In your opinion,to what degree (1-10 ... - Fibromyalgia Acti...
In your opinion,to what degree (1-10 lesser to greater) has Fibromyalgia as a chronic illness affected your confidence in social situations?
Mdaisy385 VotersPlease select one:
I think lucky those who remain the same. I reckon to be fairly confident generally, but I now think hard about committing to social events. I voted 5-6 but kind of wanted to say 6-7 (awkward badger). It's not so bad if I can say yes or no on the spot because I know how I feel at that instant, and therefore whether I'll survive. I suppose I'm thinking mainly about pub visit or family meals, but any meeting comes under the umbrella.
I dont want to go anywere anymore...hate meals out. Im ok with my grown up kids . But not anyone else....dont socialise at all now......thats the opposite to what i used b like.....
So here. Don't have children which in a way is a blessing.
I was generally quiet in nature, but could always mix well in social situations, now I hold back & now prefer someone to accompany me where before I could go unaccompanied to places xx
I voted 7-8. Like Ginge I'm ok with my adult kids and husband for a meal but anything else depends on the day in general. I find I struggle with noise, loud music, crying babies and rowdy children and more and more seek solace from my own 4 walls.
I did 7 - 8 but... 8 - 9 more like it. I try not to flap when I think about it beforehand. Preempting seems worse than just going with the flow. I am restricted to doing things locally and just break into a sweat when anyone asks me to travel for events or a get-together. ...I mean, traveling distance + socialize..eek...bring on the flare! I am much better than I was, though. One time housebound and crying all day. I keep my excuses brief and explain what I can manage. What a thing that we have to think about it, and my heart goes out to those who are significantly disabled. The worst thing, as said above, is not knowing how I am going to be from one day to another, or even hour but I do very well and work most days.
I know I don't get close to new people any more. A few people I was close to didn't understand so I don't know how to get close to new friends and explain why I never go anywhere after 7pm - as I'm flat on back, unable to talk. If anyone wants a friendship during 9-5 that doesn't involve anything physical, can incorporate a fussy paleo diet, and understands when I phase out mid conversation - unlikely I think! Thank goodness for a wonderful family 
Has it changed my life? Yes, but not sure if it's the illness or my ignorant employers. For the past 18 months I've had to fight my employers to reduce my hours and work a little closer to home. On both counts plenty of availability. I have fibro, arthritis and a little kidney problem also my immunity is a little low. I don't take time off and am still eager to work. However my employers have pulled out all the stops to be awkward, bullying and discrimitive ( middle management). I claim pip from the advice of my gp. My consultants have got involved in the fight too. It's coming to an end now as disabilty discrimination was inforced and top management took note.
It's been a stressful time and my confidence is rock bottom. Fingers crossed I can see light at the end of the tunnel.
My employers??? The national health service.
Hello Popty123,
Me too! Employed by the NHS. Have never made it back to work after hospitalisation where I had brain scans and lumbar punctures because I was so unwell. Have had 3 different allocated HR people since March and haven't had any contact from my manager for 3 months. I have worked in the NHS for 34 years. The caring profession????????
My mobility is severely compromised and I need to use a wheelchair out and about. This means that I hate going anywhere social now. I feel awkward and people either speak to the chair or feel free to ask me why I am in a wheelchair. I hate having to explain myself. In the end I prefer to stay at home, and I used to be the most sociable person going. I feel vulnerable and uneasy going to events and places these days. My confidence has definitely been dented by FMS.
From someone who thrived on company, arranged
Outings, Parties and group holiday's along with Family
meals both at home and celebrations. To my family
friends and myself l am unrecognisable. l find any kind
of association from Drs to answering the phone or
Face to Face conversations PRESSURE. This seems to
Spark off the burning nerve pain, my head goes...l
cant think, get my words, and say what l need too.
Isolation for me is the only way for me in a flair meds
and quite. Sad "Old Bat" l know....but works for me.
Please don't think 'Sad old bat' you are using a time honoured technique to protect yourself, by avoiding over stimulation. Look at some meditation and visualisation techniques to beat the 'white coat syndrome' (((gentle hugs)))
Mmmmm how true...thank you for your advice
Isolation not good for the soul or mind. But as you implied I think a healing of my senses, which seems to include retreating into myself is a consequence of this vile disease. Social confidence diminishes the longer we endure it.
Maybe that's why Forums like these are vital
they do provide the social side, allowing us to
hide....No confidence needed there, then !
Ops...Huge soft hugs
So wonderful, in a paradoxical sense of course that I have at last found folk who are gong thru the same as me!!.....its like a great sigh of relief somewhere inside that says I'm not he only one...x
I write everything down - well type it actually - that I need to say to medics, symptoms, history, etc otherwise I leave and find I missed all the important things out. x
Confidence in social situations depends on how much pain I am in!
My confidence is rock bottom, I avoid going out as much as possible, I hate the thought of travelling anywhere and socialising with new people is enough to bring on a flare up, and that's without being able to cope with loud music or noisy situations I just feel so sad inside all the time as so many of my friends don't bother any more as they don't understand, my grown up children are pretty much the same although my second eldest also has fibro as has my baby who is just 17 
,she is far more understanding as she still lives here and obviously witnesses my daily struggle, I also have chondrocalcinosis and an under active thyroid, guess they are all related, have been just awarded pip, even doing that atos assessment was a struggle but they just wrote in their report only what they needed to!! but at least I might be able to get some help with household chores etc
I can't do my job any more which is so frustrating (i'm a trained hair dresser and beauty therapist) as all that training has just gone to waste, I just wish there was a cure or at least some form of respite from the constant pain!!
if it wasn't for my children and grandchildren Im not sure what i would do
I have become almost reclusive.
I have learned that just explaining to people that I have fibro helps a lot. I do not have a social life anymore. Normals my age are out doing things I am not willing to put myself through.
Fibro is life changing you either roll with it or just waste away.
Yi wrote a very long comment from my phone and somehow seem to lave lost it before I could send it. Having a verbal day with many hours of pain and no sleep. If this reality ever changes and I manage to gather my emotional strength to rewrite how this dreadful disease has affected me socially, I will try to rewrite ibandronic send from computer. Doing stuff like this on a phone while in a lot of pain is rather stupid of me ananyway, since I am easily confused and jittery.
I will be interested to read comments from others an most certainly shed tears, knowing of your undoubted suffering in social situations.
I Gentle hugs,
Budgiefriend
Having a variety of issues I can't say which would be higher. Fibromyalgia has stopped me working and whilst I grieve that person I don't think lack of confidence is related to that rather than being fat.
I only go out with family now. I had to stop working last October and avoid new people nowadays. Its easier than trying to explain why you no longer work, or go to clubs, or do any socialising. I find even my family struggle to understand let alone strangers. I was once a very outgoing gregarious person, an extrovert and the life and soul of the party. These days I just live life through my family, I rarely go out, never alone and have become very introverted and insular. I even hide if the neighbors are in the garden.
I read that people try different things to improve, but I find it hard to just survive each day without climbing back into bed and hiding. Everything is just so exhausting.
Gentle hugs everyone
I used to be a real sociable person and had a job meeting new people all the time and had no problem chatting to anyone and everyone. I loved new places and new experiences and meeting new people. I was happy to go all the way up to Northern Scotland and travel around from place to place and loved any party occasion. Now haven;t had a holiday in nearly four years as the thought of planning, getting there and sight seeing all seems to be too much.
Now even though I can enjoy myself still with a few close friends who even though they don't quite understand my condition can make allowances for it I find that it unfortunately impinges on all social situations. I am sure like others I never know how I am going to be from one hour to another let alone one day to another so planning anything is a minefield. I have had to turns down invititations to go to London with long standing girlfriends to shows and excursions as they are all supremely fit and I know that I would not be able to keep up with the exhausting schedule and would either have to stay at the hotel most of the time resting which would defeat the object of the trip or they would have to be curtailing all that they did to fit in with my requirements which would be unfair. I can go out with the best of intentions but by the time I have managed to get myself ready I am alrady starting to flag and by half way through the evening the usually bubbly me has stopped talking and is sneaking peaks at her watch to see how long it will be to home time.
If there is something I really want to do I have to rest for several days before and then try not to schedule anything for the next few days whilst i recover. This makes the unplanned trips of old a no no and I am finding my social life seriously curtailed. Family occasions have to be planned for so before we would have travelled up to a wedding on the same day as the ceremony and then travelled back through the night now I have to travel up the day before and stay the day after in order to have any hope of enjoying the occasion.
I am sure there are so many of us out there like that.
i can only go out with my husband i get really nervous before we go anywhere if we visit family i get a bit of a lift seeing them especially children do find it very noisy i am totally exausted when we get home can take days to get over it.
Yes I feel less confident about finding places when I am shopping. I live near a busy shopping centre, and even though I have been many times before I still have memory blocks. If I was with a person who did not understand then I would feel very stupid. I also find now myself, having memory blocks when I am talking to somebody. I know what I should be saying, but some how it does not come out of my mouth. I have a note book in my bag that I carry round, with notes to myself to remind me of certain things.
So yes I cannot trust myself to be a confident person.
Karen xxx
Perhaps I didn't interpret this question correctly, or the same as others ...
But if I am IN a social situation now, my confidence remains the same level as before my FMS. I suppose this is because of the fact that as we often say, we DON'T really LOOK ILL ... So if I am ABLE TO GO somewhere, I look & really am as confident as before. I always enjoy the company of family and friends if/when I can physically be out in the first place!
If, on the other hand, you want to know if my even "participating" in social situations or activities is affected, that would be a very different answer ...
Thanks! BK
People who I trust and share more with are Internet friends who have been through similar situations and have a wealth of experience. Also those in spiritual or friendship groups who can criticise or encourage with no axe to grind. I am outgoing and used to be a trainer so lots of interaction and public speaking. I may be on my own a lot but never feel lonely if that makes sense. If I didn't have a partner and son I would probably have a home delivery food service and never go out! Lol
I used to have a busy life, held down a demanding job which required me to interact with other professionals. Now? After a long period of isolating myself from all social situations, I can cope with family gatherings some of the time, church most of the time, but I still need the support of my husband to do any of these things. Even answering the phone or making a phone call can send me into a panic attack. We rarely have big family gatherings now as I can't predict when I will be able to deal with it socially or physically manage. At least I am retired now(managed early retirement thank goodness!) so it doesn't matter if I don't feel like going out. I try to go out when I feel well enough, even if it's for a short time, so I'm not just as bad as I was a few years ago. The little ones in the family actually help me, as it gives me a lift to interact with them and they accept my limitations.
i dont have a social life and when i mention to people why i dont go out much ie pain they look at me like ive landed froma nother planet called total hypychondria
there should be a tv program about fybromalgia and how it affects people to get some understanding out to the unaffected and no understanding or concept of what it does to people and that it is real not imaginary . also just because you can still walk albeit lke a pengiun some days the dont understand that you have pain on every movement put just get on with it otherwise youll never move again
I did not meet a single person who understands what I have yet! it more painful to explain to people and see that dumb look on their face than having to lift up a pack of water... Even better, most of them think that I might be overreacting and that I should try to be more active!
I am used to leading groups of people so could probably say that I am more confident than most under normal circumstances, but now I know that I often 'lose my thread' mid sentence and find myself thinking "what the hell was I saying" and I can see on the faces of others that they are thinking the same. Someone once thanked me for information shared by email; of which I had no recollection at all.
I have travelled where it has involved train changes and different airport terminals and managed the connections, sometimes at a run. Now I have to plan how many steps, if there are lifts, if there are accessible loos. I feel vulnerable where once I was adaptable.
However, I am grateful that I got to do those things, and that knowledge helps me to plan for eventualities, so all is not lost; just obscured a bit by the fog!!
Can't make any arrangements, even holidays worry me, I still get panic attacks when I go out and don't like being in shops at all.
I really don't do Social gatherings or rather avoid them if I can, My only social outing is a meal with my grown up children once a week at home, Use to belong to clubs and groups of interest and very social when I worked............... That is all gone now with this Illness.... Even friendships or a new relationship (widowed) is to much effort to maintain.... Just content at home with my Old Cat.....
7-8 My hubby & I used to hold large social gatherings from BBQ's, fancy dress to Cheese n Wine nights frequently.
Now not only can I not afford to do it financially but physically either....... wipes the boing out of me before the event even begins 
I would score higher because I have been reclusive for long lengths of time but since getting the power chair I do have more feasibile options to consider that result in me getting out & about
I used to be a life skills tutor, wrote and delivered courses on confidence building and assertiveness and have gone from being able to walk into a room full of strangers and introduce myself to one who rarely goes out. I voted 6-7 but hovered over the 7-8. I will go out for meals with my closest but ring ahead to ensure comfy seating and location of loos as pain can spoil the event for me if in very upright chairs. It is so difficult to plan ahead as I cannot predict how my pain levels, brain fog, headache/migraine will be until the day and that's bound to affect confidence. I am by nature a sociable person and if it's a family event, like my cousins wedding this coming weekend, I will commit and take every precaution to ensure I am as well as possible. My mother reckons I get my adrenaline up when it's needed and forge ahead. Whilst she is proud of my determination she said she hates to see me paying for it once I get to relax. It does take its toll and I know that the boom-bust cycle is not ideal, I will go there for my nearest and dearest.
I have friends who are wanting me to start going back out with them, they enjoy my humour, but so far I've been putting it off.... for the last couple of years of truth be told. Written down like that it's hit me just how much I avoid a night out, I back away from loud places and flashing lights as I do seem to be hyper-sensitive to both. Is this a confidence thing or avoidance of unpleasant environments or could it be that I would feel bad if I had to leave early if I was not coping well. Hmmm, self analysis is an odd one. I guess I will see how the wedding goes this weekend and take it from there
I dont think it has made any difference in the way i see things i look at life in the repect that things happen and to try to make the best of things but to be honest fibro or ctd is not going to stop me from going out, working or doing what i want to do i relise that pushing the envelope will cause more pain (like being hit by a bus and sometimes that its had a second go and back over me but thats life) but am willing to put up with it as to have as much as a normal life as i can 😁😘
Have just typed a long reply only to have it vanish on the last word.
The gist of it was that my confidence has not changed and i think that it is due to having this horrid illness come upon me gradually over many years giving me time to get used to it little by little or more like symptom by symptom.
I now realise that my dislike of any social gathering is due to the noise, lights, smells ect making me feel ill and not that i dont like being with people.
Having the wheelchair has also not made any difference. I just means that i am no longer stuck in the house when the others are out enjoying themselves. If i see some one looking i just give them a smile and carry on with what i was doing.
I just wish that all of you my fibro friends could have had the same chance of getting used to it slowly.
Hugs sue
Or not getting it at all that would be best.
I have had to put this bit as a reply cus the soopid computer wont let me add it to my reply to the post.
That's a big YES, at least 11 on a 0-10 scale, especially when you are trying to hide it. I tried to explain that I can't just keep up with the rhythm and it never worked out for me. My entourage still think that I should shake off the laziness and depression and try to go out more. It's like I start speaking "Alien" right after the word it's called.... so I just try to hide it which as you may know, is quite impossible. I "dream" of isolation just so I can rest a little bit without any external judgement and try to take care of me, instead of using every little drop of energy I have, to try to show that I am doing ok, otherwise, I constantly have to face up the worst sentence I ever heard: "you're young". They are right, I might be young but I feel worst than most aged people around me, and that, that nobody seems to understand so lately social life= hell on earth to me!
In some ways social situations are harder. My body language is tighter, my rigid. Sometimes I'll just feel physically uncomfortable (because of my Fibro) but I'm worried this could be perceived as being uncomfortable in the situation, or just being socially awkward. If I'm feeling foggy I'm vaguer - because I can't think of the right word, or forget what to say. I may also find it harder to concentrate on what the other person is saying or staying engaged.
My need for interaction is probably higher - I need a way to take my mind off of how I'm feeling. Trying to do a task on my own when I don't feel well can often be frustrating and may only highlight how bad I'm feeling. So anything social is a good diversion - I do have to make an effort but it's in a more practical way (for want of a better phrase).
Luckily I have a good group of friends now who accept me for who I am and I'm more open about my condition. To be fair, I'm probably about the same when it comes to people I know well. But it's hard to say. I'm also less likely to care about what other people think of me.
But I voted lower confidence (3-4 - I hope I've interpreted the scale right) because sometimes I feel vulnerable and trying to interact socially is daunting, bordering on impossible. My general levels of anxiety are higher. Also, I've been taken advantage/messed of by some people recently - people who I thought I was becoming friends with (when I thought I'd gone past the days of being treated like that), so I find it harder with trust when it comes to making new friends. Maybe it's just my bias towards seeing the good in people that's accounted for this. But I feel like I would be better at this, and consequently trusting my own judgement, if I didn't have Fibro.
Sorry for the length of this post. I find it harder to express myself without doing so in a round about way. Maybe I could get to the point quicker if I didn't have Fibro fog and consequently, be better in this social context.
xxxx
I've interpreted it wrong. I now realised it's Fibro and the IMPACT that has on confidence, not the level of confidence. So I should of voted higher. Also, there's something wrong when it comes to editing responses, I've tried but it just says 'your title needs to be between 15 and 140 characters, please try again' when there's no where to put a title!
I just want to say that 'my' should be written as 'more' rigid. And also, in the paragraph about feeling vulnerable, it's partly to do with the light and sounds as Sue pointed out. Sometimes my senses are so over loaded, there's little room left for any adequate social interaction.
Also when I say trusting myself I mean trusting my own judgement. I hope the editing tool can be fixed soon. xx
I got sacked from my teaching job (of seven years) two weeks ago for being off ill with Laryngitis – which resulted in my loss of voice for over five days, Acute Tonsillitis, Swollen glands, Upper Respiratory Tract Infection, Growing stress and fear of being off work and Having to fight for my rights with the GP because he was not bound by law anymore to have to provide me with a sick/fit note - he didn't and I got the sack.
I have an interview for a new job on the 23 of June... now the panic, the worry about what do I tell them about Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Polymyalgia, Polyarthralgia, Fibrous Dysplasia, Functional Tremor Disorder, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple joint disease involving the knees, shoulders, elbows, left and right hand small joints, Vitamin D deficiency, None Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Dermatitis, Achilles Tendonitis right ankle, Oedema of Legs, Dysphagia, Ovarian Cysts, Hemiplegic Migraine and Diet Controlled Diabetes. My old employers were definitely not disabled friendly... but they knew all about my conditions even if they didn't care.
Going out - no chance. Too many conditions to think about - where to sit, where is the toilet, can't carry drinks, can't eat without cutting food into very small pieces and then fighting with the functional tremor disorder and food going all the place... the list as with everyone above is along one.
So staying in - yep. A cup of tea, my bed, a movie and my cats... my life.
I used to have a pretty good social life, loved watching local live bands at the weekends. Starting gradually late 2014, I began passing up on a night out because I was so flaked out after a week's work and now I'm lucky if I can sum up the energy, confidence or want to go out. I've been battling through the horrendous exhaustion, joint pains and brain fog up till recently with work but experiencing some really bad days, I'm having no choice but to take a day off for sheer respite and recharge. This will not go down well with my employers (NHS), but on the days I try and give my body a break from zombiefying painkillers I am in so much pain...and on the days I need the painkillers I'm slow, brain foggy, forgetful, poor quality typing etc...I can't find a happy medium. I find the situation very distressing
I don't think I have lost confidence....just that have had to stop most things social as am abed by 8 most evenings...I guess tho that it may be possible that one loses confidence when one starts being unable to get out!!..still at the moment I don't mind too much...and have accepted that have had to curtail most of the things did in the evenngs ...:-)........am lying abit...I DO mind but theres no point in despairing....just keep on keeping on!
Fibro has me hiding at home now. It has caused me bad anxiety now days.
I am like most of you. I to have fibro and it has taken my ability to go out of the house. I suffer severe panic attacks when out on my own, with the fear of being in so much pain and tiredness that I fear I can't make it home. I sympathise with everyone whom is suffering like me. Gentle hugs to all
I don't go out with friends anymore as we have to make sure that anywhere we go is Disabled friendly. [Believe it or not we went to one pub whose Disabled toilets were up four stairs to the door, then a a very deep step once inside the room. Luckily, the floor was all one level after that It was a good job that my friend was with me to help].
Also, there are lots of times that I am in so much pain/too fatigued that I have to cancel at the last moment so, understandably, the number of invitations I have to go out has reduced to about probably 4 times a year.
I was 'released' from my job because of how ill I have become and I live alone. So I only ever talk to the people who deliver parcels. When I do go out I have to have someone with me because if I fall over I can't get back up again without assistance.
So this dreadful illness as well as what it has done to me physically and emotionally has basically left me a hermit. It's a good job that I like my own company but there are times when being alone turns into being lonely. At these times I feel useless and can't see how my life will improve. Please don't think I'm going to do anything dreadful to myself - I am too much of a fighter but I would love to be able to talk to people on the telephone or via the internet i.e. facebook- just to know that I am not completely alone.
I agree totally with Tibby3a - she has described my life totally - bed, my cats and very poor sleep.
I hope everyone is going to have a good day today. Take care. Love S x
Hi most days 7-8 other days 9-10 or as we say here in N.I. through the roof. I feel totally cut of from friends and even some family, they can't understand that you just can't jump up and do things on the spare of the moment and my family & friends find this really weird of me as I always loved to be around people. I was a voluntary youth leader for years teaching dance, crafts and life skills. Now I can't even remember what I'm talking about mid sentance (fog) don't go out to do shop to drop days I just drop at the thought lol, xx
Between a 5 and 8: depends on if I have to sit down for a long period of time...as my pain goes up, my confidence goes down.
8-9 My social life has stopped i'm too exhausted and if i do ever get out i just want to go back home again..fybro has severely effected my life. I doubt i will ever find a man who understands this illness. I'm so grateful to be able to speak to people on here that understand.
I vote for 5/6 sometime i feel like 9.10 but to be fair, someday i feel bad than other days. I'm in pain all the time. I get frustrated that i can't do simple job with out giving me pain. I hate to rely on my husband. he's a good man.
I am also in recluse,I dread even going out of my garden,or travelling in a car to doctors,dentists,hospital appointments.
I'm in pain all day long 24/7 all over my body. I never go out unless I have to.
I also have Osteoarthritis in hands(fingers wrists) feet/toes, hip knee...(diagnosed by consultants,at hospital).
But I manage to pace myself with exercise,and little jobs around the garden about half an hour of gardening at a time,just pottering.
I also have Emphysema stage three.
I do not socialise at all.
But I'm happy with my life,I am seventy this year.
Fibro fog makes keeping track of what is being said really hard!
I never want to go out, I never want people round. I never want to get out of bed. Does that answer your question
I feel it hasn't affected my confidence as much as it has for some other people except when I'm in pain and feel vulnerable, not lacking in social confidence but lacking confidence in my ability to take care of myself, especially if I am in a realistically difficult situation, then I might feel panicky for a moment.
However what fibro has affected is my ability to follow through on the things I want to be doing - whether they are social things or not. During the last 9 months my hubby and I have had to cancel probably 20 evenings out - at concerts or theatre, or similar and all already paid for, and not cheap - because I feel too exhausted to consider going. We almost laugh - hubby is registered disabled due to end stage renal failure at 74 but ironically he is still able to travel 30 miles to work 3 days a week, manages on about little sleep a night plus an afternoon nap , does most of the cooking and washing up, drink fairly heavily, and still manages to be the one who does all the packing etc at the end of a trip to the supermarket - whereas I have little obviously wrong with me yet feel ill a lot of the time (thankfully don't have to work as we are pensioners but couldn't contemplate the idea), feel exhausted after quite minor activities and collapse into bed at 9pm only to wake exhauasted after 12 hours sleep only interrupted by trips to the loo (yes, thankfully I am one of those who sleeps more rather than less when ill or in pain...). He is the one with the disabled parking permit but I am the one who needs it but would not manage to get it... What a strange life.
Cant plan ahead withlut serious rest upfront and even then subject to pain and anciety
I don't go out any more so I am never in a social enviorement.
I was always a very confident person. I was the office colleague who arranged the nights out/Chritmas Party nights and always up for a laugh. Now I don't keep up with any work colleagues except one who I also went to school with. I do work from home though, so any social events take more get up and go. I always thought my reclusiveness was down to being a home worker, but perhaps there is a bit of Fibro in there too. I believe I have had Fibro since 2009 for sure But possibly earlier, however only diagnosed last week, despite the rhematolgist apparently diagnosing me in 2011! Dr's decided not to tell me?
I have issues with noise and light, always need a toilet handy. I avoid theatres, and last minute requests to go out are an issue for me, where I often decline. I still get out and about, on my own terms and still arrange holidays and look forward to them. Socially now, I don't have much of one, but I seem to be okay with that.
I don't like to go out. I never go out alone. I could quite happily become a hermit.
I would rate my situation 9... I tend to stay away from any social situation. It is difficult to deal with natural occurances like visiting doctors, shopping, etc and takes some time after these type of visits to recover. The tiredness makes the brain so foggy, muddled, then pain increases, its frightening in the world where doctors don't fully understand and other folk have limited understanding. This takes away all confidence when dealing with anyone on any level. Only family that understand my situation gives me less stress. Life totally changes with fibro and all aspects of living it, especially if you have other health issues going on and still in the uk it is not understood enough, taken seriously enough and as a person you are still treated with distain as though you have made it all up. For me its living in a nightmare with no proper acceptance by the health professionals what you are actually having to cope with while dealing with all that comes with fibro. You feel patronized and let down each time you try and reach out for help, then totally defeated when no help is given. So yes, confidence, self assurity is eroded slowly until you are a shell of your former self.
