Every day is Awareness Day for those who suffer from fibromyalgia.
Every year May 12th has been designated as “Fibromyalgia Awareness Day” to shine a light on this invisible illness. Most of us who suffer from this chronic condition feel that every day is our awareness day, as we often have to explain what it is to people. Trust me when I say it is more than what you see in the pharmaceutical commercials on TV.
“Never let the things you can’t do, stop you from doing what you can.”
Fibromyalgia Awareness Day was yesterday, but it’s also recognized for the entire month of May. Fibromyalgia Syndrome is marked by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and sleeping problems. The result of this is often that those of us with it are a shell of our former selves, too fatigued or in pain to carry on the life we once led.
While running marathons may no longer be in our wheelhouse, let’s not forget there are still plenty of things we can do and enjoy in life. We may have to adapt or take things in moderation, but that doesn’t mean we have to live a life of loneliness and isolation.
“Never let the things you can’t do stop you from doing what you can.”
Ronald Reagan
Just like Ferris Bueller says at the end of the movie, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.” So my fellow fibrowarriors, my hope for you is that you find something you can do so you can enjoy the life you have.
Cheers!
Cynthia
Four simple steps to finding joy
Living with chronic condition like Fibromyalgia can be anything but joyful most days of the week. You are in pain, tired, and can be experiencing a myriad of other symptoms at any one time. And you often feel alone.
Then there’s the fact that you usually have to explain to people just what the heck Fibromyalgia Syndrome is and the fact that there is no good understanding of what causes it, thus there’s no cure as of yet. This alone can spin you into a life of social separation and loneliness.
It is widely believed that artist Frida Kahlo also would have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, if there had been that diagnosis during her time. Her art depicts chronic pain and her diaries reflect a life filled with physical and emotional pain. Yet, she continued to do what she loved, which was to paint, and toward the end of her life she turned her attention to capturing everyday existence.
“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me, too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it’s true I’m here, and I’m just as strange as you.”
Frida Kahlo
Fibromyalgia is a complex, chronic pain disorder that causes widespread pain and tenderness.
I often refer to the fact that I have fibromyalgia in my posts, but many of you might have found your way here through some of my other musings, so I thought I should introduce some of you to this condition.
Continue reading “What Is Fibromyalgia?”
My Inspired Fibro Life 