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The Damaging Effect of Unexpected Stressors and Fibromyalgia

© Cynthia Webber (Jausten)

So many times those of us with fibromyalgia are told to reduce our stress. There are books and information on the internet to help us to reduce our normal everyday stress. However, I found very little information available about unexpected stress unless it was due to a violent crime, rape, or physical abuse. Post-traumatic stress syndrome is also widely written about in relation to war, abuse, or violent crimes. Unexpected stress related to the sudden death of someone close is also widely written about, and the multitude of resources for these great stressors in our lives have filled book stores, libraries, and Internet pages.

But what about the unexpected stress of being robbed? Recently I had my purse stolen from the trunk of my locked car. I was out walking one of my dogs in a park, which is something that I do on a regular basis in order to get some exercise. The amount of unexpected stress that I had to deal with in cancelling my credit cards, getting replacement cards and identification was overwhelming for me. My fibromyalgia flared up as I tried to remember exactly what had been in my purse, and my fatigue and pain levels increased greatly. I became very angry, lost my trust in people, and felt no sense of security even in my own home. I started locking all the doors of the house, and was very cautious with opening the front door to anyone. I live in a small community which is a part of a larger city which has areas of great crime. This park is beautiful, and I've always felt save there. I no longer feel comfortable going for a walk there, or anywhere else right now.

There are other unexpected stressor in our lives which can also cause our fibromyalgia to flare. What about the unexpected stress of being rejected by a friend? Having a close relationship with someone, and then having them drop us from their lives can cause hurt, anger, and even concern as we try to piece together what happened to cause them to suddenly stop communicating with us. This can disrupt our sleep, cause us emotional turmoil which can send us into a major fibromyalgia flare.

And what about getting a flat tire on a busy highway without having anyway to obtain help? The fear of letting a stranger help us can be overwhelming, and it is not always safe to do so. Recently, I was in a cab going from Washington DC to the Baltimore airport late at night, and the cab had a flat tire on the parkway. The cab driver told me to stay in the cab, and he locked all the doors. I was not afraid, but he was fearful for not only his own safety, but for mine. I did have to help him by holding the flashlight, and his stress was far greater than mine. But when I thought about it later, I realized that I had just ignored any fear that I had at the time, and it resurfaced when I was robbed in my own city. Thus, it indirectly caused my recent fibromyalgia flare. However, what if I had been alone in my own car and had had a flat tire?

The copyright of the article The Damaging Effect of Unexpected Stressors and Fibromyalgia in Fibromyalgia is owned by Cynthia Webber (Jausten). Permission to republish The Damaging Effect of Unexpected Stressors and Fibromyalgia in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.