Easy as 1-2-3

How many times have people with fibromyalgia or other chronic, invisible illnesses been told that feeling better is just down to a better outlook on themselves and life? Explaining the complexities involved in fibro is perceived as whining, exactly what they’re talking about! So, I’ve decided to test the theory. Can ignoring, dismissing, and love-bombing my circumstances and symptoms objectively improve them, including a variety of pain types and locations, impaired balance, dizziness, nausea, etc.?

DAY ONE:

• I’m enjoying severe pain on the right side of my neck; it’s usually the left. This is a side effect of COVID last week when my muscles tightened up so hard, it caused this acute event.
• So funny! I didn’t even know I had COVID for five days because I attributed the increasing body aches, headache, muscle spasms, and nausea to a fibro flare! lmao
• Even better, this nerve pain extends up into the right-side jaw, chin, cheekbone, and temple. The really good thing is that it’s faded from excruciating down to tolerable pain and some numbness. Making all effort, I’m now able to distract myself for minutes at a time!
• I’m so happy I was able to shower today. It’s a very stressful task but I made it. Wasn’t able to avoid stress but I’ll try harder.
• Good news! I had an hour this morning before the recent, daily headache returned.
• Positively thrilled marijuana is legal in my state. Helps me manage my symptoms – oops! I’m supposed to be focused on not having those symptoms. Hard to shake with sharp pain in my temple right now and shaky hands. I digress. Glad we got the ganja here anyway.
• The future is bright because I don’t have any appointments scheduled for several days!

Too early to tell, but so far the new program has increased stress because I feel guilty for feeling what’s really happening. I find my muscles in my shoulders are tight in addition to my current regulars. Uh, I mean, so far, so good!

For those thinking, “Well, no wonder it doesn’t work if that’s the attitude,” I invite you to consider that a person with a chronic invisible illness can be trusted to share what they are experiencing, not imagining, just as you would unquetioningly accept it if someone told you they had diabetes, a heart problem, or cancer. Although I’ve never experienced any of those, thank goodness, I would believe a person who told me so and do my best to empathize with their challenges. That’s what I would advise anyone with friends or family struggling to manage their illness and its ramifications.