Triggers?

[Channy3]

Hi everyone, I’ve had a really bad few days very lethargic, no physical strength, my body hurts… every joint is so painful even to touch the pain like you feel when pressure is applied to a sensitive bruise, I feel like one big bruise. I’m not sure what’s triggered this flare up but I have recently had a fall out/ break up with my partner of nearly seven years can this emotional hurt & upset make your physical symptoms to worsen?

[Dizzytwo Moderator]

Good morning, so sorry to hear about your break up. IMO it's irrelevant if you have fibro or not. Any kind of stress emotional or other wise can always effect how we feel physically as well as mentally.

I do hope your flare up will calm down soon. Sending you positive thoughts and good wishes as you move forward. Hopefully you and your partner can work through your problems xx

Momo

[Channy3 in reply to Dizzytwo]

I don’t know if we can, I’m feeling very lost atm. Thank u for ur reply, it’s so nice to have people who understand xx

[caggy22]

Hi Channy,

I had a very long a tough relationship with my husband who was an alcoholic. He past away 3 years ago in March. I only got diagnosed with fibro in September. I find that stress, depression and anxiety play a massive past on fibro. At the moment I'm doing CBT with a specialist to try and manage this. However I am also on meds, I feel every day is a challenge. The main issue is lack of energy even when I get out of bed, I feel drained. No matter what I do I can't shift it. I've been having nightmares which also affect my day where I feel worse than ever. So please don't be too hard on yourself the break up will drain you and you need to rest to try and regain strength 💪. Good luck

[Channy3 in reply to caggy22]

I’m sorry to hear that hun, my ex was an alcoholic… very difficult. I have considered getting some form of talking therapy as this relationship has had problems but more with jealousy & control, sort of lost myself over the years. I’m not sure who’s right or wrong anymore, I just know I feel that I need space for my own sanity but with all my health issues it is very hard not to have an extra pair of hands but I know that’s no reason to continue with the relationship. Just hard atm and now my body has decided to turn on me, just wondered if the two were related x

[Blearyeyed]

So sorry to hear if your current situation and how it has effected you, but please take heart , give yourself the care you deserve and the feelings and their effect on your Fibro will pass.In answer to your question , mental stress , no matter where it comes from can make you feel as bad physically , and sometimes far worse , than physical stress does and it is probably the most common flare trigger because of its effect on how we sleep , eat and respond to our environment not just on our thoughts and emotions.

This is because although Anxiety is a type of Stress , Stress isn't just caused by Anxiety or Trauma.

Stress is not just caused by a bad or negative thing . Stress is any activity either physical or mental , both good and fun ; or bad and sad , that is just too much for your body or brain to cope with at its current level of health. Which is why even the healthiest human can be floored by Stress.

So a party, wedding , happy news , a holiday , a day out with family or coffee with friends can cause the same amount of stress and trigger a flare as a break up , overwork , bereavement, an accident or bad news.

Luckily, there is always a hint of light in the darkness, when the initial trigger has gone and with time , caring for ourselves and help from others we can control our stress and control our symptoms again. You will get there , just give yourself the time and TLC you deserve , take care , Bee

[Channy3 in reply to Blearyeyed]

That makes so much sense, thank you x

[Meditationlover]

Hi, yes, stress flares my fibomyralgia, the exact symptoms you describe, I feel for you, I hope you sort things out, take care

[Channy3 in reply to Meditationlover]

Thank you, take care to x

[Gigiruth]

Hi Channy3Sorry to hear you are feeling such pain. Take good care of yourself. Taking therapy might help uou gain perspective and "regroup" . Finding what your own needs are and how to meet them may help.

All the Best

Gigi

[Channy3 in reply to Gigiruth]

I may try some cbt, change a long unhealthy way of thinking x

[Laurennicole94]

Hiya you have litually described me yetserday and today 😔 it's draining I just can't do nothing and with 4 young kids this is ridiculous !! I qS stressed and upset yesterday and it just made it flare up one of the worst iv ever had ! So upset and stress are the main triggers in my eyes I got diagnosed 2 years ago. 29 and feel 90 😪

[Channy3 in reply to Laurennicole94]

It’s horrible isn’t it, I hope you catch a break and have a good day x

[Alsithee4]

Hi Channy, sorry to hear about your break up, I hope you can sort things out.I've had a terrible few days, feel completely drained, exhausted, jody is jittery and aching all over. We're going to a family wedding next week, that's causing a lot of animosity in the family and I feel that thus is causing me stress. I'll be glad when it's over!!! It's the only thing I can think of that's causing me to feel this way and I've still got to work and continue with my daily life too 🙈

[Channy3 in reply to Alsithee4]

Sorry your suffering hun, I hope the wedding goes smoothly! Sometimes family can be the worst x

[Latics1989-90]

Hi Channy3I'm so sorry to hear about your break up. Stress of any kind can definitely cause a flare. I've found this out many times where every part of your body hurts in some way. You will get through this. Just give yourself some me time and accept any offers of help, hard to accept it sometimes but it's definitely worth having all the help and understanding from your friends and family. We are all here for you

Lots of love Lynne xxxx 💜💟

[Channy3 in reply to Latics1989-90]

Thank you x

[MaggieSylvie]

Sorry to hear about your breakup. This is bound to have caused you stress, and stress can cause the platelets to increase, which causes inflammation. If you suffer from FM, you shouldn't be surprised if you are having a flair. Try to relax and do things that make you feel good to allow your body to recover.

[Channy3 in reply to MaggieSylvie]

I’m doing just that, thank you for ur kind response x

[Polly-S]

Sorry for the pain you are in :(Stress is a big trigger for me and recently I discovered something -

I have been with my hubby for 30 years last April, and married for 29 years.

We had our ups and downs as most couples.

He is supportive, without his help I will be lost, but ( here comes the "but" )

He doesn't always understand what I am going through and if I have a good energy day, he thinks I can do everything all day that day ...

So, he went abroad supposedly for 2 months, was so hard that 1st week, but I organised myself and the kids and the 2nd week was goood...

Something happened and he had to get back 3 weeks after and I am again overly anxious, stressed and this triggered a bed flare up.

So, ad I said above, I discovered that my husband is a trigger...

Trying to find solutions for the issue and my CB therapist is trying to help, but don't know how will be possible.

He just booked a new tickets for September and October travel and I found myself praying 🙏 😅 for not to happen anything else and he not need to cut the new trip short.

It's ridiculous situation, I love him, he is my best friend and now I can not wait to see his back out of the door...

So, talk about triggers...

[Channy3]

Hi hun, I think that even when you do love someone u still need a break… especially when there are issues such as ill health. I find that when I’m on my own, I have no other choice but to push on to get stuff done, to be organised and self sufficient because I know that if I don’t, it won’t get done! even though they may be little tasks that tire me out and I do at times feel overwhelmed at the same time when accomplished it gives me a sense of achievement which makes me feel good about myself. I think when you have a significant other whom takes charge you can at times feel like your incapable or a burden but when you do manage to cope your partner doesn’t understand why one day you can but the next day you can’t so in my opinion it’s somewhat easier to be alone x

[Polly-S]

Exactly...I dream of a log cabin, in the middle of a forest, without Internet, TV, etc...

By my own!!!

[Channy3 in reply to Polly-S]

sounds like heaven x

[Loudi]

Of course. Stress of any kind causes the development of the condition in the first place. Stress of any kind activates a stress response in the brain to release stress hormones. So, stress of any kind will also cause symptoms. Symptoms are tightened muscles and pain because you're brain is still waiting in a state of readiness for even more stress. This malfunction in turn creates over 200 other symptoms that seem unrelated, but they are all caused by the stress response. Most people who aren't diagnosed with fibromyalgia, these stress hormones return to normal levels as the body is regulating and balancing correctly. But with this condition they stay switched on I'm afraid.

[Channy3 in reply to Loudi]

Thank you, that’s really insightful x