The support of family and friends is important to those who have fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions. We encourage family and friends of a loved one with fibromyalgia to educate themselves about this very real condition. Understanding and acknowledging the condition can be an important first step in providing real encouragement and support.
Fibromyalgia symptoms can be made worse by stress and frustration associated with family members and friends who disassociate themselves from a person with fibromyalgia. Trying to provide solutions can often make things worse. People with fibromyalgia definitely do not want to hear their loved ones say things like “it’s all in your head”, “you just need to get out more” or “you’re just having a bad day.” Comments like those show a complete lack of understanding about the condition and its effects.
The daughter of a fibromyalgia sufferer posted a poem to our Facebook page that touched us and many of those in our online community. We hope that you are inspired by it as much as we are.
“Fibromyalgia”
Everything that once was changed in the blink of an eye,
Why my mom, just why.
Its an incurable disease that won’t go away,
living with her in our home day after day.
A disease caused by overactive nerves,
Causing destruction as it serves.
Not a day goes by without pain,
Living with fibromyalgia puts all other priorities in the back lane.
Some days we hangout or go to the mall,
But other days we stay home and roll the ball.
One day she’ll be fine not a pain in her head,
The next day in excruciating pain laying in bed.
Day after day, night after night,
Together as one we fight.
Against fibromyalgia the score is always zero,
My mom, well my mom is my hero.