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Living with fibromyalgia isn’t always easy. Tender joints, headaches, numbness in the body, and difficulty sleeping are all symptoms that people endure on a daily basis.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain, exhaustion, and stiffness in the body. Those with fibromyalgia struggle to establish a consistent sleep routine and experience numbness in their limbs. Other common symptoms include headaches, muscle and joint pain, cognitive issues, and mental health issues like anxiety or depression.
9 Tips To Help You Feel Better While Living With Fibromyalgia
Living with fibromyalgia can be an exhausting experience. Pain (and frustration with your body) can be difficult to handle.
But dealing with fibromyalgia doesn’t have to stop you from living your life! Here are nine tips to help you navigate your daily life while experiencing fibromyalgia.
Start Adding Gentle Exercise To Your Daily Routine
One of the biggest struggles for those experiencing fibromyalgia is exercise. Because of muscle and joint pain, physical activity can be very painful. On the other hand, if you exercise according to the condition of your body, you may be able to alleviate some fibromyalgia symptoms.
Low impact exercise is a great way to help combat fibromyalgia pain. Walking outside or swimming in a heated pool are ways to get your body moving in a gentle manner.
Establishing a regular exercise schedule can help you sleep better. The right amount of physical activity can help you find a more consistent, deeper sleep.
Before starting, talk to a medical professional about an exercise plan that would be right for you.
Related: 7 Easy Ways To Exercise With Fibromyalgia (& Why It Helps Relieve Pain)
Take Warm Baths
Take the time to recover in warm baths. You can practice balneotherapy.
Balneotherapy is the practice of taking warm baths to help diminish pain and stiffness. The warm water can help soothe muscle and joint pain.
Practice Mindfulness With Meditation
Your mind and body are more connected than you think. Try establishing a meditation routine. Meditation is rooted in focusing on your mind and your breathing. Not only does it help you become more self-aware, but it helps you relax too.
Guided meditations can help you focus your breathing on a specific area of the body. This is a great method for those living with fibromyalgia because it allows you to target your points of pain.
There is also guided imagery. Different from guided meditation, guided imagery helps you focus on a happy image in your head. This image takes you to a different place that can help you relax your mind and body.
You can learn both forms of meditation through a coach, an app on your phone, or by looking up articles and videos online.
Try Yoga
Similar to meditation, yoga is another way for you to practice mindfulness while soothing your body.
Stress is one of the big triggers for fibromyalgia symptoms. Yoga helps combat stress.
By following specific yoga poses, you’re getting the opportunity to stretch out certain muscles and joints. This can help you alleviate some of the chronic aches. On top of that, yoga’s deep breathing exercises allow you to release the physical stress you’re carrying.
Avoid Caffeine
Try to avoid consuming caffeinated products. Caffeine can disrupt your sleep patterns, increase feelings of anxiety, and speed up your heart rate.
There are many decaffeinated options for your favorite caffeinated drinks, like coffee, soda, and even tea. Reduce your consumption of sugary foods or chocolate as well.
Pacing Yourself Is Key When Living With Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia attacks the inside of your body. You may look fine from an outside perspective but you could be really struggling from the internal pain.
That’s why it is really important for you to take your time when living with fibromyalgia! Learning how to pace yourself can help you avoid triggering your symptoms. Prioritize your daily tasks. With more control over what needs to get done, you can eliminate the worry of burning out.
If you’re feeling too tired, don’t try to push yourself. Saying no to invitations is okay! Pushing yourself past your own limits can put your body at more harm for the future.
Schedule Massages (Or Invest In A DIY Tool)
A soothing way to ease joint and muscle pain is through massages. A massage can also help reduce the risks of anxiety and depression. You can book an appointment for a massage therapist who specifically has worked with fibromyalgia sufferers.
Another potentially cheaper alternative is to find your own DIY massage tool. Many people purchase massage guns to help with muscle achiness.
A benefit of DIYing massages is that you have the ability to do them as much as you would like. If you see a massage therapist, you may have to wait to make an appointment, which isn’t super great when you’re experiencing a fibromyalgia flare. With your own massage tool, you can give yourself a massage at any moment.
Be Open With Your Family About Living With Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia not only affects those suffering from it. It affects your loved ones, too. There can be a disconnect between you and your family because they don’t share the same experiences of living with fibromyalgia.
Communicating with your family is very important. Letting them know what symptoms you’re experiencing can help establish that open line of communication. Working through your symptoms together can help you build a stronger support system for yourself.
Prioritize Joy and Self-Care Each Day
Fibromyalgia doesn’t have to take away your ability to have fun. It’s important to continue doing what you love to do.
Read more books. Watch your favorite movie. Learn how to cook that new recipe.
Finding ways to fill your life with passion and happiness will only help you fight the stress of fibromyalgia.
Living with fibromyalgia can put some limits on your activities. But it doesn’t mean you have to stop everything. By following these nine tips, you have the opportunity to soothe chronic pain and find ways to relieve your stress.
