Stress and Fibromyalgia
The Connection and the Solution
Stress and Fibromyalgia are intimately connected. Stress is one of the main causes of your fibromyalgia, and recognizing this can also be a HUGE part of the SOLUTION!! While no one denies that those with Fibromyalgia experience pain, fatigue and other problems, it is almost universally recognized that Stress and Fibromyalgia are connected.
When people experience stress, they can experience a bodily reaction to this stress- including a condition called "Oxidative Stress" that is well known to contribute to cellular damage and premature aging, and another one called Tension Myositis Syndrome that is not as well known as Oxidative Stress.
Stress and it's resulting oxidative stress, adrenal fatigue, inflammation and muscular tension can explain Many of the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, this important Fibromyalgia Cause is almost always overlooked- and unfortunately overlooking the connection between stress and fibromyalgia also limits an effective resolution of symptoms as well.
Oxidative Stress and Fibromyalgia
Oxidative stress is an extremely well-known phenomenon in research. This is led to the explosion of many anti aging products and supplements that contain 'Anti Oxidants' or antioxidants. Antioxidants, such are are contained in fruits and vegetables can counteract the damaging effects of Oxidative stress such as free radical production and cellular stress. But giving antioxidants don't address WHY you have the oxidative stress in the first place and are really not of good use until the CAUSE of the oxidative stress is dealt with. So, what is the cause of the Oxidative stress? There are only 3 possibilities:
Dietary Stress: Most people don't understand that poor dietary habits can place enormous stress on the body. Sugar, processed foods, artificial sweeteners and food allergies can cause a HUGE amount of oxidative stress and should be addressed in those with Fibromyalgia. If you want to decrease the oxidative stress that is contributing to your health problems, you MUST decrease dietary stress.
You can learn more on the Fibromyalgia Diet page (coming soon). In the meantime, eating a 'Paleo Diet' that is free of 'non-foods' and low in food allergens is highly recommended. You can learn more about eating a Paleolithic type diet in The Healthy Urban Kitchen.
Physical Stress: While your pain is certainly a physical stress, most people are unaware that they often have subtle chronic inflammation and gastrointestinal infections that contribute to oxidative stress. Infections such as:
- Intestinal Candida
- H Pylori Bacteria
- Intestinal Parasites
- C Difficile Infection
place unnecessary stress on your immune system by constantly having to fight these 'bugs' off. And it is nearly a certainty that most patients with Fibromyalgia Symptoms have one or more of these bugs. Getting rid of them can significantly reduce oxidative stress that makes you tired and worn out all the time. Stress and Fibromyalgia is definitely linked to these infections that your doctor will not likely ever even LOOK for.
Emotional Stress: Emotional stress is the one stress that you have the greatest ability to control. But most people don't know how or are even conditioned to 'repress' emotional stress by their families (A BIG reason for the supposed 'Fibromyalgia Genetic' connection is more likely similar LEARNED emotional behaviors rather than a true genetic connection!). But what is NOT recognized is that this emotional stress can lead to a condition called Tension Myositis Syndrome that is a HUGE cause of the muscle pain and fatigue in Fibromyalgia.
Tension Myositis Syndrome and Fibromyalgia
A condition called Tension Myositis Syndrome- also called TMS- is a very common yet almost completely unrecognized result of Stress and Fibromyalgia. First recognized and named by Dr. John Sarno, he realized that the tension experienced by those with pain, even if they didn't recognize the tension themselves, was leading to decreased blood flow to muscles.
He recognized that it was not Structural or Fibromyalgia Genetic problems that cause pain in the vast majority of people, but decreased blood flow to the muscles from so much tension that was actually causing the pain!!
"Two studies.. found that the oxygen level
in the muscles was reduced, confirming...
that fibromyalgia is a manifestation of TMS...
But the rheumatology community did not accept the
idea of mild oxygen deprivation as the cause
of fibromyalgia, and the epidemic continued."
Dr. John Sarno from 'The Divided Mind'
And there have been at least two different studies showing that the Fibromyalgia Trigger Points that are often used when Diagnosing Fibromyalgia, do indeed have decreased blood flow and decreased oxygen to the muscles- confirming Dr.Sarno's work.
For over 20 years, Dr. Sarno has used an EXTRAORDINARILY simple technique to get rid of the tension and decreased blood flow. To read more about Dr. Sarno's extraordinary pain relieving techniques and how they can help you to get relief from YOUR pain, take a look at the
Fibromyalgia Books page or go to Amazon and take a look at his books:
- The Divided Mind: The Epidemic of Mindbody Disorders
- The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain
So, while some doctors just tell Fibromyalgia patients that 'It's all in Your Head', it's obvious that the pain and fatigue that you are experiencing is absolutely real. But is is also important to understand the connection between Stress and Fibromyalgia
because the failure to understand that stress is at the heart of your problems is to continue suffering with them until researchers come up with a Cure For Fibromyalgia- which doesn't seem likely anytime soon… But keep reading to see what Fibromyalgia Supplements have been shown to help ease the oxidative stress and improve the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia greatly…
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