You are not a bother to us. Vent away. I don't have any good advice. I finally got over my sister in law being a total witch to me in my own house and started being nice anyway..........night before last she was harassing me in my dreams. I mean REALLY????? You are not alone. Someone else probably has better advice but hopefully someone is out there actually sleeping.

Hi Strawberry, I am so sorry you are going through this. It stinks and it is just wrong for others to make a sick person feel worse. I used to spend lots of time trying to convince other people I am really sick. It never worked, I finally realized that I was the only one who mattered. I was the only one living in my body. Others are never going to understand our pain and fatigue. I really wouldn't want them to because it would mean they would have to live with this beast of a disease too. Be kind to yourself give yourself permission to take care of you. What others think is their problem. I had to change my attitude and get my validation from myself and not look for it in others. I even fired a couple of doctors that were not helping. Feel your power and use it. You are not obligated to put up with the put downs. Maybe it is as easy as saying "I'm sorry I just have to go lie down for awhile." Any thing along that line that gets you away from the verbal abuse. Yep I said abuse. Hang in there it gets better with practice. Big soft hugs 4 U

No bother here! Vent away! A lot of us have irritating folks around. Some of 'em are downright poisonous. So vent away and tell away, we're here:-)

Also, frankly, if they're toxic to you? Avoid them as much as possible if you can,a nd if not? Try maybe some meditation or breathing exercises before and after you're exposed to them. I'm learning this kind fo thing myself in therapy and it's helping. I'm like you---music etc. doesn't always distract me, alas.

I second Leo on meditation. I was part of a research study and was randomly assigned to the meditation/support group. Search the internet for aids. There are even phone aps.

You might also try audiobooks. I love them. Totally addicted to being told a good story while doing autonomic tasks.

Then, you could try to challenge yourself to cognitive re-structuring. Be your own psychologist. How might the same events be played out differently, from a different point of view, that is not anxiety producing? Personally, I would limit this to 5 minutes and move on. I am a big advocate of the school that says that dwelling on something feeds it and makes it grow. So dwell on what is positive.

Hi,

I am new to this site and like you long for any advice and support I can get or possibly share. I can relate to the pain and how distracting and intolerable it can be. And how people truly don't understand. I always try to thank God that I got this rather than any of my children or grandchildren.

Guided meditation helps me on most days of flare ups. There is a great one called my secret garden by mediatainment. You will feel so relaxed the hammock actually squeaks and I swear you can feel the soft caress of the wind .The woman's voice is so soothing. I know you will just love it. Crafting is also a nice escape. Start out with whatever you love. writing, photography, painting, drawing anything you can create I'm sure will be beautiful. It's also another good escape when people simply don't and wont understand what we live and suffer with.

We are here for you at anytime and it's never ever a bother. Enjoy your garden it's so awesome.

Great ideas here. I plan on more meditation from here on out. We have to keep ourselves calm and happy to avoid flares.

I second Leo's advice, toxic ppl should be cut out unless totally necessary. I recently stopped communication with an old friend due to her taking advantage of me and just creating more stress.

Oh and yes, here is a safe place to vent. Most of us can understand how you feel and the frustration of fibro.

Counseling has helped me so much over the years. I can get my frustrations out to a professional and I can learn techniques for improving positive communication among those in my life who can be a pain in the bum. Realizing that you don't have to let others control how YOU feel about yourself. Don't give them that power. You have the control here if you think about it. Setting boundaries, learning to say 'no' and not feel guilty about it.

I also find yoga, gratitude journaling, and daily mindfulness meditation to be wonderful for getting in touch with yourself and how you're feeling and learning to look for the positive, and pay less mind to the negative.