The pale pink leaves on this hibiscus flower was so pretty!
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I don't often write about having Fibromyalgia, but it occurred to me yesterday that there are many women who are living with this painful condition and that it may be helpful to share my experience with it.
For those who don't know what Fibromyalgia is, Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain, stiffness, and tenderness of the muscles, tendons, and joints. Fibromyalgia is also characterized by restless sleep, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, sensitivity to lights, noise, cold weather... Fibromyalgia is sometimes referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome and abbreviated FMS.
I was diagnosed with FMS 16 years ago. At that time, there was little known on how to treat it. The doctor sent me home with a prescription for muscle relaxers and no explanation as to what I could expect. I threw away the prescription and went on with my life, totally clueless.
Sometime after that, when I was living with a lot of daily stress, I began to get really sick. Every muscle in body ached 24 hours a day. The pain was bad that it made me nauseous most of the time. I finally become so sick that I had to leave my job. I thought it was only temporary, but today, I would still not be able to manage what I did before.
I was very frightened back then. I went to various doctors, but it seemed like the only treatment they could offer was pain medication. That wasn't a option for me. So I started doing my own research, finding healthier ways to deal with FMS. It took years of trying different things to find what worked for me. Here are some of the things that helped:
I changed my diet, learning to eat healthier.
I changed my lifestyle, eliminating stress from my life.
I learned the importance of moderate exercise (yoga has been really helpful).
Because I believe that every disease/condition has an emotional cause, that had to be addressed too. Louise Hay's book "You Can Heal Your Life" taught me that having chronic pain comes from carrying guilt, and issues with muscles had to do with resistance to life. Both of these resonated for me. I had unresolved guilt and I fought any kind of change life brought.
And most of all, I had to change my outlook. If I was going to live with this for the rest of my life and there was no cure, then I was determined to create the best quality of life I could give myself.
And I have! Life today is really wonderful! Many days I am pain-free.
And most of all, I had to change my outlook. If I was going to live with this for the rest of my life and there was no cure, then I was determined to create the best quality of life I could give myself.
And I have! Life today is really wonderful! Many days I am pain-free.
Before FMS, I was living a busy, unconscious life. Having FMS forced me to change. Today I live a simple, mindful, purposeful life. I'm happier than I have ever been. This experience has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
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Love this lavender-colored rose also!
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There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as if everything is.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as if everything is.
