CBT Strategies To Target Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Fibro Fog
Fibro fog, or brain fog, is a result of the vicious cycle of chronic pain, lack of sleep and fatigue. One of the most effective ways of dealing with brain fog is by mindfulness (a component of ACT often used in CBT therapies). Mindfulness entails being aware in the present moment, rather than worrying or thinking about the future. Mindfulness allows the patient to be more engaged in what they are doing. This helps the therapist devise targeted therapeutic coping strategies to help the client deal with the now, make needed changes and better manage unpleasant experiences.
Journaling is also an effective tool in CBT to help with focusing. The visual processing and recording of experiences and feelings has been shown to be great at engaging the different areas of the brain. The focus and engagement in turn help the patient take concrete action. Other then tackling the specific symptoms of fibromyalgia, CBT helps to build a stronger psychological well-being in patients.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a talk therapy which does not require any medication or physical treatment. It is suitable for anyone suffering from fibromyalgia.
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.