Constructive Ways of Dealing with Feelings of Hopelessness

When I found out I had Fibromyalgia it was a bittersweet moment because I was happy to finally have a diagnosis, but after everything I read about it I knew it was going to be a lifelong fight to survive.  We all know that Fibromyalgia itself is not life-threatning…well they say this even though they don’t know exactly what causes it yet…but it’s a chronic pain illness that makes you want to die and some of our fellow Fibromites have already given up the fight.

We all have those days where we just want to give up and stop living. I know that at least once every 2 months I get really depressed and I just can’t imagine going on another day with this illness.  Every time it passes and I’m good to go again, but at that moment I want to die and it’s a scary and lonely place to be in.  I know that many of us, if not all of us go through this so how do you cope with it?  Do you have a constructive way of dealing with your feelings when you feel hopeless?  What helps you to bounce back when it all becomes too much to deal with?

Mobility Aids for Fibromyalgia

Today I found myself reading an article about mobility aids for those of us with Fibromyalgia.  I never thought that at 30 years old, such an article would be important to me, but it is and the reality of that is a little scary.  My family and friends think that I shouldn’t worry about things like that yet and maybe they’re right, but I feel like I have to prepare myself for the future as much as possible.  This illness is hard as hell to deal with and I have this constant need to try to stay one step ahead of it.  I think that’s actually an impossible task, but I still try.  The thought of needing assistance to walk on a regular basis isn’t something I like to think about, but I can’t act like it’s not a possibility.  My body is failing me and there’s not a lot I can do about that, but I can keep my mind strong and I don’t feel that I can have a strong mind if I can’t come to terms with what the future holds.  I don’t know about all of you, but I can’t afford to be in denial.  I’ve tried that and I almost ended everything.  I don’t care if everyone thinks I research Fibromyalgia too much because I know I’m doing what I have to do to survive this illness.  They would do the same if they were in my situation, but I hope they never have to be.

PAIN!

The pain is excruciating today.  It hurts to move and it hurts to breathe.  It’s hard to stay positive when every inch of your body hurts and when all your energy goes into just dealing with the pain. I have to prepare myself for the end of the day because most likely the thought of dying will cross my mind at least once.  I’ll have to fight, once again, the urge to take the easy way out.  This is my life; my reality.  I’m not being dramatic.  I’m being real.  I’m being honest.  This is the part of Fibromyalgia that you don’t see in the commercials.  Someday EVERYONE will be able to see this invisible demon that we are fighting…hopefully that day will come soon.

Fibromyalgia and Winter

Winter is fast approaching and we all know that the cold and Fibromyalgia do not go together.  I despise winter.  It always feels like I’m in a flare the entire time.  I know I’m not alone in this so what are some of the things you do to get through the winter months.  What helps?  What makes things worse? How do you prepare to go out if you have to?

My biggest worry when it’s cold is jaw pain.  It is excruciating and lasts for hours. Anytime I’m out in the cold too long and I start shivering it happens.  So I’ve learned to dress extra warm and to always wear a scarf to make sure I can cover my jaw.  If it’s really cold I refuse to go out unless it’s a must because that is one pain I just can’t handle.

Other than staying as warm as possible, I have no other advice.  I just don’t function very well during the winter.  If you have advice or even just a Winter/Fibromyalgia story please share it. What works for one doesn’t always work for the other, but it’s nice to at least have options.