How can I manage my stress with fibromyalgia?
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Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) answered:To manage stress with fibromyalgia, it's important to evaluate and prioritize your daily commitments and set firm limits. Aim to do the activities that are most important to you in any given day (work, family, self-care) and avoid over committing yourself.
You may need to allow more time at work to get your projects completed. This will help reduce the stress you feel when faced with a deadline. Also, allow for down time in the middle of each day to meditate or rest. This will help you feel more relaxed throughout the afternoon and evening hours.
Some experts recommend cognitive behavioral therapy to help people with fibromyalgia learn new ways to cope with negative thoughts. Keeping a daily journal of your activities and fibromyalgia symptoms can help too. Learning which commitments make your fibromyalgia symptoms flare up can help you plan accordingly in the future. It's also important to get sound sleep and daily exercise to help lower your stress.
To manage stress with fibromyalgia, it's important to evaluate and prioritize your daily commitments and set firm limits. Aim to do the activities that are most important to you in any given day (work, family, self-care) and avoid over... More -
Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:You can start by throwing in the towel and getting some help. If you're working full-time and caring for a family, figure out how to take some of the pressure off. You may cut your hours at work or work from home a few days each week. Get a housekeeper to come in once a week to help with cleaning. If you can't afford a housekeeper, reach out to a family member or close friend, who may be willing to help. Try preparing your meals ahead of time and freeze these so you don't feel that need to cook each day. If you have kids, get the kids involved to help with chores and reduce your workload. Sure, teens hate to fold the sheets, but I bet they hate having an overwhelmed mom even more.
Also, say goodbye to the word perfect. Send it off with a suitcase and a snack for the road, and tell it it's not welcome back in your house. Instead, aim to be good enough in life. Trying to achieve perfection is a big stressor for many with fibromyalgia. Constantly pushing yourself to overachieve can increase your stress, which makes it hard to sleep. Poor sleep can increase your widespread pain and lower your mood. So, back off. Cut yourself some slack. Let yourself relax a little as you deal with the symptoms of fibromyalgia.You can start by throwing in the towel and getting some help. If you're working full-time and caring for a family, figure out how to take some of the pressure off. You may cut your hours at work or work from home a few days each week. Get a... More -
Dr. Robin Miller answered:There are many treatments that have been found to help with the stress of fibromyalgia. These include yoga, tai chi, and cognitive behavioral therapy. In addition, gentle exercise can help.It is very important to come up with a regular regimen that will help you cope with the problems that arise as a result of fibromyalgia.
There are many treatments that have been found to help with the stress of fibromyalgia. These include yoga, tai chi, and cognitive behavioral therapy. In addition, gentle exercise can help. It is very important to come... More
