Fibromyalgia and Stress – the connection between the brain and body

Copyright (c) 2008 Hailey Harris

A widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue characterizes Fibromylagia. The exact causes of fibromyalgia are still unknown. Fibromyalgia means pain in muscles, ligaments, tendons and other fibrous tissue in the body.

Women are more prone to develop fibromyalgia, although men are also affected by it. Patients with fibromyalgia may affect one or a combination of the following symptoms such as chronic pain, insomnia or sleeping problems, are hypersensitive to chronic fatigue, depression and irritable bowel syndrome. Some patients have also reported symptoms such as sensitivity to light, noise, odors, certain foods and medications. Other symptoms are reported TMJ disorders, morning stiffness, memory loss, dizziness, dry eyes and mouth.

Fibromyalgia is often referred to as the invisible disease because no obvious pathology is present. It is assumed that psychosocial factors are responsible for this disease. Fibromyalgia is neither fatal nor a degenerative disease that can affect almost all aspects of the life of a person. Chronic pain is associated with the disease ubiquitous and persistent and can affect normal social and recreational activities. It was estimated that about 30% are affected by this disease are not in a position to work full time. The U.S. government recognizes fibromyalgia as a real disease, and patients can apply for Social Security disability benefits.

Doctors around the world consider fibromyalgia as a functional disorder where the symptoms are real, but the medical tests prove normal. The experiment is the fibromyalgia bio-medical model to understand, a futile exercise. Bio-medical model explains the disease as a cause and effect and is on dualism. The bio-medical model considers the mind and body as separate.

The reality is in fact contrary to this belief, and most illnesses such as fibromyalgia, must be understood by the bio-psycho-spiritual model. It is now generally recognized that fibromyalgia after addressing, understanding must be dealt with, and accepting the interdependence of mind, body and spirit. Factors such as genetics, environment and the influence of conscious and unconscious thoughts also play an important role in patients with fibromyalgia.

The causes of fibromyalgia are not in your head, but in the mind and body. The brain is the body through the spinal cord through the autonomic nervous system. Small protein molecules in the neuropeptide messenger system circulates in the body and carry messages to and fro between the body and the brain and vice versa. Therefore, we must look at the mind and body in order to truly understand, model and fibromyalgia does not have the bio-medical. There is a direct relationship between stress and symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Stress is the perception of mental or physical threat and the perception of the inability to deal with it. Two important things about stress must be kept in mind. First, stress can take place at the unconscious level, and the person may not realize that he or she is under stress from a cognitive perspective. Second, the stress is always perception. Certain people, you can create a very stressful situation, while others may not be affected.

Although a number of factors for fibromyalgia, a common factor in all patients, who are responsible for fibromyalgia, “stress”. Another factor that fibromyalgia is often associated with sleep disorders or insomnia. It is not yet clear whether these two factors cause fibromyalgia or vice versa.

It is important that all parties agree, and the connection between mind and body. Treatment and healing are two different processes. Treatment is given in the application of something external and anything by mouth or intravenously, but the healing is done from the inside out. Patients should be encouraged to use their own power to heal itself. It is a fact that neuropeptides can be switched off and on through relaxation, exercise, nutrition, sleep, belief, and medication.

A change in lifestyle, better nutrition, regular exercise, sleep, and medications such as antidepressants are taken under medical supervision for the management of fibromyalgia advantage.