Tag: stress reduction

Fibro Friday – Boundaries As A Form of Flare Management
health · words of wisdom

Fibro Friday – Boundaries As A Form of Flare Management

MstldelanoLeave a comment

We’ve arrived at the end of another week, and I’m delighted that I get to share with you all some more of my fibromyalgia insights. I have to say, this condition has taught me an infinite number of lessons (truly, more than I could ever recall for the sake of blogging). And even when I think I’ve got a good handle on a particular lesson, life always gives me the opportunity to attain a new level of depth and comprehension.

This past week, I got to revisit a lesson on boundaries. When managing chronic illness, boundaries are especially important, both to prevent overwhelm and to manage overwhelm when it occurs. If you haven’t practiced saying enthusiastic yeses and firm, confident nos, you may find that this isn’t an easy thing to do. But mastering this skill is vital, because one of the biggest pain culprits is overextending ourselves and being under a ton of stress. Effective boundaries can reduce or eliminate stress and make it easier to avoid or manage flares.

I did a video all about this topic: you can find it below:

If you’re unclear about what boundaries are, and how to deploy them effectively, the book Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud is a great place to start. This book drastically changed how I viewed yes and no in the context of all relationships, including the relationship I have with myself. I highly recommend it!

That’s it for Fibro Friday. Please continue to take care of yourselves, and I’ll talk to you all soon!

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Fibro Fridays – The Latest on My Health Journey

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Happy Fibro Friday, friends! I hope you all have had a great, pain-free week. And, if you experienced any pain at all, I hope you were able to get relief quickly.

I’m taking another (mini) break from reviewing the various fibromyalgia protocols (the last one I reviewed was Dr. Wylde’s protocol) to talk about a different fibro topic; namely, I’ll be discussing what’s been happening with me and my health journey.

For starters, I’ve been feeling pretty good overall. I tend to experience a lot less pain during the warmer months, and that’s due to the temperature (I am more uncomfortable in cooler temps), the increased vitamin D (since I spend a lot more time in the sunshine), or some combination of the two. I’ve been taking advantage of those low-pain days and getting as much done as I can.

I have also been making changes to my diet and medication. I’m incorporating a lot more raw fruits and vegetables into my meals, usually opting for whole fruits for breakfast as opposed to eating a lot of grain or processed foods, salads for lunch, and protein and veggies for dinner. I have been tapering my medication in the hopes that I’ll be able to eventually fully transition off of them. So far, so good: I haven’t had any major pain or flares since I started the tapering process.

Another thing that has been helping with my health is doing yoga more frequently. I do it for the fitness aspect but one of the bonuses of yoga is being mindful of my breathing. I often forget to take deeper breaths, so it’s nice to have a reminder. Yoga is amazing for fibromyalgia, since it gently stretches the muscles while simultaneously encouraging the release of stress. It’s one of the most frequently recommended exercises for people dealing with fibro.

Part of the plan over the next few months involves experimenting with some plant-based eating plans, progress in my yoga practice, and find more natural pain relief options. I’ve been working on some products and supplements to help with fibro pain but it’s still early in my experimentation. Here’s hoping I’ll be able to create something amazing that I’ll be able to share with you all soon!

That’s my brief rundown of how I’ve been feeling lately, as well as where I am in my health journey. I’m looking forward to hearing from you all in the comments. Take care, and have a great weekend!