People who suffer from fibromyalgia can all agree that they have never been told that one thing caused the onset of symptoms, and healthcare professionals agree that it does not appear to be a specific cause of fibromyalgia. However, more recently, doctors and researchers have considered trauma to be a major factor linked to the onset of fibromyalgia in some people. Whether it is physical trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, emotional trauma, or childhood trauma, there does not appear to be a link to the onset of fibromyalgia. One thing is clear, however: for those who suffer from fibromyalgia, the areas of the brain responsible for the pain response are very different than for those who do not have fibromyalgia.
In patients suffering from fibromyalgia, there appears to be a decrease in opioid receptors in the brain, which may affect the emotional aspect of pain. Fibromyalgia may be essentially a change in the central nervous system that causes an increased response to pain, or essentially, the brain’s pain reception or response is imbalanced, which can now be attributed to trauma or injury. There are several types of trauma or traumatic events that can contribute to the onset of fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia linked to chronic childhood stress and conflict with parents
Childhood traumatic and stressful experiences have historically been overlooked as predisposing factors in the development of various chronic pain and psychiatric disorders, including fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome. However, the tide is turning as research reveals a significant correlation between childhood trauma and adult health.
Sometimes it feels like we’re learning something new about FM every day. And usually, major medical advances provide evidence of things that people who actually suffer from FM have long recognized.
For example, if you spend enough time in the FM community, you’ll hear stories of people who were abused as children. Perhaps you were still a victim. However, while these types of stories are widespread, the idea that these two issues may be related hasn’t yet received much attention. But it turns out that FM and childhood trauma may be much more closely linked than we thought.
The central nervous system evolves rapidly during childhood and becomes accustomed to responding to the many stressors and stimuli that present themselves throughout life. As various environmental stimuli are encountered, new patterns are generated between brain cells in response to each stimulus. Just as a pleasant experience, such as a hug from a loved one or a sweet food, produces patterns that teach the brain to respond pleasantly to these stimuli. Similarly, a terrifying experience will train and create patterns that react with fear. This process of producing new pathways in response to stimuli is commonly referred to as neuroplasticity. As we age, neuroplasticity declines, meaning it becomes more difficult to create new patterns and adjust our brain’s responses to stimuli. Children have a distinct advantage in managing a high degree of neural plasticity. However, this also highlights the importance of providing meaningful stimuli to the evolving brain to ensure that positive pathways develop.
With a strong support system and normal, short-term stressors, a child’s traumatic reactions are properly buffered and stimulated by supportive relationships. In this way, optimistic pathways develop in the brain and teach the nervous system how to respond appropriately to life’s typical stressors. As the brain encounters different stressors, a healthy resilience builds so that increasingly traumatic situations can be experienced with normal biological responses.
In the absence of supportive interactions or in the presence of long-standing and/or extreme stressors, the stress response is inappropriately stimulated and can harm brain growth and the neurological system. As parts of the brain responsible for anxiety, fear, and impulsive reactions are activated, neural pathways are established to serve these parts of the brain. Subsequently, parts of the brain responsible for planning, reasoning, and behavioral control may lack appropriate pathways, resulting in a bias toward negative feelings such as depression, anxiety, fear, and panic attacks.
How Childhood Trauma Contributes to Fibromyalgia
Let’s start by saying that childhood trauma alone won’t cause you to develop fibromyalgia. No one can tell you for sure what triggers fibromyalgia, or what specifically happens in the body of someone with fibromyalgia versus someone without the condition.
But it appears to be a mechanism by which traumatic events in your childhood make you more likely to grow up with FM. Unfortunately, any idea of what it is specifically is just a theory at this point.
However, a good competitor for this mechanism would be trauma. The link between FM and stress is already well known. Not only does stress worsen FM symptoms and trigger flare-ups, but it actually appears to change the way your brain is designed, according to the National Institutes of Health.
So, what’s the relationship between childhood trauma and fibromyalgia? Well, think about it. We know that stress impairs brain function, and we can imagine a more traumatic experience than living with childhood trauma. In any case, this kind of suffering doesn’t end when you’re a child.
It attacks you when you’re most exposed and your brain is still developing. And then you’ll be in the shadows for the rest of your life.
So, basically, childhood trauma changes the structure of your brain. And if fibromyalgia is a disease that originates in the brain, as many doctors now believe, then it makes sense that these detrimental changes would make you more likely to develop fibromyalgia later in life. But even if fibromyalgia doesn’t start in the brain but in the immune system, as some believe, stress would continue to fuel this mechanism.
Currently, the specific causes of chronic pain and fatigue-related conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, are not identified; however, only about 2 decades of studies have clearly indicated that early childhood stressors are the main risk factors for causing these conditions. Although not all children who have been exposed to traumatic stressors will experience physical and emotional catastrophes, research has shown that children exposed to long-term stressors or traumatic events are about three times more likely to suffer from functional somatic disorders, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pain, and others. In addition, these conditions usually coexist with psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety. The age at which the stress or trauma is experienced, its interval,
What can you do?
Given the growing incidence of somatic functional disorders, psychiatric problems, and emotional issues, it is essential to consider the impact of childhood experiences on the development of these conditions. Dwelling on past trauma is not always helpful in promoting healing and health, and can actually be counterproductive; however, understanding its health consequences is helpful in correctly recognizing elusive health problems like fibromyalgia. It is also essential to know this in order to protect future generations from the devastating effects of childhood stressors and trauma. Finally, this serves as a good example of the success of an effective medicine approach,
One of the most important things to do when you’re experiencing childhood trauma is to get the right emotional support. This is never more true than when it comes to FM, which itself is very challenging. Seek help from a psychiatrist or seek help from other members of the FM community.
In fact, studies suggest that not only does talk therapy help you manage emotional pain, but it can also decrease your FM pain.
The emotional causes of fibromyalgia syndrome.
These days, too many people suffer from excruciating fibromyalgia symptoms. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and restless sleep. People with fibromyalgia experience pain in the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other soft fibrous tissues of the body.
I have suffered from fibromyalgia symptoms for several years. I have struggled to keep the symptoms mostly manageable through the healing techniques I use with my clients. I believe every illness has an emotional cause. If the emotional cause can be found, the illness can be cured. It has been very difficult to find information on the emotional causes of fibromyalgia.
I recently learned some information that helped me reduce my pain levels and I hope this information will be helpful to others as well.
Those of us with fibromyalgia often lead more demanding, driven, tense, and stressful lives. We lack appropriate boundaries and the ability to balance our activities with others. Many of us tend to be doormats, letting others get in our way.
We have less tolerance or patience, which creates deep inner pain. This characterizes a repressed resistance to our conditions, a desire to withdraw, because our patience for what is happening, whether within us or in our world, is almost nonexistent. This affects our entire nervous system, causing sleep disturbances and pain.
Deep fatigue can indicate a desire to give up, an exhaustion from having to drive or exercise beyond our limits. Fibromyalgia suggests a loss of purpose or direction, and a loss of essence and spirit. It’s as if the desire to contribute and enter into life has been lost, leaving us without purpose or inspiration.
Pain can occur as a diversion from dealing with deep emotional pain. Pain limits our movement, but physical movement allows for the expression of our emotions. By not moving, our emotions, demanding to be expressed through pain, can be held back and trapped.
Pain can be overwhelming, causing us to lose touch with who we are outside of the pain. It also makes it difficult for us to focus on things we wish we weren’t focused on.
Muscle pain indicates that psychological pain such as anger, terror, anxiety, guilt, or even self-punishment is transmitted through the body. It indicates pain or a desire for something or someone. It can also signify a deep yearning for movement or change, but also an internal opposition to movement.
Most fibromyalgia hotspots are located on the back. Since our back is out of reach and out of sight, it’s the perfect place to hide feelings or issues we don’t want to deal with. Since we can’t see them, neither can others. These hidden emotions can include irritation, terror, exhaustion, guilt, or unforgiveness. Fear of defection and vulnerability can also hide in the back.
Everyone I’ve spoken to with fibromyalgia describes their symptoms as worsening when they’re in difficult conditions. When we’re tense, our muscles tighten, which causes increased pain.
When you feel pain, ask yourself what movement you would actually like to make. Is there a return on your pain, such as extra attention or not having to do certain things? What are you really in pain from? What is your body asking you to do to release the tension? Is it necessary to scream, cry, change direction, hug someone, or push someone away?
Is there something or someone you’ve been pushing away that you need to acknowledge and admit? Are you pushing your feelings away? Is there something holding you back?
Are you so busy with your responsibilities to others that you have little time for yourself? Would you really like to say to others, “Please take care of me, give me attention and love.”?
Sleep problems are linked to trust issues. We need to trust that everything is okay and safe to relax, unwind, and unwind. We need to trust that the world will be normal without us.
These are some of the issues I’ve found to cause fibromyalgia symptoms. I’m sure there are many more I’ve missed, but this is a good start for each of us to begin healing.
There are many methods for healing emotional illnesses. The one I practice most is Word Healing. Use this method to heal the concerns above that resonate with you and your symptoms.
SAY THE HEALING WORD
It is a healing practice that I have trained and have had wonderful benefits from.
“I acknowledge my Master Healers for the elimination of all causes, signs, symptoms, side effects, predispositions and damage (negative emotions or emissions) from the entire body at all levels leading to the Violet Flame of transmutation, replacing it with (positive emotions or problem).”
There are two methods for practicing this declaration. Using a pendulum, swing it counterclockwise as you begin to say your declaration. Continue repeating the declaration until the pendulum swings clockwise to let you know the healing or therapy is complete. You can use your pendulum to understand how regularly you should make the declaration. You can also simply repeat the declaration several times or until you feel complete. Normally, a sigh will be emitted when the energy has shifted.
