Meditation and Fibromyalgia How It Helps Sufferers
Can meditation help fibromyalgia? If you are one of the millions of people who suffer with fibromyalgia, then you know the physical and emotional pain it brings.In this article we talk about meditation for fibromyalgia and how it can help.
When you are in pain you will do almost anything to ease it. There are diet, exercises, feedback for pain, so what about meditation to treat your fibromyalgia. Meditation has endless benefits from reducing stress and anxiety and even helping with pain management. Meditation is easy to do, takes little time and you can do it without exerting energy while easing your condition symptoms.
Another plus is that meditation is beneficial for people of all ages and health levels. Before we jump in let’s take a quick look at what is fibromyalgia.
Is There a Cure for Fibromyalgia
Though there is an estimated 500 million people with fibromyalgia there is no cure for it yet. However there is one thing that most people including scientist will agree on, is that stress is likely a major factor.
Until recent years many people who suffer with fibromyalgia symptoms were dismissed. Unlike a broken leg symptoms of fibromyalgia are difficult to see. However, the effects on ones life are clear.
Below you will read some of the symptoms of this condition. Then we’ll see how meditation may help.
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a very serious condition that is often ignored or not correctly diagnosed. Those who sufferer need to understand the symptoms so they can clearly explain to their physician. As well know how to treat it — meditation is one such way.
It’s important not to ignore the symptoms. It f they are unchecked it can affect your physical and mental health. And, without care it can take over your life.
Below are some of the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia:
Pain Around The Tender Points
One of the most common symptoms of the disease is pain in certain places on the body often referred to as the tender points.
A Rheumatologist may press on certain areas to see if you are tender or pain. This is a good starting point for diagnosis, but often what happens when you get to the Dr. you do not feel pain at that particular time?
Or, if you are told you only showed tenderness have 14 out of the 15 points, which is what happened to me? It’s a malleable disease as well we all have different pain thresholds so this test can be very subjective.
Typical pain points are around the skin’s surface, around the neck, the back, buttocks and shoulders.
Chronic Fatigue
The majority of people with fibromyalgia go through some sort of chronic fatigue. Chronic fatigue is when you feel tired, drained. lethargic and weak and its seems like it’s for no reason. But when you are in pain you aren’t resting well because of the pain which turn into a vicious cycle. Meditation will hep relax and sleep better as a result.
Tingling Sensation
A prickly and tingling sensation can be part of fibromyalgia. This occurs by lack of movement or when pressure is on the nerves. In addition vitamin and mineral levels may be a factor with the sensations. Meditation for fibromyalgia can help to increase your circulation without doing strenuous exercise.
Aching Bones
Many people feel their bones ache, fibromyalgia can often be confused with arthritis joint pain. Pain radiates and it is difficult to pin point where the pain is coming from. The pain is typically coming from the muscle tissue, nerve endings often due to lack of blood supply, people who suffer from fibromyalgia will often describe the pain as aching bones. Arthritis should be ruled out in the beginning stages.
Feeling Exhausted All The Time
People who have fibromyalgia experience sleep problems due to the pain and discomfort. When there is not a deep relaxed sleep the body and mind becomes stressed leaving an overall feeling of despair, hopelessness.
Mood Swings
Its natural for your mood to change. When you are in pain its difficult to keep upbeat. You are far more likely to be edgy and quick-tempered, even teary and emotional as you feel so drained and overwhelmed.
People may not understand the mood swings as they cannot see the pain. Fibromyalgia is not just a physical condition. Using guided meditation will help bring more positive sensations to the brain, increasing the feel good chemicals and improve the fibro pain as a result.
Often pain medication is recommended but many do little to improve the mood and some can have side effects causing a decline in the mood.
Hormonal Changes
When the body is in pain, it affects the brain, chemicals and can bring about hormonal changes, something that many people may not associate with fibromyalgia. Hormonal changes can involve extremely high or low production of certain hormones which can go unnoticed.
Feeling Numb
Numbness is another common problem with fibromyalgia sufferers. The numbness often happens as muscles spasm and stiffness occurs, in turn this irritates the already sensitive nerves, and like a pinched nerve results in an overall loss of feeling.
Fibromyalgia pain is so frustrating and known as an invisible disability because you cannot feel the pain and it’s not like a broken leg where you can see a cast or if you see blood and associate pain, when it is not seen people cannot understand that there is real pain.
Depression
Many people suffer with depression and there are many levels of depression, when you are in pain, you are tired, you feel hopeless, you doubt yourself and the ability to ever feel normal, and as a result depression sneaks in and if not treated settles in and take a hold. Depression is something that comes with fibromyalgia. Guided meditation helps alleviate depression as the mind follows the visual cues which change and uplift the thoughts, to rest the brain and relief the pain.
Depression is associated with fibromyalgia and should never be ignored. It is a factor that must be handled with care and is essential to over all wellness.
Inability to Express
In some severe cases of fibromyalgia, you might also have an inability to express yourself through the right words or remembering the right names or seeing faces. When you are tired and exhausted your mind health suffers, you may find it difficult to focus, keep track and become forgetful as the pain and discomfort becomes all-consuming.
Hypersensitivity
When you are in pain, part of the irritation and changes can include hypersensitivity to smells, especially strong scent, bright lights and loud noises. This is part of the nervous system not being as tolerant. You may become extremely sensitive to things that others may not notice or understand.
Anxiety
Life is stressful which contributes to anxiety. But when it couples with fibromyalgia anxiety it can quickly take hold. You may become anxious as you anticipate the physical and emotional pain starting again.
If left unchecked anxiety can take on a life of its own and be all-consuming. Guided Meditation can works wonders for anxiety that come with fibromyalgia. Take time to meditate and you will experience anxiety releasing as you breath deeply and calmly.
When you are suffering its is essential that you care for your self, some medication may work, that is if you can get diagnosed but you can begin healing your fibromyalgia with guided meditation, gentle yoga and eliminate toxic foods that may look innocent but be very harmful to your body.
Chronic headaches
Chronic headaches are also a common symptom of fibromyalgia. It comes with severe headaches and can turn into migraines. When you are in pain your aren’t active, you may not eat well and lack sleep, and toxins build up in your body; all of the factors can results in painful headaches and migraines related to your fibromyalgia. Use relaxation techniques to help.
IBS
IBS also known as irritable bowel syndrome is very common for people who suffer with fibromyalgia. The irritable bowel syndrome can cause abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea which can disrupt the entire body. A few contributing factors are, lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and not enough exercise. As we as lack of fiber and fluid..
Gentle Healing Yoga will help to get your body moving. You can work at your own pace as you begin to stretch gently. Stretching will help to increase circulation which gets rid of toxins in the body that may contribute to fixing your IBS. IN addition taking supplements and digestive enzymes will help relieve irritable bowel issues.
Treat Fibromyalgia with Meditation
Using a holistic approach meditation for fibromyalgia will help to get to the root cause. Medication may only mask the problem while meditation, good nutrition and supplements may be a long term solution for fibromyalgia.
Concluding Meditation for Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia has many faces so it make sense to try all approaches. So try meditation for fibromyalgia. Make notes in a journal to see what helps to alleviate your pain. This includes exercise as well as noting what you eat.
Get a meditation for home so you can work it in around your schedule.
Here’s to your wellness.
Andrea
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