Fibromyalgia and major life transitions: accumulated life crises

Post author:Dr Alex Robber
Post published:March 3, 2021
Post category:Fibromyalgia / Fibromyalgia Disability / Fibromyalgia Issues
Post comments:0 Comments

“When you’re finished changing, you’re finished”, Benjamin Franklin

It really is all about the brain and how new pathways can become established and old ones can be paths less travelled. So many report their fibromyalgia began with an accident, surgery, violence or another episodic event that was physically shocking to the nervous system. Some call this ‘primary fibromyalgia’. However, fewer report that major life changes like marriages, parenthood, divorces, job losses and changes, loss of loved ones, chronic illnesses, widowhood, moves, menopause, retirement, even significant birthdays, among many others, can be equally as traumatic to the nervous system. Like long term anxiety and stress , generally these are slower processes for fibromyalgia to develop and are often referred to as ‘secondary’ fibromyalgia.

The brain needing to adjust to a new life circumstance usually does not do this very quickly. Uncertainty about the new transition develops and for the person with fibromyalgia or prone to it, anxiety brings about hyper-arousal of the nervous system, coming from a place of fear. This is not about the separation of mind/body, but rather to point out that while an assault to the body can bring about fibromyalgia for those who are predisposed to it, so too can a crisis in transitioning from one aspect of life to another. It’s about seeing the new with some degree of promise and hope. It’s about seeing the rainbow somewhere on the horizon, even if there is grief, pain and sadness associated with the change.

It is a good exercise for us to record all the major transitions and major traumas we have experienced during our life times and how we processed them in our minds. Some were with joy and hope while others were with fear, grief and panic. In fact, many were felt with mixed emotions. But understanding how our brain led us down a certain path will result in insights which led to fibromyalgia. A good therapist can help; talk therapy cannot be underestimated.

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