Fibromyalgia and a Happy Life

Friday, 08 April 2011 15:10

I know you are immediately thinking "I've got Fibromyalgia and I am to be happy about it?". NO - but with Fibromyalgia you can still enjoy so many aspects of a happy life. "But how do I do that?" you ask. Well - let's look at a few ways that greater happiness can be achieved.

* When you are feeling 'not too bad' grasp the moment and enjoy it. I have read that bad flare-ups usually occur on average once every month - that leaves quite a bit of time to do the things that you enjoy, even to a limited extent;

* Be thankful for the hours, days or even weeks that you may feel 'not too bad'. Being thankful leads to a more positive attitude and that in itself lessens pain.

* As said above, focus on the positive things in life, even when you are not feeling so great. There are so many things in everyone's life which are good and positive.

* When visiting the doctor ask him/her if there are any new therapies that may help you. Doctors do receive research material and they even read some of the literature in a spare moment. When talking to your doctor about Fibromyalgia you could ask him/her to find out about new medicines etc if he/she doesn't readily know at the time. Doctor-Patient is very much a two way relationship when it comes to the knowledge of Fibromyalgia.

* Enjoy the luxuries of life. Go out for coffee with a friend, go shopping for a treat (from a magazine to new clothes), go to a dance even though you don't feel able to dance most of the time, I buy a choc-ice or even lie on your favourite couch and listen to some music of your choice.

* But expect the "I'm not feeling at all great today" moments. They usually pass - everyone gets depressed from time to time. Again, your favorite couch is there for you to lie still and think positively.

* Keep a stock of your favorite magazines and DVDs handy for the on the couch' moments. If you have grandchildren you could phone them from the couch and have a laugh. We all laughed at the picture of Ricky, in the magazine, with his face painted on his grandson's birthday. A small thing like that can make us feel so much better.

* Look at your life from a different angle. An idea - get someone to move some furniture around or even decorate a room to accommodate the 'new you'. Take up a new hobby from knitting (men included) to photography, to painting go on, give it a go. With your Fibromyalgia you have got this far in life! That is an achievement so think to yourself "long may I continue to try to seek happiness".

* Writing/phoning a friend or relative can result in you helping them. Yes, there is so much that you can do to help others, and that in itself makes you feel better. Even chatting to a friend in need helps them. So - all of us have so much that we can do, not only for our own happiness but for the benefit of others.

David. S. Payne