Living with fibromyalgia means living with an unpredictable companion. Some mornings I wake up feeling relatively human, whilst others greet me with a wall of pain and fatigue that makes even the simplest tasks feel mountainous. It's during these darker periods, when my mental health begins to spiral alongside my physical symptoms, that I turn … Continue reading How Gratitude Can Improve Chronic Pain Management
Grief and Chronic Illness: Mourning the Life You Had Before
The other week, I found myself mindlessly scrolling online when a post from a former colleague stopped me in my tracks. There she was, celebrating another promotion, looking radiant at some industry event, clearly thriving in the career I once thought would be mine too. And just like that, the familiar tightness settled in my … Continue reading Grief and Chronic Illness: Mourning the Life You Had Before
The One Thing That Really Helps on My Worst Fibro Days – My Infra Red Sauna Blanket
Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels.com There are certain things in my fibromyalgia toolkit that I could manage without, and then there are the absolute essentials – the things that have transformed how I cope with the condition. My infrared sauna blanket sits firmly in the latter category, and I really don't know how I … Continue reading The One Thing That Really Helps on My Worst Fibro Days – My Infra Red Sauna Blanket
Finding My Way Back to Yoga: In Praise of Chair Yoga for Chronic Pain
I've always had a complicated relationship with yoga. On one hand, I know it can be beneficial - the gentle stretching, the mindfulness, the promise of reduced pain and increased flexibility. On the other hand, my fibromyalgia and arthritis seemed to conspire against me every time I tried to join a class. During lockdown, I … Continue reading Finding My Way Back to Yoga: In Praise of Chair Yoga for Chronic Pain
Embracing the Light: Summer Solstice Reflections
This coming weekend marks the summer solstice here in the northern hemisphere - the longest day of the year and the official start of astronomical summer. Across the UK, people will be making pilgrimages to sacred sites like Stonehenge and Avebury, gathering among the ancient standing stones to witness the sunrise. I've always felt drawn … Continue reading Embracing the Light: Summer Solstice Reflections
Managing Fibromyalgia Through Journaling: How This Daily Writing Habit Has Helped Me
Living with a chronic illness often feels like navigating an ever-changing landscape of symptoms, treatments, and emotions. Since diagnosis with fibromyalgia over 11 years ago, one tool in my wellness toolbox that I’ve made use of consistently is journaling although the focus of what I write down has changed over the years. Journaling might be … Continue reading Managing Fibromyalgia Through Journaling: How This Daily Writing Habit Has Helped Me
Why You Should Snuggle Up with a Good Book: The Surprising Benefits of Reading for Fibromyalgia
If you’re anything like me, a self-proclaimed bookworm, you’ll already know the simple joy of getting lost in a great story. For many of us, reading is a cherished escape, a way to relax and quiet our busy minds. But the benefits of reading can go far beyond relaxation. Science says that diving into a … Continue reading Why You Should Snuggle Up with a Good Book: The Surprising Benefits of Reading for Fibromyalgia
Pain Management Programmes – a useful resource for fibromyalgia?
Pain Management Programmes are offered by the National Health Service (NHS) in some areas of the UK as an option for patients who have been referred to their local Pain Service. Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to be offered a place on a PMP, so I thought it would be helpful to share … Continue reading Pain Management Programmes – a useful resource for fibromyalgia?
A Chronic Voice Writing Prompts – March 2023
It’s great to see the return of the prompts from Sheryl at A Chronic Voice for March. I’ve been losing my blogging motivation this year as my focus has been on other projects but I always want to join in with these prompts and enjoy reading the posts of others too. The prompts for March … Continue reading A Chronic Voice Writing Prompts – March 2023
Open water swimming when you have fibromyalgia
My experience of open water swimming with fibromyalgia - both positive and some areas to watch out for. Why open water swimming is a beneficial form of exercise, especially for those of us with chronic illness.
Musings on Life with Fibromyalgia 