In most cases, these factors will help alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms:
- Restorative sleep
- Moderate physical activity
- Warm baths
- Warm and dry weather
and the following factors will make symptoms worse:
- Non-restorative sleep
- Fatigue
- Overwork
- Physical inactivity
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Cold and damp
Managing fibromyalgia can be exhausting, because it involves making lifestyle changes. To help you reduce exhaustion, my blog is, on purpose, only 1/5 specific fibromyalgia help, and 4/5 general inspiration and motivation.
The only way I could change my life, was a little at a time. I began by concentrating on alleviating the symptoms–one factor at a time. Then, I slowly worked to reduce or eliminate aggravating factors.
During bad flares, I’ll be in the tub 2 or 3 times a day (but this happens far less frequently than when I was first diagnosed, when my life was one long flare-up). Normally, one warm bath a day does the trick, these days.
Restorative sleep is the primary thing for me. Anything that interferes with my sleep, gets axed.
Finding the right amount of exercise was an excruciating process, full of setbacks and disappointment. I tended to push myself too far. I hope that by publishing what eventually worked for me, I can reduce other fibromyalgia sufferers’ frustration. Why would I care to do that? I’ve explained why, here. To see my fibromyalgia exercises, go here.
So, to begin to alleviate your fibromyalgia symptoms you might: take warm baths; learn how to get restorative sleep; and engage in moderate physical activity.
The most critically important thing for me, however, was to learn how to think good thoughts, and never let myself dwell on how miserable it is to have fibromyalgia. (Yes, it can be miserable–but it’s simply not helpful to dwell on that notion.)
I gradually became more skilled in managing fibromyalgia–by seeking out activities that motivate me, spending time with inspiring people, and by believing that I have a right to be healthy and happy. I’ve gotten much better at not overworking and overachieving. Of course I haven’t eliminated all the pain, fatigue, stress and anxiety in my life (an impossibility); but I’ve greatly reduced the aggravating factors.
I invite you to keep visiting my developing blog. I intend to share the inspiration and motivation I’ve found, with the hope that it might be useful and fun (and, honestly, I’m not trying to sell you anything, although I hope you’ll buy the notion that people can make changes and they can have better lives).
But, sorry, I still haven’t figured out how to control the weather.
My own experience supports what I’ve said about aggravating and alleviating factors, but that’s not enough to make generalized statements about fibromyalgia. My data and claims for this post come from Pierre Fabre, a French company who bases their medical-conditions reports on scientific evidence, from numerous long-term clinical studies, in America and in Europe.