Want more iVillage? Sign up for our
Newsletters
Stress and Fibromyalgia
Many people with fibromyalgia find that stress makes their symptoms worse. Reducing stress, or finding healthy ways to cope with it, may help reduce your pain.
- Identify stressful situations at home and at work that seem to trigger your symptoms. Work on ways to make those situations less stressful or to make them occur less frequently.
- Cancel unnecessary activities that cause stress.
- Set priorities and learn to cope with your physical limitations. If you can't do an activity because of pain, find a less painful way to do it or try a different activity.
- Think about seeing a counselor if you are unable to deal with severe stress or need help finding ways to cope with stressful situations.
- Learn to use stress reduction, biofeedback, visualization, meditation, or relaxation techniques. Cognitive-behavioral therapy or training may be helpful in learning to manage stress. For more information about these techniques, see the topic Stress Management.
- Join a fibromyalgia support group.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: October 21, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Richa Dhawan, MD - Rheumatology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
