Fibromyalgia Support Group

You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.

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Narey 08/23/2010

This is a bit of a philosophical question (hmm, I'm about to start taking Intro to Philosophy. the topic really interests me)

How has your illness, and the challenges it presents, changed you for the better. We all know this pervasive illness takes a LOT away from us, but it also gives us characteristics we would not otherwise have developed... empathy, awareness, understanding, compassion for others who suffer... '

how do you think it's changed YOU?

deleted_user 08/23/2010

I Posted about this Very thing a few Years ago...How Not ALL the Changes within me have been Negative..

I No Longer Bolt HeadFirst into Life...I stop and actually THINK Things Thru now...

Has been a Journey to bee sure !!

deleted_user 08/23/2010

Once I really started thinking about how the stresses in my life made this illness flare up so quickly and last for days at a time I started to take charge to reduce then as much as possible.

Where as before I would bend over backwards to try to stop someone from doing something crazy that was only going to end in stress in their life and ultimately mine, I will now say my piece and walk away, and now I will not allow myself to get upset for them ........... I used to battle for people friends, family, even strangers if needed, no longer ................ it also works if someone is trying to alter my way of thinking/ persuade me to their point of view right or wrong I say what I need to & then leave it ............ I have stopped trying to get others to see it my way .................. it is making for a calmer life, I still have the same determination just without wasting energy :-)

It has also made me say "Sorry I can't do this" and ask for help .......... and strangely since I accepted that it has brought my hubby and I and our Jack even close together ............ I used to be dreadful about trying to do everything and in many ways they felt left out and I never realised that till we talked.

It has made me calmer, probably more reasonable because I haven't got the energy to fight so hard & therefore made our home a calmer place to be cos I ain't on one over something in the world lololol

Narey 08/23/2010

I am especially cognizant of the many invisible illnesses folks might have. I always give the benefit of the doubt to people now, knowing how many suffer silently. REally, in some way or another most people suffer. We need to support one another throughout this life.

I am still trying to learn that I do not have to do it all, don't have to have it all done right.
It has made me cut my pride down some.

PeaceN2You 08/23/2010

I'm am much more patient, even with myself, and I am ashamed to say that I used to be one of those "they don't LOOK sick" people who thought I was the handicapped parking monitor.

Karma is a bitch :)

Narey 08/23/2010

lol, I was JUST thinking that, about how I used to peer at people who'd park in handicapped spots... Now, it makes me uneasy about what others might think of me. I've caught myself trying to be sure I look like I need it if I take the spot. I keep feeling like I should leave it for someone who needs it more than I do. sigh

Well, what that can do for us is give us some empathy for those who do the "you don't look sick" routine to us, now.

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