How we look: It has taken me years to... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

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How we look

deborah27 profile image
6 Replies

It has taken me years to be able to behave as others see me. When I look in the mirror I see my pain and fatigue. When I move and walk, I feel my grinding stiffness and pain. For years I believed that this is visible to others, well, I didnt actually think about it at all. It is the years of being treated as if there is nothing wrong with me, those words saying that I look alright, look normal etc.... the dismissive attitude from others when I cant go somewhere or cant sleep because of pain. It is not what others see or feel. I sat in front of my mirror today, pain everywhere as usual. I kept looking and I couldn't see anything, I could feel it, but that is it. I kept looking, I felt the fatigue, the fog, the blur, but I couldn't see it. I smiled at myself, I saw me smiling back. I have been thinking and worrying that I look like the wreck that I feel. I dont think that I do.

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deborah27 profile image
deborah27
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6 Replies
shaunmcg profile image
shaunmcg

Yes it’s tough! People are just engrossed in their own lives and because we show no physical signs they assume we are ok.

Fatigue is a major part of most of our lives and we all deal with it in different ways. I use binaural beats, yoga nidra, meditation et and they all help. Pm me if you want more details x

deborah27 profile image
deborah27 in reply toshaunmcg

Thankyou, I will. I am going to try to go to bed to get some sleep, lol, the usual drama ahead. I have work tomorrow, I would like a chat so thankyou. Hope you get some rest too.

NorrisS profile image
NorrisS

Frustrating isn't it? I get no sympathy from my partner at all for my Fibro yet last week when I fell down the stairs and was covered in bruises he showed concern. I tried to explain that the pain from falling down the stairs was nothing compared to my everyday Fibro pain but I don't think he believes me. If he could just have one day of feeling the way I do, perhaps he's understand :-(

Debbs73 profile image
Debbs73

Hi Deborah27. I know exactly how ya feel. Over years of seeing different Drs, operation after operation. I was even made to feel that I was making things up, and that was by Drs. I like you got told well u like ok.. if only people could feel how we do for just one day, then they might just get how we feel on a daily basis. An not be so judge mental. Not all illness are visible.

bobbybobb profile image
bobbybobb

If we could turn ourselves inside out for a day, they would see. xx

TheDrivenSnow profile image
TheDrivenSnow

My cousin visited me yesterday and told me I looked perfectly normal to him! I'm not sure what he expected me to look like, but he certainly seemed to judge my pain by what he saw on the surface. Not helpful at all. I do NOT want or expect sympathy, but a bit of empathy and belief wouldn't go amiss X

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