Fibromyalgia is not just a
passing trend, nor is it a modern disease. Already back in the 19th
century, there were reports about a disease which was accompanied by pain and
exhaustion. It was called Neurasthenia or Nervous Exhaustion.
In the course of the
centuries, it was given various other descriptions, until it was eventually
named Fibromyalgia or simply “pain disorder” – and that is the literal meaning
of Fibromyalgia (-algia = pain of muscle fibres = fibro+my).
Whereas once there was the assumption
that no more than 1 to 2 per cent of the population suffered from Fibromyalgia
syndrome, there now is certainty that there are many more people (around 4 per
cent) who have to live with this diffuse and often puzzling disease.
Many of those who suffer from
Fibromyalgia don’t even know what they suffer from and seek help from various
doctors, looking for the cause of their suffering or at least for the right
diagnosis.
Although more women are
affected, men and children can also be sufferers. Men often get diagnosed with
“burn-out syndrome”, as Fibromyalgia is still widely regarded as a women’s
disease.
In children, so-called growing-pains
can, in reality, be the first signs for Fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia – the symptoms
Fibromyalgia is a genuine
syndrome. That means that we have to deal with a variety of symptoms:
Pains
The main symptom of
Fibromyalgia is the permanent pain which spreads all through the body.
Sufferers have difficulty pointing out where it hurts exactly. The pain seems
to be everywhere – in the joints, in the muscles, in the organs.
It can also travel from one
area to another. One day, the pain is here, a few days later the pain is somewhere
else.
Of course, there are days when
the patient feels relatively well. But, any major effort or exertion can bring
back the pain. Also too cold or hot weather, too much work, too much stress,
too much exercise or a small infection can trigger the pain.
Sensitivity to cold and
warmth
Many sufferers can hardly bear
cold and especially draught. In fact, they feel cold when other people still
feel that the temperature around them is comfortable.
If, however, the temperature
starts to rise in summer, the heat will quickly get uncomfortable, and those
who suffer from Fibromyalgia soon break out in sweat and experience hot flushes.
Excessive sensitivity
Increased sensitivity is
likely to develop with advanced Fibromyalgia. Noise and sounds become
uncomfortable. Sufferers avoid situations where others are likely to speak at
the same time (in restaurants, lunch in the staff restaurant, parties etc.) and
even feel irritated by somebody else’s cutlery clattering on their plate.
Bright light may be just as
uncomfortable. Wearing sunglasses each time when leaving the house seems to be
the best option.
When it comes to smells, this
can be a real challenge as they are hard to avoid. Sufferers can be affected
not only by real stench, but also faint smells which others cannot perceive
yet.
There is the constant need to
let fresh air in when at home. Being in enclosed spaces together with others,
especially when they are wearing perfume or deodorant, is hard to bear.
Touch can also be uncomfortable,
sometimes only firm touch (pressure, massages), but sometimes even very gentle
touch.
Problems with Sleep and
Digestion
Fibromyalgia sufferers often
don’t have problems getting to sleep, but they find it difficult to sleep
through the night. Just after a few hours they wake up and can’t get back to
sleep. In the morning, they feel exhausted and have little energy.
Initially, Fibromyalgia
patients often get diagnosed with IBS or dyspepsia (sensitive stomach), because
they present the following symptoms: stomach cramps, indigestion, diarrhoea,
constipation (often both).
Typical are also food
intolerances such as histamine intolerance, gluten intolerance or fructose
intolerance.
Depression and Anxiety
Fibromyalgia is often
accompanied by fear, anxiety and depression, but it is difficult to
differentiate which is caused by what. In some cases, depression was there
before the pain. In other patients, anxiety and depression develop in the
course of Fibromyalgia, which is not surprising, given the fact that the
illness can be extremely debilitating.
Blood Sugar Imbalances
Many Fibromyalgia sufferers
have problems with their blood sugar level. They seem to react much more
sensitively to carbohydrates than other people. The imbalances in blood sugar
levels, accompanied by debilitating periods of hypoglycaemia, can lead to
dizziness, palpitations, lack of concentration, the head feels like it is stuffed
with cotton, night sweats etc.
But these symptoms can have
different causes, such as “only” an intolerance to gluten. Many a patient given
the diagnosis “Fibromyalgia” had a go at a gluten-free diet, and suddenly their
symptoms disappear.
Various Other Symptoms
Some of those affected also
have breathing problems, a sensitive bladder, head and face pains, tinnitus,
numbness or pins and needles in hands and feet, dry mucous membranes, dry eyes,
forgetfulness, stiffness, oedema (water retentions), itching, neurodermitis,
restless legs, heavy night sweats etc.
How is a patient affected if they
suffer from just some of these symptoms?
Already then, they find it
hard to cope with daily life, often unable to go to work, and even simple
household chores seem impossible to manage. Dizziness, exhaustion,
forgetfulness and lack of concentration can lead to an increased risk of
accidents. Moreover, even simple – also mental – tasks can no longer be carried
out.
Therefore, Fibromyalgia is a
disease which cannot be ignored and which affects life in a most negative way.
Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia – Anything but Easy
Visits to the GP and
specialist doctor often remain without any result. No matter which tests are
carried out – if it is blood tests, X-Rays, MRT, CT, endoscopy and many other –
the doctor cannot find anything.
Those affected by Fibromyalgia
present a variety of symptoms. Some tend to suffer from mainly psychological
problems, others experience physical pain. A different group of patients
complain about a hypersensitivity to external stimuli, a further group are
affected by swellings in combination with excess weight.
Some sufferers withdraw completely,
other manage well to hide the illness.
The following parameters often
distinguish Fibromyalgia sufferers from healthy people and can point in the
direction of an effective medical therapy:
- Serotonin: often too low in patients with
Fibromyalgia (restore a healthy gut flora, beneficial fats in diet, saffron,
Ashwagandha or Rhodiola Rosea supplements etc.)
- Histamine: often too high. Histamine level must
be lowered.
- Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar level): Tests to
find the cause of it. Lack of cortisol due to an adrenal insufficiency or an under-active thyroid. Cortisol is a stress hormone and Fibromyalgia is a
stress-related illness of some kind. It is understandable that chronic stress
can impact cortisol secretion over time.
Therapy:
Depending on the cause, the GP prescribes the appropriate hormones. Moreover, a
diet with frequent small portions without isolated carbohydrates, to avoid
additional blood sugar imbalances.
- Insulin: Insulin-level can be raised. A healthy
diet and life-style can help.
- Gut flora: Tests for gut health and a possible Candidosis (responsible for a variety of problems, such as depression, problems with
digestion etc.) are available.
- Food intolerances: A variety of tests is
available and can bring clarity.
- Heavy-Metal contamination: Excessive levels of
lead, palladium, arsenic, mercury etc.) can lead to nerve damage, increased
susceptibility to stress and other symptoms which are typical for Fibromyalgia.
Therapy: Metal detoxification (Dr Klinghardt, e.g.)
- Epstein Barr Virus and Borelliosis: Both
infectious diseases can cause symptoms which are typical for Fibromyalgia, but
can also co-exist with the illness. Tests can rule out the infections.
- Antioxidants: The levels of the body’s own
antioxidants are low. Therapy: Take antioxidants (Astaxanthin, Saffron, Aronia
juice etc.) and eat a diet rich in antioxidants.
- Vital nutrients: Levels of minerals, trace
elements, vitamins and fatty acids can indicate possible deficiencies. If blood
analysis shows any deficiencies, the supply of vital substances must be
optimised through diet as well as supplements.
- Hormone levels: Analysis of hormone levels often
shows imbalances. In women, for example, oestrogen may be dominant. Also
cortisol level should be checked, as well as thyroid function.
- Hyaluronic acid: About 20 years ago, Israeli
scientists found that the serum level of Hyaluronic acid in Fibromyalgia
patients was more than eight times higher than in healthy people, still four
times higher than in rheumatism sufferers. Hyaluronic acid is an essential
element of the connective tissue and the body produces it itself. Why the level
is increased in Fibromyalgia sufferers is uncertain. Therapy: Administering
high doses of vitamin C can lower Hyaluronic acid levels, but the process
should be supervised by a therapist.
Fibromyalgia – The Possible Causes
In general, conventional
medicine is flummoxed when it comes to possible causes of Fibromyalgia. The
first choice of explanation is “a fault in the body’s pain processing
abilities”. With regard to the
above-mentioned diagnostic criteria, one could say that the causes are obvious:
the low level of Serotonin is responsible, the raised level of Histamine, low
blood sugar level, faulty gut flora etc. All that is possible, of course, e.g.
due to heavy metal contamination.
But, it is also possible that
the imbalances are not the cause but simply the symptoms of Fibromyalgia and
therefore the consequence of a very different problem.
As a matter of fact,
Fibromyalgia appears to be the natural consequence of the sufferer’s experiences
in life so far. If, in the course of life, the damaging influences outweigh the
experiences where the individual felt safe and protected, certain individuals
are likely to develop Fibromyalgia.
The inactive anti-stress gene
There is the so-called
anti-stress gene. Certain factors determine if it is active or not. If the
new-born baby is happy, if it feels safe and protected, the anti-stress gene becomes
active. The child will grow into a relaxed adult who feels at home in the world
and can cope well with many a hardship in later life.
But if the child does not
experience this essential safety and security, the anti-stress gene won’t be
activated. This is the case in traumatised persons, although a trauma does not
necessarily equal some horrendous abuse.
In a baby, even “separation”,
as practised by some parents, can cause a trauma. “Separation” means to let the
new-born cry alone in its nursery, to teach it a certain timeline by not giving
it the love and physical contact which the baby needs so much. Such behaviour,
when repeated again and again, means only one thing for the baby: mortal
danger.
A baby doesn’t know that it
finds itself, in the modern world, in a safe room. It believes (by instinct)
that, like in ancient times, wild animals and other dangers are out to kill it.
Being left alone means being
in danger of getting eaten, but also starving to death; because being left
alone in the Stone Ages only happened if something terrible had happened to the
parents. And there’s the trauma.
Given a certain genetic
disposition for an increased sensitivity, these children develop into highly
sensitive adults who can sense possible threats all around them – even when
exposed to completely harmless noises, smells, voices or temperatures.
The Nervous System is Highly Sensitive
In the presence of
Fibromyalgia, the nervous system is in a state of highest alert. The nervous
system has become sensitive to such an extent that the sensory perception is
increased and that every-day signals and stimulations are being interpreted as
potential danger.
The nervous system will react
like in someone who is venturing out on a night hike through some remote
jungle, completely alone. There might be a hungry jaguar or cannibal ready to
pounce from behind every bush.
Every minute rustling noise in
the undergrowth, every tiny smoke molecule in the air (the fire where the
cannibals prepare their dinner), every slight hissing noise of predators – each
of these stimuli are absorbed and regarded as a possible danger. Because
overlooking even the tiniest thing can be fatal in the wilderness.
In the wild, this kind of
heightened perception and permanent alertness is essential for survival, and
therefore something good. In everyday life, in a protected civilisation,
however, it is not required. Therefore, every human normally has an in-built
filter. It simply filters out many external stimuli, as it rightly regards them
as not dangerous and simply blanks them out, e.g. the noise from our
neighbour’s children at play, the conversation of our colleagues, the humming
noise from the fridge, traffic noise etc.
In Fibromyalgia patients, this
filter often does not work effectively.
The nervous system behaves as
if the person affected had moved for good to the far-away jungle and find
themselves in permanent danger of life. It can no longer differentiate which
stimuli are important and which can be blanked out. As a result, they see danger everywhere, in an
environment that can be warm, cold, humid, dry or loud, if there are any smells
or faint noises. At the same time, the pain threshold recedes and Fibromyalgia
pain appears. That’s when the sufferer focusses on the pain and starts to spare
themselves. But this will further increase their susceptibility for pain, which
does not happen overnight, of course, but over many months and years.
So, if somebody had a
childhood where he had to miss out on a feeling of security and understanding,
but – in the course of time – found this feeling of security which he was so
painfully starved from with his granny, with friends, at work, in his
relationship, in his faith or such, the anti-stress gene can be activated at
any time and the patient is feeling much better, despite an adverse childhood.
Nonetheless, the anti-stress
gene can also be deactivated (again) in later life, for example if struck by a
severe life crisis, e.g. the loss or illness of a loved one or a child, losing
a job or financial security, or even several blows of fate at once. Often,
experiences like these go along with an extreme mental or physical overload
which, too, can lead to the afore-mentioned permanent vigilance and
hypersensitivity.
Pains and Different Kinds of Pain
Even how a person experiences
pain varies. We can focus our attention on pain or we can ignore it almost
entirely. It always depends on the relevant experiences and thoughts of the
person concerned and on what triggers the pain.
Some people hardly acknowledge
throat pain. It’s just a cold; it will pass and it typically happens once or
twice each winter. Yet, another person was once told by their father: “When I
had my heart attack, I was suffering with a sore throat”. As a result, this
person thinks of a heart attack, every time they are coming down with a cold
and therefore suffers much more severely from throat pain. Their father’s words
have scared the daughter or the son hugely, so that a sore throat means a
threat from that moment on.
Therefore, many Fibromyalgia
patients experience strong anxiety when they begin to feel the various pains,
as they suspect acute and life-threatening illnesses hidden behind them. As a
result, they spend many hours in various doctors’ surgeries, expecting to hear
shortly that they only have four weeks to live – but this won’t happen because
we now know that the doctor can’t find anything wrong.
What remains is the haunting
fear, day by day, night by night.
When Pain is Associated with Love
But there’s another important
aspect, especially as far as highly sensitive people are concerned. If, as
described above, they experienced, in general, only little affection in
childhood, but were given much love and attention by their mother whenever they
were ill, the child learnt, in the course of time, that there is only love in
times of illness and suffering pain.
That doesn’t mean that
Fibromyalgia sufferers wish for pain, to attract more affection and attention
from their partner or other people close to them.
It just means that people who
made such experiences react, naturally, to pain with much more sensitivity and
perceive pain much earlier and intensely than others.
The Fibromyalgia specialist,
Dr. med. Thomas Weiss, states that women who suffer from Fibromyalgia felt
their best when they could share household chores with their partners. They felt
worse when the partners didn’t do anything; whenever the partner didn’t assist
them with difficult chores like cleaning the windows, for example. What is
interesting is that they also suffered more when the partners did everything,
jumped to their aid at any occasion and relieved them from even the smallest
tasks.
Therefore, Fibromyalgia is not
an expression of a hidden desire for not having to do anything anymore, but
rather the longing for respect, understanding, support and real partnership.
Exhausted by Hypersensitivity
Those who live in a constant
state of alertness, but, at the same time, hardly get any sleep, will soon
decline into a state of immense exhaustion. And then, things get even worse for
them: they get irritated by sounds, noise, hubbub, sounding car horns, not to
speak of parties, get-togethers etc.
The susceptibility to stress
increases, the pain threshold decreases even more. Efficiency is low, so is the
ability to concentrate. They end up commuting between bed and sofa.
High sensitivity travels from
one part of the body to the next. Understandably, a highly sensitive gut reacts
with IBS symptoms, a highly sensitive bladder turns into an irritable bladder
and the highly sensitive brain creates fears and depression.
So, what would really be a suitable
causal therapy for Fibromyalgia? The far too low pain threshold would need to
be raised; the highly sensitive nervous system needs to be calmed. And that
exactly is the aim of a holistic therapy. There, a variety of methods (in
particular self-help methods) are used in combination, whereas conventional
medicine can be used temporarily and complementary, if needed. But what does
orthodox medicine do?
Fibromyalgia – Conventional Medicine’s Approach
Unfortunately, the
effectiveness of conventional medicine is in many cases unsatisfactory. Doctors
prescribe medication for the symptoms only, i.e. pain killers (often several
together), anti-depressives, and sometimes Pregabalin (Lyrica).
The latter is actually a drug
for severe neuropathic pain (polyneuropathy), excessive fear and epileptic
fits. To be effective with all these ailments, it needs to have a strongly
sedative (calming) effect. And that’s what it does.
Therefore, the side effects
are not surprising. They are mainly: dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness (even
feeling drunk), impaired vision (blurred or double vision), oedema, erectile
dysfunction, nausea, weight gain and, to top it all, it is potentially highly
addictive, so that there may be severe withdrawal symptoms when patients stop
taking it.
However, some doctors suggest
“multimodal therapy” for their patients. That means they recommend, together
with their medication:
- At least 1 physical activity, like walking,
dancing or cycling, or meditative movement therapies, such as Tai Chi or Yoga,
2 – 3 times per week for 30 minutes per session
- And at least 1 psychotherapeutic therapy.
Nonetheless, this approach
does not sound very promising and sufferers are encouraged to carry on researching
what will do them good.
Therapy with Guaifenesin
Prof. St Amand – an emeritus
professor for endocrinology at the University of California (UCLA) has come up
with an interesting hypothesis. He believes that Fibromyalgia is a metabolic
disorder.
According to him, it is the
result of a genetic defect which impacts on the secretion of excessive
phosphate which is dumped in the body tissues and so leads to the typical
Fibromyalgia pain. Guaifenesin – which actually is a remedy for cough – can
regulate phosphate metabolism and is said to heal Fibromyalgia within a manageable
period of time.
In fact, Guaifenesin does help
many sufferers, but not everyone. In some, the symptoms are easier to bear, but
they don’t disappear altogether with Guaifenesin. Others don’t see any effects
at all.
The chances are that we are
simply dealing with different illnesses which manifest in similar symptoms. One
of them may be caused by Dr. Amands’ defective gene; the other may be related
to Dr. Weiss’ theory.
There are still too many
unknown facts, so that every person affected is encouraged to find their own,
personal way of healing by self-observation, experimenting and researching.
In any case, sufferers can
choose to undergo a trial with Guaifenesin, under supervision by their doctor,
of course, and see what happens.
The Holistic Approach
The holistic approach to
Fibromyalgia aims at various factors. Let’s assume that the increased
sensitivity of the nervous system is the main cause. In that case, we need to
calm this hypersensitivity, to lower the pain threshold and to reduce pain
perception.
But this won’t work over
night. That’s why holistic therapy, too,
aims at reducing the symptoms first.
What also has to be taken into
consideration is that many of the so-called symptoms are no symptoms at all,
but autonomous illnesses or ailments which were able to develop because of the
patient’s increased sensitivity, whereby his immune system has increasingly
been weakened by chronic stress.
This may also be the reason
why every affected person presents different symptoms. Ultimately, every human
has different weaknesses and therefore is prone to different illnesses.
Consequently, the aim of
holistic therapy for Fibromyalgia is:
- To strengthen the body, so that it is less susceptive
for (further) ailments of any kind,
- To help with and ideally heal the various
symptoms and to calm the hypersensitive nervous system long-term.
The following measures can,
with a bit of patience, bring a lasting relief:
1. Vitamin
D
Most
importantly, the general supply of vital substances and nutrients must be
looked at, so that possible deficiencies can be corrected. A lack of nutrients
and vital substances not only weakens the organism, so that more and more
symptoms and ailments can develop. In many cases, deficiencies promote the
onset of Fibromyalgia, as is the case with Vitamin D.
Studies
revealed that the Vitamin D level in Fibromyalgia patients is much lower than
in healthy individuals. In fact, it is even lower than the Vitamin D level in
arthritis sufferers, where the level is already quite low.
According
to a study carried out in Vienna, the Fibromyalgia pain and fatigue could be noticeably
improved with Vitamin D supplementation. A study in Turkey proved that
Fibromyalgia patients suffered more intense pain when their Vitamin D levels
decreased.
2. Magnesium-Malate
Magnesium
is a mineral which is in many cases essential in the treatment of Fibromyalgia.
As sufferers often have low energy levels, the recommendation is to prescribe
magnesium in form of
3. Calcium,
Iron & Co
Fibromyalgia
patients often show a lack in other minerals, such as calcium, iron and
manganese, which should be thoroughly checked.
If proven by a blood or hair analysis, or checked by a Kinesiologist,
the patient can either adjust their diet accordingly or take the deficient
minerals as a supplement.
4. Vitamin
B12
Vitamin B
levels, in particular Vitamin B12, are important in the treatment of
Fibromyalgia. B-vitamins are responsible for nerve function. Therefore, it is
not surprising that a Vitamin B deficiency often results in irritability, not
being able to cope well in stress situations, being extremely delicate and the
tendency to depression, which are all symptoms of Fibromyalgia.
Taking a
Vitamin B Complex is therefore a good idea for Fibromyalgia patients, as in
many cases a lack of Vitamin B12 can be detected.
In a
Swedish study in 2015, Vitamin B12 (together with Folic Acid) was given to
Fibromyalgia sufferers. They reported an increased improvement of symptoms, the
longer and more regularly they were taking the vitamin, the higher the doses
were, the better their thyroid glands worked and the less pain killers or
Pregabalin they were taking.
5. A
Healthy Diet
A healthy
diet is essential in the treatment of Fibromyalgia. It guarantees an optimal
supply of vital substances and can bring a huge relief when it comes to
Fibromyalgia symptoms.
A healthy
diet means a diet free of sugar which can often cause the symptoms to get
worse.
However,
every sufferer needs to find out for themselves what makes them feel better or
worse, and then to adjust their diet.
Every
Fibromyalgia patient has different needs. Some can’t deal at all with dairy products;
others feel better with dairy products in their diet. Some get worse with
coffee (even decaf!); others feel better with one or two cups a day. The same
holds true with fructose, whole grain products etc.
Of course,
it is essential to stick to a healthy diet, which means to cut out ready meals,
alcohol and sugar, to drink plenty of still, clean water and to choose
high-quality foods (cold-pressed oils and fats, fresh vegetables instead of
tins, steaming instead of cooking etc.)
Studies
have proven that diet has a substantial influence on Fibromyalgia, like, for
example, a low carb diet and gluten free diet.
6. A
Gluten Free Diet
In some of
us, gluten can trigger symptoms that resemble those of Fibromyalgia. Therefore,
it might be worth trying to cut out gluten completely for 1 to 3 months. In
many cases, there will be an improvement – just because gluten can be hard on
the bowels which are often severely affected in Fibromyalgia sufferers, anyway.
7. Avoid
Glutamate and Aspartame
Although
often declared as harmless, glutamate and aspartame can severely impact on the
symptoms of Fibromyalgia. In 2012, Oregon Health & Science University in
Portland, Oregon carried out a study with 65 Fibromyalgia patients who also
suffered from IBS. They cut out glutamate and aspartame for four weeks. Only 37
managed to strictly follow this diet. 84 per cent of those who managed to see
it through reported that over 30 per cent of the symptoms were gone. The
participants were then split in two groups: one group were given food
containing glutamate, the others were given a placebo.
The group
who ingested glutamate experienced that their symptoms which had substantially
improved returned with a vengeance. The participants in the placebo group were
still feeling much better.
Another
study was carried out in 2001. Scientists in Florida worked with 4 Fibromyalgia
patients who all had undergone various treatments which had not brought any
improvement. But when those patients cut out glutamate and aspartame from their
diet, they experienced a complete or at least almost complete healing of their
symptoms within a few months. As soon as they started eating glutamate and
aspartame again, the symptoms returned.
Glutamate
can be found in many ready meals. You can find flavour enhancers on the label,
beginning with E and then 6, e.g. E621 for Monosodium glutamate.
8. Improvement
With Vibration Training
Exercise
plays an important role in the holistic treatment of Fibromyalgia. Vibration
training might be a good option for sufferers. A pilot study carried out by
Indiana University in 2014 revealed that vibration training which involves the
whole body, reduced Fibromyalgia pain and improved the quality of life.
In general,
however, any advice for extensive exercise proves to be difficult. Most
sufferers have reduced their quota for exercise more and more, due to the pain.
Yet, the less they exercise, the more their physical fitness will decrease.
Those who
manage to go to the gym or invest in a home-trainer, a rowing-machine or similar,
quickly get to the edge of exhaustion. As we know, their pain threshold is very
low and the nervous system is highly sensitive. If the sufferer now starts to
train, highly motivated, it is often too much of a good thing and severe pain
kicks in. This will lead to a massive over-stimulation and, with that, the
symptoms worsen. Things won’t get better, even if persevering over weeks, in
the hope that the pain is just down to sore muscles. Once the sufferer gives up
and decides to rest on the settee, they notice that they begin to feel much
better.
But rest
and avoiding any stimuli are now causing the sensitivity and pain thresholds to
go down even more with time. Often, the weight will go up which also does mean that
the symptoms get worse.
We see,
neither activity nor rest seem to offer a solution.
Therefore,
it’s now time to devote ourselves to the benefits of holistic therapy. The aim
is to increase the pain threshold and to calm high nervous sensitivity.
9. Reduce
Sensitivity Threshold
To meet
this target, the Fibromyalgia sufferer must learn that the stimuli which they,
until now, regarded as dangerous, are in reality useful and beneficial. It is
quite easy to do that with some of the stimuli, e.g. warmth (warm baths) or
touch (gentle massage).
As far as other
stimuli are concerned, we can work with desensitization. That means to learn to
endure more and more of the respective stimulant and to get used to it, until
it is no longer seen or felt as a disturbance. If trained with consequence,
relaxation can kick in and constant vigilance becomes unnecessary.
Muscle
Relaxation
To begin
with, a certain basic state of relaxation is essential, because the more
relaxed the body is, the less likely it is to experience fear, tension or
depression. Therefore, it is important
to learn some kind of relaxation technique, e.g. autosuggestion. This will prepare
for the next step:
Desensitisation
Training
Those who
suffer from sensitivity to noise are likely to love complete silence. But the
more they indulge in complete silence, the more they will find even the
slightest noise annoying.
That’s why
it is better to deliberately expose oneself to sound, to listen to lovely music
or to choose other background noise (lapping waves, a babbling brook, bird song
etc.) and then increasingly visit places with the unloved noise (train station,
city centre, restaurant etc.).
Those who
are sensitive to heat or cold, can try hot/cold sequence showers, sauna with
ensuing cold showers, or just go out in winter in thin clothes for just a few
minutes and move about briskly, then return to the warmth of the house.
Other
hypersensitivities can be treated in a similar way, e.g. sensitivity to smell.
10. Relieve
Pain
A holistic
treatment can, with time, bring a substantial relief of pain or even cure it
altogether. In warm thermal baths where the body is almost weightless and
enveloped in gentle warmth, the pain will subside quickly.
Surrounded
by warm water, the body will move much more easily. Water gymnastics, aqua-jogging etc. can bring
much joy and relief.
Of course,
other therapies and activities can be tried and tested, simple things, such as
watching a funny film, a warm shower, a nice massage, breathing exercises,
meditation etc., can contribute to feeling better and to soothe pain.
(Information
sourced from www.zentrum-der-gesundheit.de/fibromyalgie.html)
