The Blessing of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome go hand in hand. In reality one rarely has one without the other. The diagnosis for Fibromyalgia according to the American College of Rheumatology is characterized by the history of widespread pain. The pain or aching, steady or intermittent must be present for at least three months. The pain must have been present:

• on both sides of the body
• both above and below the waist

• midbody-neck, midchest, midback, or headache.

There must be pain on pressing at least eleven of eighteen spots on the body that are known as tender spots(Teitelbaum, 2001). Fibromyalgia previously called fibrositis has been called a sleep disorder. It is often associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

The CDC criteria for CFS is defined as follows:

• clinically evaluated, unexplained, persistent or relapsing chronic fatigue that is new or definite onset that has not been life long, is not the result of ongoing exertion, is not substantially alleviated by rest, and results in substantial reduction in previous levels of occupation, education, social or personal activities.
• concurrent occurrence of four or more of the following symptoms, all of which must have persisted or recurred during six or more consecutive months of illness and must not have predated fatigue.
• sore throat
• tender cervical(neck) or axillary (underarm) lymph nodes
• self-reported impairment in short-term memory or concentration severe enough to cause substantial reduction in previous levels of occupation, educational, social, or personal activities
• muscle pain
• multi joint pain without swelling or redness
• headaches of a new type, pattern or severity
• unrefreshed sleep
• post exertional malaise lasting more than twenty-four hours(Teitelbaum, 2001)

The above description of Fibromyalgia and CFS certainly glosses over the reality of the two. Each is made to appear simplistic and straight forward in nature. The reality of the two are much more staggering in symptoms and impact on mind, body, and spirit.

Imagine waking up every day with the flu. You wake with pain, nausea, dizziness, and weakness every day for years. These symptoms are accompanied by extreme fatigue, sore spots on your arms, legs, chest, and back, chronic irritation of the mucosa tissue of the mouth, nose, bronchial tubes, vagina, and rectum, temperature intolerance, hot sweats, cold sweats, bladder spasms, painful urination, irritable bowel syndrome, weird rashes, slow growing hair and brittle nails, chronic pelvic pain, headaches, TMJ, endocrine imbalance, liver dysfunction, heart palpitations, eye dryness and irritations, salt craving, abnormal tastes, restless leg syndrome, sound and light sensitivity and insomnia(St Amand, 1999). These are just the tip of the ice burg.

The bladder spasms increase the incidence of cystitis. The chronic pelvic pain promotes menstrual cramps, infertility, and vulvodynia. Then there is the memory loss, fibro fog, anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings, depression, loss of self, loss of freedom, and loss of independence. You are left with fear of everything. You can no longer trust your body and because you are so misunderstood, you can no longer trust anyone else.

Now know that FMS and CFS are the two best things that has ever happened to you! In yoga, suffering begins the pilgrimage of the souls searching for the causes of suffering and the appeasement(Prakash, 1986). FMS and CFS affects every cell and emotion in you body, from the top of your head to the soles of your feet. The body, mind, and spirit connection cannot be separated. If your body and mind are affected, your spirit, your very soul is attacked.

It is fear that is the basic cause of FMS and CFS. A single thought of fear results in a biochemical reaction that can cascade into FMS and CFS. So if fear can produce a negative reaction, love can produce a positive reaction and reverse the effects of FMS and CFS. Love and fear cannot exist within the same reaction. We chose how we react. We need to learn that neither choice is good or bad, it just is. We are not here to judge others or ourselves.

The lesson each of us is here to learn this lifetime is unconditional love and forgiveness for ourselves and all humanity. We are all connected to the Light(God,Spirit, Divine Being) and we are to bring love and energy into ourselves and radiate to all around us. Love thy neighbor as thyself. Learning to love yourself is the first step to healing and energy.

Once healing has begun on the essence of our being, we need to continually work to stay in a state of love. The first step is to not let fear find you. According to Barbara Brennan, fear is what might be. She says to ask yourself if you are afraid at this very moment and if you are not afraid at this very moment then you are in the present, and fear cannot find you(Brennan, 1993).

Relaxation is the ultimate stress management technique because the relaxation is physiologically the opposite of the fight or flight reaction experienced with anxiety and panic(Stuart and Sundeen, 1983). Relaxation is a loving and nurturing action you can do for yourself. This action brings about positive energy flow and changes the cellular level to a more balanced state.

Your thoughts can direct the wind and where you will be planted for regrowth. All energy in your body is directed by you thoughts(Bloodworth, 1952). Thoughts of love produce positive and thoughts of fear the opposite. It is the principle of polarity(Virtue, 2006). You can direct the biochemical direction reaction of you cells to produce harmonious reactions. Our mental state sets the vibration of healing into motion of each cell..

Healing can start with a single breath. You deliver increase oxygen to your cells and you can use breathing to relax and meditate. The goal of meditation is to bring your mind into a constant of healing thoughts created by the connection with the Light and awakening the Light within you. Along with breathing, you can use guided imagery to release your discomfort. You choose how you will react and how your body will react.

Treating your self with love needs to extend to you nutrition, water intake and gentle exercise. You can create the movement needed to clear your body of blockages and peel away layers of conditioned restaint and find your natural center(Winston,2005).

Alternative therapies will help clear the body of negative energy and promote positive energy flow throughout your energy fields. These therapies are Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Reflexology, Quantum Healing, Medical Intuition and EFT. All of these promote positive flow and balance and release of negative energy throughout your body, your surrounding energy fields, and spirit. These non-judgemental therapies help you to remain hopeful as feelings of wellness are felt. You can relax and let someone else minister to you and your spirit so you can regain the energy to help yourself. All these therapies begin with a single thought and an intention of healing. The healing is brought about by the connection with the Universe(God) of both the client and therapist.

Although you may feel that you lost your life to FMS and CFS, you will discover that you have found your true self as you progress to self love and forgiveness. This is your journey this lifetime and only you can find your true path to healing. It is different for each of us. Healing does not come from someone doing something to us, outside of us, but the changes effected by you from within with Love and forgiveness, unconditionally.

Brennan, Barbara Ann, Light Emerging: The Journey of Personal Healing, 1993, New York: Bantan Books, 55.

Bloodworth, Venice J., Key to Understanding Yourself, 1952, 2005, California:Transformational Book Circle.

Edwards, Sharon, The Blessing of Fibromyalgia, Storywrite, skye01, 2007.

Prakash, Prem, The Yoga of Spiritual Devotion, 1986, California: Transformational Book Circle.

St Amand, Paul M.D. and Marek, Claudia Craig, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia, 1999, New York: Warner Books, Inc.

Stuart, G.W. and Sundeen, S.J. Principles and Practice of Psychiatric Nursing, 1983, St. Louis: C.V.Mosby Co.

Teitelbaum, Jacob M.D., From Fatigue to Fantastic, 2001, New York: Penguin Putnam, Inc.

Virtue, Doreen, Divine Magic: The Seven Sacred Secrets of Manifestation, 2006, California: The Transformational Book Circle.

Winston, Nikki, Every Move You Make, California: Hay House, Inc.