Understanding Fibromyalgia: A holistic approach to Pain, Mental Health and Healing
Fibromyalgia is a multifaceted and often misunderstood condition characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties. It affects approximately 2–8% of the global population, predominantly women (Soroosh, 2024).
The exact cause remains elusive, but recent research suggests multiple contributing factors:
Central Sensitization: An amplified response of the central nervous system to pain signals, leading to heightened sensitivity.
Immune System Involvement: Studies have identified antibodies in fibromyalgia patients that may increase pain sensitivity, indicating an autoimmune component. (Krock et al., 2022)
Genetic and Environmental Factors: Genetic predispositions combined with environmental triggers like stress or infections may play a role.
The Necessity of Holistic Management
I was recently in a training on Fibromyalgia and what was predominantely emphasised is the need for holistic management from a team of experts. Managing fibromyalgia effectively requires a comprehensive approach that addresses physical, emotional, and psychological aspects:
Physical Activity: Engaging in regular, low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming, or yoga can help reduce pain and improve function.
Stress Reduction Techniques: Practices like mindfulness, meditation, and deep-breathing exercises can alleviate stress and improve overall wellbeing.
Nutritional Support: Maintaining a balanced diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods may assist in symptom management.
Complementary Therapies: Modalities such as acupuncture, massage therapy, and mental health support have shown benefits in managing symptoms.
Importance of Mental Health Support
Mental health support is a cornerstone of effective fibromyalgia care, not merely as an adjunct but as an integral component of healing. While cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has demonstrated efficacy in managing chronic pain, a truly comprehensive approach delves deeper, addressing the intricate interplay between the mind and body.
I recognise that chronic pain is not solely a physical sensation but a complex experience influenced by emotional, psychological, and neurological factors. My therapeutic approach therefore encompasses:
Somatic Awareness: Guiding individuals to attune to their body's signals, helping to identify and release patterns of tension that may perpetuate pain.
Neuroplasticity-Based Interventions: Employing techniques that retrain the brain's response to pain, acknowledging that the nervous system can become sensitised, leading to persistent pain even after the initial injury has healed.
Emotional Processing: Creating a safe space to explore and address the emotional toll of living with chronic pain, which can include grief, frustration, and feelings of isolation.
This holistic approach aligns with the understanding that chronic pain can alter brain regions involved in emotion and cognition, such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, contributing to heightened pain perception and emotional distress.
Living with fibromyalgia can feel like navigating a world that does not always understand the depth of your pain or the weight of your fatigue. You may have been dismissed, misunderstood, or left to piece together your own care. Please know that you are not alone—and your experience is valid.
Healing may not mean the complete absence of pain, but it can mean finding ways to live with greater ease, to reconnect with your body in gentler ways, and to feel seen and supported in the process. Whether through therapy, movement, rest, or simply being heard, there are pathways toward feeling more like yourself again.
If you are living with fibromyalgia and are seeking a place to explore what is happening in your body and your life with compassion and understanding, support is available. You deserve care that honours your story, meets you where you are, and walks alongside you as you move forward.
References:
Krock, E., Morado-Ubina, C., Menezes, J., Hunt, M., Sandstrom, A., Kadetoff, D., Tour, J., Verma, V., Kultima, K., Haglund, L,. Meloto, C., Diatchenki, L., Kosek, E & Svensson, C. 2022. ‘Fibromyalgia patients with elevate levels of anti-satellite, glia cell immunoglobulin G antibodies with more severe symptoms’, 164(8):1824-1840. 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002881
Soroosh, S. 2024. ‘Epidemiology of Fibromyalgia: East Versus West’. https://doi.org/10.1111/1756-185X.15428