Emotional

[debz0705]

Does anyone find they get emotional easily with fibro? I struggle to cope with most things in daily life & it all gets too much.

[temporalhope]

Hi Debz

Yep I find I get emotional, mainly when my symptoms are worse because everything seems to get to me more. mainly it seems to me that because of the constant pain we put up with it makes other things harder to deal with at times. This tends to be a time when you're friends become the most valuable thing you have & talking can always help. Well thats what i tend to do when I can, a good cry lets things out too. Hope this helped or at least lets you know your not alone. Fibrohugz x

[linlit]

i get periods of being emotional and the smallest thing will set me off i try to hide it from my family but my husbang allways seems to know when ive been crying

[phlebo123]

Hi debz -- I actually think that being "oversensitive" and getting "easily upset" is one of the many symptoms of fibro. The slightest little upset or angry word will set me off into floods of tears. One cruel remark from a family member or friend or even a complete stranger will turn me into an emotional wreck!!! I avoid confrontation at all costs and will quite happily "walk away" from an argument because I know how awful I will feel afterwards -- in other words I am incapable of "sticking up" for myself. Sometimes I just hide myself away and have a "good cry" -- I try not to cry in front of others, because it makes me feel so foolish! This does not mean that we are depressed -- we just react in a very sensitive way! I try and get over these upsets by engrossing myself in something that I enjoy (eg baking a cake, taking the dog for a walk) Hope this helps you understand that the way you feel is probably all part of the Fibro xx

[debz0705 in reply to phlebo123]

Wow that's a relief! That exactly how I am

& I avoid my family as they seem to pick on me.

My husband is always reducing me to tears & he asks

why I get so upset over things. I try to explain to him but

He doesn't get it. I own a cake business & I

Put everything into it otherwise I can't cope. I would

rather be on my own also! My dog cheers me up & is my world.

I can't work out if I'm depressed or it's fibro if just going

nuts! Thanks for being the same as me :0) xx

[chicme in reply to debz0705]

i know how you feel feel like ev1 is shouting at me all the like im a kid im sick of it feel taking a long walk an never coming back -( xx

[phlebo123 in reply to debz0705]

Like you say debz it is a great relief to know that we are not the only ones experiencing this!! But somehow we have to "learn to live with it" and how to deal with these situations in such a way that we do not become upset. This is so much easier "said than done"! Sometimes I try to "stick up for myself" but the words come out all wrong or mixed up and this usually makes the situation worse. So on most occasions I walk away from the situation or "change the subject" because I cannot handle the confrontation (it is sooooooo hard when the people around cannot understand why I don't want to retaliate). Therefore I often feel like I am allowing others to "walk all over me" (which also upsets me!) I used to think it was coz I didn't have the "courage" to defend myself but now I realise that it is the "fibro" to blame!!! I also find that my strongest memories are not of "happy times" but are of occasions where people have upset me by their words or actions. Oh gosh this is starting to sound quite depressing ....... Anyway let us not dwell on this ......it is my daughter's birthday today and I had a lovely afternoon yesterday decorating an Olly Murs (her fave!)birthday cake for her ... hope it tastes as nice as it looks!! take care xx

[Vectra]

i get emotional quick particularly when im arguing a point of view of which i resent having to defend as i expect others to be more sensitive to my needs and understand that if this is important to me why are we discussing it at all as you know how i will react also if people are tactless i feel things too,my partner always says too me NOT again when im emotional and i always say its part and parcel of what ive got.

[Ozzygirl64]

I do get that way but I am able to shrug it off most of the time. But I do get times where I will have a cry to myself, but not very often. I hope you fell better soon xxxxx

[sue57]

I think the fibro causes frustration as well as pain, emotions run high and I, personally, become quite bad tempered, although I really, really try to keep my emotions in check!! Bit difficult though when your legs won't go in the direction you've told them to go!! XX

[Hidden]

I read this article about The Emotional Impact of Fibromyalgia and it really explains well how our emotions can be affected and why. It was written by someone suffering from Fibro, reference details underneath the article.

"If you have been a healthy, active person for most of your life and then you develop fibromyalgia, the symptoms can create havoc on your life. Simple things like your inability to engage in activities you once enjoyed can cause you to become frustrated.

Your inability to meet the needs of your children, spouse, or job may contribute to your feeling a sense of inadequacy and worthlessness.

However your not alone, may people with other illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, cancer, diabetes or other chronic illnesses have the same reactions.

Unfortunately though, as fibro patients have no obvious physical or lab abnormalities many are told there is nothing wrong, it is just the stress of every day life.

Research has shown that up to 30% of fibro patients can experience psychological distress. They believe that some of the emotional reactions could be due to the way fibro affects neurotransmitters and other regulatory systems in our bodies.

Hormones, thyroid, adrenal and immune problems can all affect how your feel and just the fact that you cannot get a good night’s sleep is enough to make anyone irritable, anxious and depressed.

It has been proven that stress aggravates fibromyalgia so reducing stress could help fibro sufferers. They say that counselling and or stress management can help you cope with fibromyalgia symptoms and improve your overall stress reactions.

Some fibro patients are reluctant to seek counselling to help them deal with the emotional impact of their illness as they are sick and tired of being told its all in their head.

There are some counsellors out there who persist in the mistaken believe that fibromyalgia is a purely emotional illness. It is therefore essential that you seek help from a knowledgeable therapist who has experience in dealing with the problems of fibromyalgia."

Please bear in mind this is the writer's opinion and experience of having Fibromyalgia. Any queries you have about this please ask, we are always happy to help and support where we can. Alternatively please speak to your GP about any concerns you may have regarding your emotions and Fibromyalgia.

Reference - backpain.blog.co.uk/2012/01...

Written by Barmac Pro

[debz0705 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Libs. My doctor took me off anti depressants as I take Amitriptyline & he

said I don't need both. Well I need something as I am so miserable.

Debs xx

[SootyB]

I'm a wreck at the moment. I put it down to having come off 20mg citalopram (a therapeutic dose for anxiety and mild depression), to go on 20mg amitriptyline (way below the therapeutic dose for depression), but my Mum reckons that - within months of returning to work - the citalopram had stopped working anyway! So, who knows, maybe it is just the combination of stress and fibro. Whatever it is, I'm snappy, irrational, and constantly on the brink of tears. Not just at sad things - that Asda advert, where the Mum walks in at the end, and smiles at her family sitting in the living room, having fun - that makes me cry. I'm welling up now, just thinking about it! I think I need my tearducts removed!

Sara xx

[debz0705 in reply to SootyB]

Hi Sarah, my doctor took me off citalopram earlier in the year as I am also

taking Amitriptyline 20mg. As the months have gone on I have got more & more miserable, I am thinking that the Amitriptyline is not enough. My previous Dr said

I need to take antidepressants because of my pain levels. I'm going to change

drs in the new year as I can't go on like this. That same Asds advert upsets me too

Because I can't cook Christmas dinner for the whole family & certainly wouldn't

have a smile on my face if I did!

Debs xx