Hello Friends! I was encouraged to share what has helped me on my journey with fibromyalgia. I hope that this helps someone as I share my experience, strength, and hope with you all! Gentle Hugs!
The best thing that I ever did was find a Psychologist who I have been going to for over a year now. She has really helped me to cope with my struggles whether they be physical or psychological. It's all about your mindset and what you choose to do with it. I try every day to think positive thoughts, write down quotes that speak to me and call them gentle reminders, I practice EST tapping( you can google what it is, it explains everything, and youtube has videos about it) when I am really having a hard time emotionally. I believe that our emotional well being affects our physical well being. I make sure that I have a safety net of people who I can turn to and talk to in my time of need. I have what are called Power Thought Cards by Louise L. Hay that I pull out and look at from time to time and keep flipping through the cards until I see something that speaks to me on the cards, there are 64 deck cards that come in a box and each are of a different topic. I use mindfulness, being mindful of my thoughts when they become negative. I practice self talk( out loud or in my mind) when I am not in a good place. I use visualization(visualizing myself sitting in a forest or on a mountain top amongst nature) as a way to keep myself calm when I am not in a good place. I make a list, write down at least five things that I am thankful or grateful for, add to it, and pull that list out when I am not in a good place. I also believe that food plays a big factor in how it affects our bodies physically as well as emotionally. I am not a "religious" person , but I do believe in having a spiritual connection whether it be with God, nature, or whatever it is that you choose. I believe that the body, mind, and spirit are all connected to each other. I also am starting to use music as an outlet as well as journaling to get my thoughts and feelings on paper. All of these things have helped me in some way or another to cope with my Fibromyalgia. But, as you know, what works for one person may not work for another. Not every day is all peaches and cream so to speak. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't have bad days or challenges. But, this is what works for me and has helped me to get through some tough things. If there is anything that I have written here that will help someone else, I would be so happy! Or as they say in another group, "Take what you need and leave the rest." I have to take one day at a time and sometimes I have to take one second at a time. It all depends on what the day brings me. It took me a long time to get where I am today, and I am always continuing to learn new things on my journey in this thing called life. But as I have said many times before, never give up, never give in! Gentle Hugs to all!
I loved reading the positive ways in which you are dealing with your journey . I do much of the same and other stuff along these same lines . I feel it is best to learn as much to help ourselves using the most of our minds that affects our brains. Changing thoughts and patterns in our brain to recreating new patterns and eliminating old ones does require some discipline which also involves repetition . Like saying something positive to ourselves over and over until our brains catch on so to speak. Our brains are listening to everything we say and those such thoughts affect every part of our beings down to the very cells in our bodies . One thing that I will never allow my brain to hear and act upon is to say things like "MY headache , My fibromyalgia , My IBS, MY pain. My reason as I said I don’t want to reinforce those negative thoughts , in addition I don’t want to take ownership of these things by referring to them by saying ‘MY’.
These are my thoughts,beliefs and opinions and I am in no way critizing or judging anyone for theirs. I have been on my journey to wellness for 32 years and doing my best as everyone else
HUGGGGGGGGGGS
Suzie
It is a great post, so positive. i think taking one day at a time, and even 1 second can help many of us to cope. I practise this through mindfull ness too.
It is a great post, so positive. i think taking one day at a time, and even 1 second can help many of us to cope. I practise this through mindfull ness too.
Thank you all for such positive feedback! I really appreciate it and hope that what I wrote helps everyone in some way! I hope that everyone on here has a splendid day! Gentle hugs!
It is a great post, so positive. i think taking one day at a time, and even 1 second can help many of us to cope. I practise this through mindfull ness too.
That's awesome! Keep up the good work! Gentle hugs!
AnneV said:
Hello Fibrofrenzy68,
It is a great post, so positive. i think taking one day at a time, and even 1 second can help many of us to cope. I practise this through mindfull ness too.
Wow...you are amazing. And, the power of your words, are so encouraging.
I am positive I need to find a psychologist as well;however, finding one who is familiar with chronic pain is tough. There is no one in my area. Yet, I will keep looking.
Thank you for your kind words Barber girl! Maybe we can chat sometime on here. :-)
Barber girl said:
Wow...you are amazing. And, the power of your words, are so encouraging.
I am positive I need to find a psychologist as well;however, finding one who is familiar with chronic pain is tough. There is no one in my area. Yet, I will keep looking.
Thank you. There is a beauty in your words and they are sure to make everyone's heart smile. I hadn't thought of some of this but will be! I hope your day is amazing janisrp
Thank you so much for sharing those great ways of coping! I had participated in Group Therapy about 10 years ago and the Psychologist taught us "Core Mindfulness" of being aware of the moment and thinking before reacting. That was the single most helpful thing I have ever learned on my journey with fibro/chronic pain, fatigue and depression. I know it works and I try to practice it. I used to live in Birmingham, Alabama and had a great therapist there, but since moving to the mountains 8 years ago, I cannot find anyone within my "travel zone". I'll keep looking. Thank you for your post--I love the idea of using the cards--I may just have to get those! Gentle hugs to you too!