What triggers fibromyalgia attacks?
Fibromyalgia is a painful condition that affects mostly women, but men can be affected as well. Though the exact cause of fibromyalgia is not known, it is understood to be related to mental health and how pain is processed in the brain. This is why anti-depressants are the only FDA-approved medication to treat fibromyalgia. The mind-body connection is inextricable, and improving overall health and wellness helps relieve fibromyalgia symptoms and reduces the occurrence of flare-ups.
Health factors that impact fibromyalgia flare-ups relief include quality of sleep, stress management, having a healthy diet, positive social interactions, having healthy relationships, being financially secure, having a sense of purpose, and doing the things we enjoy, such as our hobbies. Health is multi-faceted, and managing fibromyalgia and chronic pain is no exception. By working towards building a healthy, balanced lifestyle, chronic pain and other fibromyalgia-related symptoms become more manageable.
Fibromyalgia is not just physical pain but is often co-morbid with other overlapping disorders and symptoms. These can include anxiety, depression, nausea, strange tingling sensations, hair loss, restless leg syndrome, chronic fatigue, headaches and migraines, sensory sensitivities, muscle tension, and many more. These symptoms can be debilitating and interfere with living an active, healthy, balanced life. When just one thing in life is out of balance, a flare-up can occur. This balancing act can lead to frustrating setbacks in the journey towards health, creating even more stress that further perpetuates painful flare-ups. Fortunately, we can give ourselves grace and move at a pace that is in alignment with our bodies. This is why it is so important to cultivate a lifestyle that nurtures your entire being while respecting your boundaries.
By working with a board-certified health coach, people experiencing fibromyalgia and other chronic pain disorders can cultivate a healthy, balanced lifestyle that helps alleviate symptoms. A health coach supports clients in their health and wellness journey, guiding them to discover ways to live the healthy life that works for them. Working together, a coach and client will create goals that gradually move towards transformation and lasting change, with the ultimate goal of reducing pain and relief from fibromyalgia flare-ups.