hope deep down you also accept this. ❤
In my mind I believe you are reversing the effects in some ways. By acknowledging your own self is worth more than how others have seen you and treated you I think lessens the strength of their behaviour. You hurt of course, but your recognition that you are full of good, and are worthy, kind of smashes their abuse into pieces. In other words they didnt win. You did.
I believe in therapy, once you establish a good working relationship with the therapist. Its not easy, it wont ever go completely. You realised binge drinking was causing you harm, so you made the difficult steps to stop. Credit yourself Jamie. We know we are crap at doing that.
Talking with a therapist is healing, if at times very painful. You are making it reverse, even just a little, by facing the stress of your hideous abuse ( by people you should have been able to trust ) head on.
We know you are worthwhile. And I hope deep down you also accept this. ❤
JamieMarc
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@SBee Thank you so much for your kind, affirming words! They mean so much to me. Truly! And I'M sending YOU one of YOUR famous hugs right back atcha!
If I am honest with myself, and I always strive to be, I don't think that deep down I FULLY accept I am worthy...yet. At the same time, I know I'm a good person and I am proud of the man that I have grown into. It sounds like a contradiction, I know. I guess my mind knows it but my heart, my soul, have not totally embraced the concept of my worthiness. I think that when what happened to me or anyone in those FORMATIVE years, and continues into adulthood, it makes it a lot harder for the whole person to accept themselves. This is why child abuse is one of the most despicable crimes to my mind...because I know what it means for the life ahead of the child. Same goes for any kind of abuse from someone who is supposed to love you, who you believed loved you.
Anyhoo...I've made a lot of progress on this in just the past year alone, despite being in therapy on and off throughout my life. I'm proud of myself for realizing I have more work to do and seeking out a therapist. I feel hopeful.
Thanks SO much, and for your words of wisdom, too, @chestert6 It's so wonderful for me to have a safe place for all of us to come to where we "get" each other, and truly see each other as we are and accept one another unconditionally. That is the way I have felt since joining our forum. It is an invaluable and precious part of my healing, body AND mind.
If I am honest with myself, and I always strive to be, I don't think that deep down I FULLY accept I am worthy...yet. At the same time, I know I'm a good person and I am proud of the man that I have grown into. It sounds like a contradiction, I know. I guess my mind knows it but my heart, my soul, have not totally embraced the concept of my worthiness. I think that when what happened to me or anyone in those FORMATIVE years, and continues into adulthood, it makes it a lot harder for the whole person to accept themselves. This is why child abuse is one of the most despicable crimes to my mind...because I know what it means for the life ahead of the child. Same goes for any kind of abuse from someone who is supposed to love you, who you believed loved you.
Anyhoo...I've made a lot of progress on this in just the past year alone, despite being in therapy on and off throughout my life. I'm proud of myself for realizing I have more work to do and seeking out a therapist. I feel hopeful.
Thanks SO much, and for your words of wisdom, too, @chestert6 It's so wonderful for me to have a safe place for all of us to come to where we "get" each other, and truly see each other as we are and accept one another unconditionally. That is the way I have felt since joining our forum. It is an invaluable and precious part of my healing, body AND mind.
HighMaintenance
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Please pick up the book The Body Keeps the Score. I'm an adult daughter of an alcoholic. He's long gone and after much research and reading this book I understand SO much more. Everyone with stress trauma needs this book!
