Over 50% of Americans have trouble falling or staying asleep, and that number is even higher for those of us living with Fibromyalgia or CFS. There are a lot of little tricks people suggest for help with falling asleep. I've tried quite a few of them with typically little success. Melatonin … [Read more...]
How I reclaimed my life from chronic illness
How I Reclaimed My Life from Chronic Pain Life is a constant state of reclaiming. At least my life is. For every loss I faced, I must then reclaim a life I want. Whatever the struggle, I have to come back and reclaim the life I have chosen. What other choice is there? Giving up? That's no choice … [Read more...]
The Stew of Pain: the highly sensitive person, chronic stress, and chronic pain
The Stew of Pain: The Highly Sensitive Person, Chronic Stress, C-PTSD and Central Pain Sensitization guest post by Jade Bald I am part of a subgroup of people who make up 15-20 percent of the world’s population I’m a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). I discovered I had the trait about a year … [Read more...]
Books to help you cope with chronic illness
Reading is one of my favorite pastimes, a good book can distract me when I'm not feeling well, it can teach me so many things, or it can simply help me relax and fall asleep at the end of a hard day. I enjoy nonfiction as much as fiction, and while I prefer to avoid the "cure" books, I do look for … [Read more...]
The Slow Death of Compassion For the Chronically Ill
In "The Slow Death of Compassion for the Chronically Ill," Ken McKim makes several excellent points, about the lack of compassion towards those with chronic illness. It's not too long (30 minutes) and definitely worth watching and sharing, especially with those who question your illnesses, or … [Read more...]
What causes fibromyalgia flares? My top 6 causes
What Causes Fibromyalgia Flares? When you live with Fibromyalgia or any chronic illness that “flares” up at various times, life is unpredictable. It’s often hard to know when you might wake up having a bad day or when it may be a good day. Fibromyalgia flares can show up at any … [Read more...]
The Chronic Pain Scale: Communicating Your Chronic Pain
The Pain Scale and Chronic Pain This is the pain scale they have on the wall in the rooms at the hospital. This is a terrible pain scale on so many levels! But, for someone in chronic pain it's pretty much useless. The faces that go with it are just, well, humorous. 0 - No Hurt - A person … [Read more...]
My Story of Recovery from Fibromyalgia
It's been a decade since I became ill and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I spent the first two years barely existing. Getting out of bed was a struggle. Thankfully, I did find some answers that helped me recover and return to a mostly normal life. My story of recovery from fibromyalgia Don't get … [Read more...]
Could food sensitivities be making your Fibromyalgia symptoms worse?
Back in 2012, after spending two years feeling so awful I barely got off the couch/bed except for doctor appointments, I finally reached the point where I was willing to try anything - even completely changing my diet. During the previous two years I’d had many people suggest food sensitivities as a … [Read more...]
10 Ways to keep Chronic Illness from stealing your life
Chronic illness will steal your life if you let it. It will take over your entire identity and become everything you think about. But, it doesn't have to be that way. Chronic illness is only something you have to live with, it is NOT who you are. Don't let chronic illness steal your life. 10 … [Read more...]
