How Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Help Fibromyalgia?
A 2013 article that appeared in European Journal of Pain showed evidence to suggest that ACT can have positive effects on anxiety, depression, self-efficacy, mental health-related quality of life, and pain-related functioning. The study was carried out with 40 fibromyalgia female participants, who attended weekly ACT group sessions over a twelve week period.
Another article published in Arthritis Research & Therapy found evidence that CBT can be effective for catastrophized pain management in fibromyalgia patients. Catastrophizing is defined as the belief by the patient that the pain is or will be of a greater magnitude than what it actually is.
Other research studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy for fibromyalgia is correlated with positive outcomes in symptoms like depression, anxiety, fatigue, daily functioning, and sleep. Moreover, there is evidence from research to show that CBT, in particular ACT, are some of the most effective therapies in combating pain, fatigue and brain fog, the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia. To a lesser extent, they have also been credited with minimizing experiences and feelings that lead to loss of control and stress in patients.
I have tried lots of meds including duloxetine this drug at first was great but after a couple of weeks I started to feel really poorly my gp did say she was worried about two much seratonium and gave me advice if I felt unwell go straight to the hospital I was taking tramadol quatiapine and hormone replacement therapy trazodone and lyrica (pregabalin) which I was coming off very slowly I decided to try duloxetine first at a lower dose then up to the higher dose which seemed to really help I felt great however that short lived and eventually started to feel sick. Blinding headache constipation dry mouth insomnia aggitation my appitite was poor I could manage a couple of spoonfuls that was it and once again weight gain. I went back to the doctors who had read my notes and after I told her how I felt and said I wanted to come off the duloxetine but keep the trazodone so she reduced the duloxetine to 30mgs but I still felt poorly after reducing I went back a week later still feeling my this point very agitated aggressive tearful and thinking what’s the point of all this suffering the next doctor then stopped the duloxetine and put my dose of pregablin up to 100mgs which now means u have to start reducing that again. Iam booked in with my own doctor this week and hopefully we can look at other alternatives however I will say I do not in any way say my doctor is to blame she is a very good gp. The other GPS should have looked at my records and saw what was written about the seratonium levels.I hope if you are reading this don’t be to eager to change any medication even though the article may say the drug is really good read the risks and other comments carefully before bring to eager and continue to read the articles on this website good luck everyone
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 7 months ago. I can’t get any relief from the pain no matter what I do. So I started smoking weed and it helps some with the pain and I can go to sleep but wake up so stiff and sore it’s hard to get out of bed. I try to exercise and walk some everyday but afterwards I can barely sit up. People just don’t know what it’s like unless you have it.