If I asked you what your biggest challenge has been since developing Fibromyagia would you say the isolation? For many people the answer would be "yes." Isolation is a very real issue for people living with Fibromyalgia and chronic illness. Many of us have had to change careers or quit working altogether. We limit our socialization because it is too painful or we are too tired to participate. And eventually we find that our social circles have moved on, or they cannot relate to the unpredictable and debilitating nature of our illness. Fibromyalgia is an elusive illness and easily … [Read more...]
Today I am the Tortoise, not the Hare
Do you ever feel like you have bitten off more than you can chew? Man I have a lot going on right now - a lot of good things going on right now. I have teased in the past that I am working towards bigger and better things for FibroHaven. I want this to be more than just a blog where I come to relieve my tension, share my experiences, and hopefully educate and entertain you. I want this blog to be the foundation for a whole infrastructure of community, heath, and wellness, which we are all so hopefully pursuing. And I am working on it. To that end, I am finding that each day I have more … [Read more...]
It’s Day 30 of My 30-in-30 Writing Assignment!
I did it! I made it through my self-imposed 30-in-30 writing assignment. Wow, what a roller coaster it has been. I really learned a lot about what I am capable of and a little about over-doing it. Before sitting down today to write this post I looked back over the previous 29 and was actually impressed with the quality of what I put out there, even on the days when the last thing I wanted to do was to sit at my computer and write. I thought I would do a little recap of the posts and my health and frame of mind the day I wrote them. My Favorite Posts from the Last 30 Days I Do Not Want to … [Read more...]
Online Social Networking for Fibromyalgia Support and Information
On a recent post, Conversation on Isolation, I promised I would put together a list of online resources for Fibromyalgia and chronic illness support and information. Below you will find many - but not nearly all - links to social networking online resources. Because I am not an active participant of each site listed I am only making comments on the sites I have firsthand knowledge of. Please feel free to add to this list in the comments, or leave your thoughts, feelings, experiences on any of the listed sites. Due to the amount of information available, I am breaking this information up into … [Read more...]
Conversation on Isolation
I made the statement in one of my recent posts that "Fibromyalgia and chronic illness can be very isolating if you let it." I wrote it in reference to a conversation I was having with members of my support group, trying to come up with ideas to encourage inactive members to attend. I wasn't expecting it to hit a nerve with anyone, but it did, and I think it led to a very interesting communication between us. I want to share it with you to continue the conversation and also to applaud the commenter, Kathy, for speaking out and holding me accountable for my word choice. Kathy Okay, I’m … [Read more...]