Fibromyalgia and Stress

One of the things I've noticed since I've been diagnosed with fibro is that if I get stressed out, I am a thousand times more likely to go into a flare than if I am able to deal with my stress. I was in a stressful situation not long ago, where there was a lot of stuff happening at once, but because I was able to contact my best friend and vent to him, and I had a good support system with other friends, I didn't flare.

On the other hand, when my Grandfather passed away a year ago this past January, I went into a flare that lasted for months.

And this wasn't just because it was stressful (which, granted, it was)- my support systems were a mess, I didn't have anything in place, I had no "laugh tracks" to turn to in order to distract myself (which I have in place now), and I simply didn't plan things well at all.

Currently, when I know things are going to be stressful, I put several things into place. The first thing I do is make sure that I have people I can call- I give my support group a head's up that I'm going through some stuff, and verify that they're going to be around in case I need them. Then, I get a few comedy shows that are long-time favorites of mine, that I can watch over and over again and still laugh at. I keep them at hand so I can pop them into the DVD player and have a laugh anytime I feel put upon. (Personal favorite: Christopher Titus. We have several of his comedy specials from Comedy Central on DVR, and they're not going anywhere!)

Sometimes, though, nothing beats a good cry- and I have a couple of movies that are guaranteed tear-jerkers. I keep them around, too, in case I need them. (Personal favorite: My Life starring Michael Keaton. Wow, do I love that movie. It's old and dated now, but I just ADORE Keaton, and it's a great movie in general- but you need 2 boxes of Kleenex when you watch it!) For me, it's always better to watch tear-jerkers with someone, but my husband isn't a fan, so when I need a good cry, I try to find a friend to watch 'em with.

I also stock up on comfort foods- and for me, that means "foods that I like cooking and turning into comfort food" like pork chops and spaghetti. (I make a mean spaghetti sauce from scratch!) Granted, I stock up on chocolate bars, too- but I limit myself to 2 squares a day (Lindt, not Hersheys!) so that I'm not going to be freaking out over a huge weight gain while I'm stressing over whatever crisis is going on. Cooking, for me, is relaxing, so often times this is a stress reliever and a good distraction for while I'm dealing with whatever stressor is going on. I particularly love baking- so occasionally I'll buy ingredients to make cookies (from scratch!) and brownies and the like, too.

For you, find things that are a relief for you- if you enjoy gardening, buy some flowers to plant! Even if they're annuals, they'll help you while you're dealing with your issues. If you are like me, and enjoy cooking, do what I do! But don't neglect the first few steps- get your support structure ready. Find some good movies- or if you're a book lover, your favorite old comfort books- and get them ready in case you need them. If you know there's going to be a day or two where your support structure is going to be scarce, it's even more imperative that you prepare in advance to head off any negative thinking that could exacerbate your stressful thoughts. Get those comedies ready, and get yourself lost in some good movies, or a good book for a day or two.

Above all, learn what works for you, and keep yourself prepared to put it into practice at any moment. I know we can't prepare for *every* stressful situation- but if we keep ourselves alert and prepare for the ones we *do* see coming, we'll be better off in the long run, with fewer flares and more happy and healthy living.