Tag: chronic-pain

Navigating Daylight Saving Time with Fibromyalgia – By Irene Roth

by irenesroth

Spring is always such a hopeful time of year. There are longer days. Sunnier days, and of course it starts getting warmer.

But as the clocks are moved forward, it can be very hard for people living with fibro to function for a while.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) changes can be challenging for anyone, but for those living with fibromyalgia, the transition can exacerbate both physical and psychological symptoms.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties. Adjusting to the shift in time can disrupt sleep patterns, exacerbate pain, and heighten stress levels.

However, with some proactive strategies, individuals with fibromyalgia can navigate these changes more effectively. Here are some to consider.

*1. Prioritize Sleep Hygiene

One of the primary challenges of DST changes is the disruption of sleep patterns. Individuals with fibromyalgia often struggle with sleep disturbances, which can worsen with the time shift.

To lessen the impact of less sleep, prioritize sleep hygiene practices such as maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, creating a relaxing bedtime routine, and ensuring your sleep environment is conducive to rest.

*2. Gradually Adjust Your Routine

Rather than attempting to adjust to the time change abruptly, gradually shift your schedule by going to bed and waking up 15 to 30 minutes earlier each day leading up to DST. This gradual adjustment can help minimize the shock to your system and make the transition smoother.

*3. Manage Pain and Discomfort

The onset of DST changes can intensify fibromyalgia symptoms, including pain and discomfort. Implement pain management techniques such as gentle stretching, heat therapy, or relaxation exercises to alleviate discomfort and promote relaxation during this time of transition.

*4. Maintain Regular Physical Activity

While it may be tempting to decrease physical activity during times of increased pain or fatigue, regular exercise can actually help alleviate symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Engage in low-impact activities such as walking, swimming, or yoga to improve mood, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being, even amidst DST changes.

*5. Practice Stress Management

Stress can exacerbate fibromyalgia symptoms, so it’s essential to prioritize stress management techniques during DST transitions. Incorporate mindfulness, meditation, deep breathing exercises, or other relaxation techniques into your daily routine to help calm the mind and reduce stress levels.

*6. Be Kind to Yourself

Remember to be patient and compassionate with yourself during this adjustment period. Living with fibromyalgia requires resilience and self-care, so prioritize self-compassion and recognize that it’s okay to take things one step at a time.

7. Stick to Healthy Habits

Maintain a balanced diet, stay hydrated, and limit caffeine and alcohol intake, as these factors can impact sleep quality and exacerbate fibromyalgia symptoms. Consistently practicing healthy habits can support your overall well-being and help you better manage the challenges of DST changes.

Thus, navigating DST changes with fibromyalgia requires a proactive approach to managing both physical and psychological symptoms. By prioritizing sleep hygiene, gradually adjusting your routine, managing pain and discomfort, maintaining regular physical activity, practicing stress management, seeking support, being kind to yourself, and sticking to healthy habits, individuals with fibromyalgia can effectively cope with the challenges of DST transitions and maintain their overall well-being.

Irene Roth

Irene Roth is a freelance writer who has a passion for helping the chronically ill. Having struggled with four different chronic illnesses for over 20 years has taught her a lot of valuable lessons. Her writing showcases tips and tricks of how to not only live but thrive with chronic illness. She has published over 150 e-books and over 1,800 articles for the chronically ill on how to cope with their pain and fatigue. For more information and tips, please visit her website at: https://livingwellwitharthritis.wordpress.com/

The Importance of Prioritizing Self-Care By Irene Roth

by irenesroth

Do you find that you want to do it all and be everything to everyone?  If you do, you know it comes at a high cost to you as a chronically ill individual. It’s easy to lose sight of yourself in the process. Perhaps somewhere down the line, you may have been led to believe that taking care of yourself is selfish. However, this isn’t the case. In fact, for a chronically ill person, self-care is a lifeline to health and well-being.

But on an even more basic level, there is a firm line between self-care and being selfish. Being selfish implies that the world revolves around you, while self-care acknowledges that the world includes you and your needs. You are a very important part of your world. It means giving yourself the attention, compassion, time, and energy that you need and deserve.

Here are five ways to take care of yourself.

*1. Slow down

There never seems to be enough time to do everything you want or need to do. Yet, rushing through your daily activities often robs you of the experiences you are living through. There is so much in our live to experience such as this cup of hot coffee, this fresh maple glazed donut, or this warm lavender bubble bath. Slowing down can help you experience all of these things deeply. Further, slowing down can help you gain less weight, maintain lower blood pressure, and experience less anxiety.

*2. Make yourself a priority

We often schedule a massage or manicure after everything else is in place and done. This may mean that by the time we get to our massage or manicure appointment, we’re so tired we can’t enjoy it as much. We may fall asleep on the massage table or not even appreciate the pretty shade of red that our manicurist put on our nails. Therefore, it may be better to schedule these activities at times of days when we’re not exhausted and we can enjoy them. This may mean that we shouldn’t try to do too much before or after these wonderful events.

*3. Don’t skimp on sleep

Sleep helps all aspects of our health and well-being, especially the molecular, energy balance as well as intellectual function, alertness, and mood. So, we should strive to get 7 or 8 hours of good quality of sleep. This may be difficult for a chronically ill person to achieve. However, working with a holistic nutritionist can be the answer to your issues. She can help you come up with a supplement plan that will take your sleep from mediocre, at best, to good.

*4. Threat yourself

Buy yourself nice little gifts. We all treat our friends to nice things. Why not do the same for us? Perhaps get yourself a nice bouquet of flowers, or a new cell phone case. This can boost your morale and serve as a reminder that you’re worthy.

*5.  Discover your authentic self

It’s easy for us to create identities around our rules and other people. But who are we when our roles are stripped? Explore your identity and values in order to nurture the best version of yourself. Then do things that are in line and celebrate who you are. This can help you feel more in tune with who you truly are.

By taking these steps, you will be prioritizing your self care.  But what’s more, you will be living a better quality of life.

Being overextended, over-scheduled, and exhausted means you have to push back all the things you know are good for you and put them on a back burner. That shows a complete lack of self-respect.

So why not start by making yourself a priority? Why not make your self-care a priority? This can really be time to celebrate who you are in between bouts of chronic illness.

You deserve self-respect. Make yourself a priority today and take care of yourself.

Irene Roth

 

Irene Roth is a freelance writer who has a passion for helping the chronically ill. Having struggled with four different chronic illnesses for over 20 years has taught her a lot of valuable lessons. Her writing showcases tips and tricks of how to not only live but thrive with chronic illness. She has published over 130 e-books and over 1,500 articles for the chronically ill on how to cope with their pain and fatigue. For more information and tips, please visit her website at: https://livingwellwitharthritis.wordpress.com/