Mrs martin

[Natland2023]

I have chronic pain ( fibromyalgia) I have been suffering terrible anxiety for around the last month and with that anxiety it flares up my chronic pain to a level that is extremely hard to deal with, I am lucky to get 2-3 hours sleep a night.

[smallwolf]

Hello and welcome.

I'm really sorry to hear you're going through this. Living with both chronic pain and anxiety can be incredibly overwhelming. It sounds like the pain and anxiety fuel each other? And then when you add a lack of sleep only makes everything harder.

Have you been able to talk with anyone about this? Perhaps your GP? I wonder if you have any ways (strategies) to help ease the anxiety (or in the past)?

Listening...

[Natland2023]

I am seeing a psychologist next week so I hope that will help me manage the anxiety and how to manage the pain. I wonder if the fact i resigned from my job if 27 years as a mortgage specialist due to my chronic pain and being the first time I’ve not worked in 42 years may also be a factor. It just gets really hard waking up everyday for the last 15 years with pain 24 hours a day.

[Happylife]

Hello Natland2023,

This must be so difficult for you, and I am truly sorry to hear what you are going through. Living in chronic pain is never easy and on top of that anxiety as well.

I really appreciate you for reaching out. Looks like you have been handling it very well and I really think you are very strong in managing this for so many years.

Have you tried any natural remedies (after speaking to your doctor) for e.g. acupuncture, massage or occupational and physical therapy etc.?

I really hope you feel better and sleep well. Happy to listen if you feel like talking more...

Take care

Happylife

[smallwolf]

it’s great that you’re seeing a psychologist soon—it takes courage and could also be a big step in helping you find ways to manage the anxiety and pain. And hopefully ... the psychologist can help you navigate this transition and find some strategies to ease the pain and anxiety.

[BlueLily]

Hi Natland2023,

Sorry to hear you are suffering from anxiety as well as chronic pain. It's good to hear you are going to see a psychologist. My psychologist helped me uncover the underlying reasons that triggered my anxiety and get to the root cause along with lot of strategies to help with it. But from time to time I still have days that I'm unable to sleep due to being anxious all night. I've tried various possible recommendations to help myself sleep and found reading a book under a slightly dim light works the best. Hopefully you will find the bed time routine that works best for you.

I hope you find some comfort to your 24hr a day pain with medical or non-medical approaches. Whether it's something to get your mind off like art, meditation or hydrotherapy. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been for you to leave a job of 27 years. On the positive side though, now you can take the time to take care of yourself instead of taking care of colleagues and clients, even few small tasks of self care to make your life little better everyday...

[Natland2023]

Thankyou for your kind words, I did end up going to emergency on Friday as it just got to much and they helped get the pain down wich was such a relief. My anxiety also is better than it was and I’m looking forward to seeing the psychologist Tomorrow and hope to learn strategies to help with the anxiety and with the pain flare ups.

I guess I am stronger than I think and I need to realise that,I will now be focusing on me, do more exercises and I love doing art projects which up until now I never seemed to have the time , so I will set aside a full day each week and set myself up some sort of plan for each day so I have some sort of routine again.

Thankyou again for taking the time to message me and i really appreciate it.

from now on I am going to focus on my health and wellbeing and learn to enjoy my life again.

Thankyou and take care x

[BlueLily]

Hi Natland2023,

It's good to hear your anxiety is getting better despite you ended up in emergency. Hope your psychology session goes well and you get some answers and relief you are looking for.

I love art projects myself. I do them to calm me down and to deal with depression. If I don't feel super creative I buy those paint by numbers packs and then work my own ideas in to it. Full day of art sounds so much fun! 

Please share your journey and any tips that you find helpful. We are here to help you.

Take care...