How can you have chronic pain and fatigue and NOT be depressed? Everyone, healthy or not, struggles every day with the stress of raising a family, their jobs, financial problems, family illnesses, and yes, death and taxes. You have to get the kids to school on time, pay the bills, go to work (if you can work), clean the house, feed the pets, water the lawn, pick up the kids, take them to soccer, piano. classes, making dinner, getting the kids to do their homework (good luck) and you have to do all of this AND MORE with debilitating pain, fatigue, migraines, IBS, TMJ, RLS, etc. Just thinking about it is depressing!

Fibromyalgia patients are often misdiagnosed with anxiety disorders and depression, implying that “it’s all in your head,” but research has consistently shown that fibromyalgia is not a form of depression or hypochondria. Anxiety and depression COEXIST with FM and treatment is important because both can worsen FM and interfere with symptom control.

From my own experience, I can tell you how easy it is to let it get the best of you. There were days when I would just lie down in my dark room that I called “the cave” and isolate myself from my family and friends. I avoided leaving the house unless absolutely necessary and when I did, all I could think about was getting home and getting into bed. The more depressed I got, the more pain I was in. The more pain I was in, the more depressed I got!

I had anxiety attacks and the stress of a bad financial situation was more than I could handle, or so I thought. There were times when I wondered how the hell I was going to spend the next day: how much longer can I deal with this? I felt hopeless, powerless and useless. My self image was horrible and my confidence level was non existent. I was ashamed.

Have you ever felt like this? I hope not, but IF YOU HAVE, there is a way to get yourself out of the pit of depression and anxiety! You can become a productive member of your family and of society as a whole. It’s not easy, but what choice do you have? You know you don’t want to live like this forever.

I always hated the idea of ​​therapy! First of all, the effort it would take me to leave the house was an important factor. Second, I didn’t want to tell my whole sorry story to a stranger and wasn’t even sure they would believe me about the fibromyalgia part. There are still some mental health professionals who believe that FM is more psychological than physiological. I didn’t want to hear it.

About a year ago my son needed therapy for depression and anger issues. I took him to several professionals and one suggested (in front of my son) that he could cure my fibromyalgia because it was more emotional and psychological stress than a physical problem. The next day, we went to another therapist. I didn’t trust him to help my son if he was going to say that to me. We finally found one that was a good fit for our family as we would all be participating in my son’s therapy. It didn’t take long for me or the therapist to discover that I needed help too. He saw right through me!

Therapy has changed my life in so many ways and with a caring professional guiding me, I have regained the control I had given my fibromyalgia. It helped me see my worth, my positive traits, and taught me how to deal with my pain, stress, anxiety, and depression. Talking about it with an objective party is also a way to heal emotional scars and it was such a relief to expose it all! He also recommended a new antidepressant to my doctor which has helped me a lot.

Perception is everything. I perceived myself a certain way and became exactly that.

My father was recently diagnosed with small cell lung cancer; he never smoked. It is the rarest form of lung cancer that is fast-acting and incurable. He was devastated when I heard the news! My dad is my hero and my rock: life without him is something I can’t even comprehend. I really lost it for a while, but with counseling, I’m finding my own way to cope. I still have bad days, but I’m trying to get through them in a healthier way. The woman she was two years ago would have returned to his cave and never come out.

There are many medicines, supplements, and herbs that can help. Talk to your doctor about which ones might work for you and always check for interactions and side effects! I have a lot of information on prescription drug alternatives, therapies, and other resources on my website that might be of help.

Don’t be afraid to take the first step and find a good mental health professional! Really worth it. I am now a working “fibromyth” and although I still have pain and other problems, I can get through them one day at a time. If I can do it, so can YOU!

More articles on this topic to come!