The Blessing of Fibromyalgia

  Imagine waking up every day with the flu. You wake with pain, nausea, dizziness, and weakness every day for years. These symptoms are accompanied by extreme fatigue, sore spots on your arms, legs, chest, and back, chronic irritation of the mucosa tissue of the mouth, nose, bronchial tubes, vagina, and rectum, temperature intolerance, hot sweats, cold sweats, bladder spasms, painful urination, irritable bowel syndrome, weird rashes, slowing growing hair and brittle nails, chronic pelvic pain, headaches, TMJ, endocrine imbalance, liver dysfunction, heart palpitations, eye dryness and irritations, salt craving, abnormal tastes, restless leg syndrome, sound and light sensitivity and insomnia(St Amand,1999). These are just the tip of the ice burg.1

The bladder spasms increase the incidence of cystitis. The chronic pelvic pain promotes menstrual cramps, infertility, and vulvodynia. Then there is the memory loss, fibrofog, , anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings, depression, loss of self, loss of freedom, and loss of independence. You are left with fear of everything. You can no longer trust your body and because you are so misunderstood, you can no longer trust anyone else.2

Diagnosis of fibromyalgia according the American College of Rheumatology is characterized by the history of widespread pain. The pain or aching, steady or intermittent must be present for at least three months. The pain must have been present:
a. on both sides of the body
b. both above and below the waist
c. midbody-neck, midchest, mid back, or headache
There must be pain on pressing at least eleven of eighteen spots on the body that are known as tender spots(Teitelbaum, 2001). Fibromyalgia previously called fibrositis has been called a sleep disorder. It is often associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.3

The CDC criteria is defined as follows:
a. clinically evaluated, unexplained, persistent,
or relapsing chronic fatigue that is new or
definite onset (has not been lifelong); is not
the result of ongoing exertion; is not
substantially alleviated by rest; and results
in substantial reduction in previous levels
of occupation, educational, social, or
personal activities.
b. concurrent occurrence of four of more of the
following symptoms, all of which must have
persisted or recurred during six or more
consecutive months or illness and must not have
predated fatigue.
1. sore throat
2. tender cervical (neck) or axillary
(underarm) lymph nodes
3. self-reported impairment in short-term
memory or concentration severe enough
cause substantial reduction in previous
levels of occupation, educational, social
or personal activities
4. muscle pain
5. multijoint pain without swelling or
redness
6. headaches of a new type, pattern or
severity
7. unrefreshing sleep
8. postexertional malaise lasting more
than twenty-four hours (Teitelbaum, 2001)
The Body Mind Workbook describes fibrositis as a stiffness and pain deep within the muscles, in the fibrous tissue. It can be due to straining a muscle (intense muscle strain), or tension knotting up the muscle (mental tension getting knotted). The condition is indicating that our thoughts or attitudes are in a state of rigidity and anguish, there is lack of flow through the limbs due to inner conflict. Is it a mental strain related in our world, or related to the direction we are going, and the ground we are walking(Shapiro,2002)? 4

The above description of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome certainly glosses over the reality of FMS and CFS. Each is made to appear simplistic and straight forward in nature. Can either of these syndromes be separated from each other? The reality of the two are much more staggering in symptoms and impact on the body, mind and spirit.5

Know now that fibromyalgia is the best thing that has ever happened to you!  In yoga suffering begins the pilgrimage of the souls searching for the causes of suffering and appeasement (Prakash, 1986). Fibromyalgia affects every cell and emotion of your body, from the top of your head to the soles of your feet. The body, mind and spirit connection cannot be separated. If the body and mind are affected your spirit, your very soul, is attacked. This attack can cause a spiritual depression. This depression is described perfectly in the Women's Study Bible, 1984. "It is a dark, foggy place of uncertainty. You slide further and further but you are helpless to stop the descent. You'd love to climb out of the pit but just stopping the fall would be enough. You feel all you have lost. You are discouraged, heavy, helpless and alone. You are no longer connected to Spirit." You are robbed of your self identity, mind, body and spirit. You can never get grounded or centered. You have no roots, no passion, no emotions, and no reason for being anywhere. You are a forgotten moment in time,"frozen". You are frozen with fear. As defined in the Body Mind Workbook, fibrositis causes a state of rigidity in thoughts and attitudes, a state of confusion and there is lack of flow to the extremities due to inner conflict. You cannot move literally or figuratively.6

There is a physical reason that you feel frozen. According to Dr. Candace B. Pert, Georgetown University Center, neuropeptide receptors are found in tissues of all other systems beside the brain. They are found in the immune system, the hormonal system, and digestive system. The receptors are physical and physiological pearls of feeling of stress, anger, hunger, energy, depression, and happiness,etc. These messengers create memories within each system associated with emotional or physical reaction. It is a reciprocal, bidirectional link that forms an ongoing loop. Any situation that causes us fear and the reaction we had is remembered and reproduced. It is reproduced to the point that you are afraid to move or act in any situation that generates that feeling of uneasiness (Winston, 2003). 7

A similar phenomenon can be seen on PET scans when pain free subjects are giving a hypnotic suggestion that they were to receive a terribly painful stimulus (Pierre, Rainville,et al, Science, 1997). PET scan imaging demonstrated that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) blood flow was greatly increased, thus a decrease to the extremities. This did not happen when the person expected the stimulus to be mild (Fibromyalgia Network, 2001). Howard Fields M.D. PhD. UC-San Francisco has done numerous studies looking at how stress expectations and depressed mood can impact pain. Although most of his research is on rats and not humans, studying rats can pinpoint more accurately the physiological consequences of a stressful environment. Fields has identified "on" and "off" cells in the CNS that alter pain intensity. The "on" cells appear to enhance pain signals while "off" cells have an inhibitory influence on pain. A similar pain control circuit is believed to exist in humans, offering a physiological basis by which emotions might amplify pain intensity (Fibromyalgia Network,2001).8

It is fear that is the basic cause of fibromyalgia. We are taught to fear God, fear our parents, and fear authority. Fear as you can see can steal your joy and is your key to Hell on earth. Fear that has no longer allowed you to make choices and has controlled you. Fear, regrets, anger, self-judgement, criticism and emotional upheaval have all caused the body to have a biochemical reaction. This reaction causes an energy release that causes an electrocircuitry imbalance leads to chronic negative reacting and cell memory associated with fear. 9

A single thought of fear results in a biochemical reaction that can cascade into fibromyalgia. The principle of polarity teaches us that everything has a pair of opposites (Virtue,2006). If fear can produce a negative reaction, than love can produce a positive reaction and reverse the effects of fibromyalgia. Everything we chose is either love or fear based. Love and fear cannot exist within the same reaction. We chose how we react. We need to learn that neither choice is good or bad, it just is. We are not here to judge others or ourselves.10

Love is the best of all situations and fear is the worst. In a love based moment, positive emotions are evoked and positive reactions occur within the body. Healing occurs in the presence of love. When love is present, you are open to your environment, communication with self and others, and a balance of all situations. Your body, mind and spirit are in a harmonious balanced state. Energy is not lost or gained. We are opened to a steady flow of energy in our body, mind and spirit.11

The lesson each of us is here to learn this lifetime is love and forgiveness for ourselves and all humanity. We do this by learning that we are all connected to the Light(God. Spirit, Divine Being) bringing love and energy into ourselves and radiating to all. We are viewed as an open system constantly interacting with our environment and other systems such as family, friends, and health care providers(Roberts, 1978). This interaction requires a high energy level and all energy centers (chakras) open and spinning clockwise. As noted with the symptoms of fibromyalgia, all the energy centers and energy fields are affected and in need of repair and release of blockages. Being one with the Light is the only way healing can begin and energy to flow.12

Once healing has begun on the essence of our being, we need to continually work to stay in a state of love. The first step is to not let fear find you. According to Barbara Brennan, fear is what might be. The severe anxiety caused by fear means to strangle or press tight from it's Greek root; the Latin term denotes narrowness or constriction (Stuart and Sudeen, 1983). This is an appropriate application when applied to fibromyalgia because anxiety is multidimensional concept and is all pervasive. Every aspect of your life is influenced and affected. Anxiety may be manifested as somatic, experiential, an/or interpersonal. May defines anxiety as, "diffuse apprehension that is vague in nature and associated with feelings of uncertainty and helplessness(Stuart and Sudeen, 1983). Other feelings that may be present are isolation, alienation, and insecurity. Anxiety can be expressed through physiological and behavior changes. These changes are demonstrated in Longo and Williams table on response categorization to anxiety levels. 13

Level of anxiety: Minimal14

Physiologic: relaxation response, deceased pulse, respirations, O2 consumptions, pupillary constriction, muscle tension, and blood pressure15

Cognitive: states of altered awareness, daydreaming, yoga, relaxation, biofeedback, transcendental meditation, some stages of sleep16

Behavioral and emotional: cognitive activity minimal, focus on single mental imagine, disregard for environmental stimuli, no attempt to deal with external stimuli, no verbal interaction, muscles relaxed, passive movement easy17

Level of anxiety: Mild18

Physiologic: muscle tension at minimum, passive control control of interaction between psychological processes and muscular activity19

Cognitive: perceptual field broad, ability to take in multiple stimuli, passive awareness of environment20

Behavioral and emotional: feelings of safety and comfort, behavior primarily automatic, carrying out well known habits and skills, noncompetitive games and pastimes, solitary activities, facial muscles relaxed, voice calm21

Level of anxiety: Moderate22

Physiologic: increased tension that is tolerable even pleasurable, maximum conscious interaction between mind, body, and emotions, attention focus: sees, hears, grasps fewer stimuli than mild anxiety, increased alertness23

Cognitive: perceptual field ability to solve problem at all levels, optimal level for learning, can attend to specifics is directed to do so,24

Behavioral and emotional: feelings of challenge and the need to handle the situation at hand, cognitive games, carrying out less familiar skills and habits, learning new skills, voice denotes concern and interest with environment25

Level of anxiety: Severe26

Physiologic: survival response fight or flight, sympathetic nervous system activation: increased epinephrine, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, skin vasoconstriction, increased body temperature, sweating, dry mouth, urinary urgency, loss of appetite, decreased blood to digestive system, increased glucose production by liver, sensory changes: increased hearing perceptions, pain perception, lessened pupil dilation, vision fixed, muscles tense, rigid (fixed)27

Cognitive: perceptual field greatly reduced, time sense distortion, selective inattention operates, stimuli threatening to self system and biological integrity or expectations may be filtered out, dissociating tendency, events and/or are denied existence in awareness, selective enhancement operates, focus on one particular or many scattered details, problem solving difficult28

Behavioral and emotional: feelings of increasing threat, need to respond to situation is heightened, personal space is extended, physical activity may increase with decreasing organization and purposefulness ( pacing, wringing hands, running away, freezing on spot, trembling, stammering, fidgeting), may feel nauseated, may experience "cold sweats", anxiety easily increased with new stimuli such as noise or people interaction, verbalization typically rapid and/or characterized by blocking, flight behavior by be manifested psychologically with withdrawal, denial, depression, somatization29

Level of anxiety: Panic30

Physiologic: continued physiologic arousal, eventual release of sympathetic discharge, blood returns to major organs, (may appear pale), may be hypotensive, ability to respond to pain, noise, external stimuli at minimum, motor coordination poor, blood flow to skeletal muscles decreased31

Cognitive: perceptual field closed, may be distorted, thoughts are random, logical thinking impaired, details may be "blown up" or the speed of scattered thinking increased32

Behavioral and emotional: feelings of anger, helplessness emerge, may be experienced as rage, tread, or terror, individual may strike our physically or verbally, withdraw, behavior may be primitive, crying, biting flailing, curling up, physical activity increasing disorganized, voice pitch higher, louder, flow or words rapid, sometimes may experience blocking or speech, facial expression of terror, grimacing33

In an attempt to neutralize, deny, or counteract anxiety, the individual develops patterns of coping. The patterns used with mild anxiety tend to dominate when anxiety becomes more intense. Menninger identified a number of coping mechanisms people use to relieve mild anxiety(Stuart and Sundeen, 1983). These are crying, sleeping, eating yawning, cursing. physical exercise, daydreaming, and oral behaviors such as smoking an drinking. Moderate and more severe levels of anxiety require more energy to cope. there are several coping mechanisms employed to cope with these levels. Task-oriented reactions involve cognitive abilities in an attempt to solve problems, resolve conflicts, and gratify your needs. These type of reactions include attack, withdrawal, and compromise. Ego-oriented reactions are employed when these reactions do not reduce anxiety. They function to protect the person from feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness and prevent awareness of anxiety. These defense mechanisms operate on relatively unconscious levels and they involve a degree of self-deception and reality distortion. These ego defense mechanisms are repression, suppression, identification, introjection, displacement, projection, reaction formation, undoing regression, sublimation, compensation rationalization, isolation, and denial. If the ego defense mechanisms are not successful, and the person's anxiety level remains high, he is forced to use exaggerated and inappropriate coping mechanisms. These patterns of coping are called psychological conversions. They are phobic reaction, dissociative reactions and obsessions and compulsions. The fourth coping mechanism is physiological conversions. These are listed as psychosomatic conversions, neurasthenia, and hypochrondriasis. The physiological responses would be in agreement with Dr. Peart's finding of neuropeptide receptors found in the tissues and all other systems beside the brain. These receptors parels feeling of stress, anger, hunger, energy, memories, depression, and happiness,etc. Thus, a bidirectional link forms an ongoing loop. Fear and the reaction is remembered and reproduced with each anxiety occurrence.34

Intervention is based on reducing the anxiety. Longo and Williams offer a paradigm for delineating the problem-solving process for intervention(longo and Williams, 1978). The direction moves from behavior, thoughts and feelings, to cognition and concrete thinking and abstract thinking, and finally the problem-solving process. The problem-solving process is to first assess by describing, defining, and analyzing the problem, then to plan, implement, and evaluate the outcome. This represents the direction in which communication with the anxious person is most readily achieved. The demands are less on cognition and perception when one is asked to describe your behavior than when asked to describe your feelings. This approach lessens anxiety and facilitates communication. The problem-solving steps are successive and moving prematurely from one step to another can lead to inaccurate, inefficient,or inappropriate problem-solving. You must learn to be observant for bodily cues that suggest increased anxiety.35

In addition to problem-solving, relaxation techniques may also be used. Relaxation is the ultimate stress management technique because the relaxation response is physiologically the opposite of the flight or fight reaction(Stuart and Sundeen, 1983). Relaxation is a loving and nurturing action that you do for yourself. This action brings about positive energy flow and changes the cellular level to a more balanced state. By learning to evaluate the adequacy, effectiveness, appropriateness, efficiency, and flexibility in evaluating your goals and actions, you gain clarification of anxiety which makes possible expanded awareness and expansion to the self which means the achievement of holistically balanced state(Stuart and Sudeen,1983). 36

Since fear can only be recognized from a past experience and its memory imprint, there is a unique coping mechanism described by Barbara Brennan to keep unpleasant feelings from welling up. When these feelings are felt, ask your self: "Am I afraid at this very moment?" If you are not afraid at this very moment, you are in the present and fear cannot find you(Brennan, 1993).37

If we let fear control us, our steady state of energy flow stops. We are suddenly bombarded with and influx of energy to support the flight or fight reaction. As noted, when an anxiety state occurs, all of our systems are opened by the sympathetic nervous system to prepare for the fight or flight action. According to Dr. Paul St Amand, this flight or fight reaction causes the kidneys to reuptake phosphates, which allows the cells to fire and all the body systems to respond until the threat is gone. Dr. St.Amand's theory of fibromyalgia is that it is a genetic metabolic disorder carried by the "X" gene. This disorder causes the kidneys to fail to excrete phosphates. The failure to excrete phosphates causes the cells to continually fire to meet the need of the fight or flight reaction. In fibromyalgia the reaction does not reverse after the threat has disappeared.38

Phosphates cannot be excreted in the kidney tubules and cannot stay in the bloodstream so it is delivered back to the cell. The cell will continue to fire 24/7/365. The adrenals react releasing adrenaline causing the pancreas to produce insulin for the muscles. The liver is stimulated to convert glycogen into glucose for energy. The phosphates attach to the insulin and goes into the cell. The excess phosphates are then stored in the ligaments, tendons, muscles, brain, bone, and organs. Thus, you have widespread lumps and bumps. Phosphates in the cells causes trigger points, muscle pain, memory loss, headaches, allergies, liver dysfunction, hypoglycemia, and other endocrine imbalances, impaired immune systems, and toxic triggers to name a few results of too much phosphates. The only way to reverse the symptoms is to excrete the excess phosphates(St.Amand, 1999). 39

Since hypoglygemia affects 40% of all fibromyalgics, Dr. St. Amand suggests a low carb hypoglycemic diet. Fibroglycemics are the sickest of all those with fibromyalgia since the symptoms overlap with hypoglycemia. The overlapping symptoms are:40

a. ringing in the ears
b. weakness
c. fatigue
d. irritability
e. moodiness
f. nervousness
g. depression
h. insomia
i. impaired concentration
j. anxiety
k. frontal headaches
l. dizziness
m. blurred vision
n. numbness (face and hands)
o. abdominal cramps
p. gas
q. bloating
r. diarrhea
s. sugar craving
t. sweating
u. weight gain
v. generalized muscle stiffness
w. nasal congestion
x. foot and leg cramps (St, Amand, 1999)41

Liver dysfunction is caused by the fear blocking the flow of energy. The liver is the largest metabolic organ in the body. It stores glycogen, vitamin A, vitamin D, B complex vitamins, iron and copper. The livr regulates protein metabolism and detoxifies toxic substances. The Chinese call the liver "the general of the army". Compared with hypoglycemia, the liver is certainly the commander in charge of strategy and harmony of the body, mind and spirit (Cabot, 1996). The symptoms of the dysfunctional liver are:42

a. poor digestion
b. abdominal bloating
c. nausea
d. weight gain especially around the abdomen
e. constipation and irritable bowel syndrome
f. bad breath
g. coated tongue
h. unpleasant mood changes
i. depression with suicidal tendencies
j. foggy brain
k. trigger or exacerbation of allergic conditions
l. compromised immune system
m. headaches: tension, migraines, cluster hormone,
nonspecifics
n. high blood pressure
o. fluid retention due to excess aldosterone with
sodium retention and low potassium
p. excessive blood fats and protein causes the blood
to become viscous and increase blood pressure
q. hypoglycemia
r. sugar craving and addiction
s. chronic fatigue
t. dizziness and light headedness
u. candida
v. unable to tolerate fatty foods (gallbladder disease
and gallstones)
w. excessive body heat with sweating and body odor
x. alcohol and drug addiction
y. toxic buildup of drugs, steriod hormones, waste
products such as ammonia (Cabot, 1996)43

When the liver becomes severely damaged due to end stage cirrhoisi, cancer, or liver degeneration the symptoms are:44

a. jaundice
b. severe depression
c. profound fatigue
d. extreme abdominal swelling
e. clumsiness
f. mental confusion
g. coma
h. bleeding of stomach and bowels
i. palms of hands red
j. flapping tremor of the hand (Cabot, 1996)45

The liver regulates not only physical harmony but mental and spiritual harmony as well. It is the seat of fear and anger storage. An overabundance of either leads to a sluggish liver and a cascade into fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. The storage of fear and anger fuels the metabolic disorder of the kidneys and the phosphate intoxication. A neverending cycle ensues and can become overwhelming. This leads to always seeking the path of least resistance although the path may be full of potholes. Seeking to override the tiredness, pain, anxiety, depression, fear, and anger, you take anything that feels comforting. You overeat with sugar, dairy, drugs, alcohol, or anything that brings a feeling of releif and security. This overindulgence leads to further self disgust and depression. According to Body Mind Workbook, Liver sluggish affects inner spiritual levels of awareness reslting in loss of purpose and direction. The liver gives us life and also harbors fears of life(Cabot, 1996). The liver can certainly imbalance the spirit and the love held in the heart.46

According to Louise Hay, liver problems occur as a result of chronic complaining, justifying fault finding to deceive yourself, and feeling bad. Considering the symptoms of a dysfunctional liver are these thought processes any surprise? Certainly a feedback loot is created that self feeds the process. This feedback loop can be reversed with positive affirmations. Your thoughts are your future reality. By stating "I choose to live through the open space in my heart. I look for love and find it everywhere", you are reversing the affects of fear and the biochemical reaction started by the fear (Hay, 1986). A positive intervention is the physiological opposite of the fight or flight rection and the subsequent physiological and emotional consequences. Through the process fo positive thoughts, you start the changing of the cycle and learn to take another path. You take a path more deliberate and more planned which is smoother and safer. All roads lead to the same place, the Light and love.47

Besides these reactions, fear causes magnification of fear into the future. This magnification of fear makes the future appear overwhelming. The feeling of lose of control evokes feeling of anger or rage. The resulting behavior from this energy flow imbalance and the consequences if behavior can lead to the extreme. If you try to protect self with anger evoked because of fear, it can lead to you hurting others. If you no longer protect self because it has resulted to hoplessness and self-rejection, it can lead to you hurting you.48

Pain felt in this state is from the weight of the future looming over you and a magnification of all past experiences hanging around you. This weight causes pain in your shoulders, headaches, joints and backaches (Brennen, 1993). The energy released by the pain results in an imbalance at the receptor site and chronic negative reacting leads to celluar mutation, abnormal endocrine production, liver dysfunction, and pain form celluar overwork. Your cells know no resting state.49

Fear based lost energy results in fatigue, depression, and weakness. since the cells are in constant firing state, there are no energy stores to call upon. No energy stores leads to unsuccessful experiences. You are too tired to work, work at home, cooking, family, or even self care. You indulge in self-judgement and condemnation. You expend what little energy you have over these past experiences and your failure to meet your goals. You let fear of these failures affect your future actions. You see the future as hopeless. This leads to self-rejection with no energy to protect self and all control is given up.50

Pain felt is this state is the suffering of loss. The emptiness of your soul is felt. You cannot fulfill your reason for being here. Your very spirit is weakened and subject to all things hurtful. You feel alone, isolated, and with no connection to anything or anyone for extra strength. You have no stores of energy to erase the weaknes, pain and fatigue.51

In contrast, the anxiety of a love based interaction is mild; a feeling of excitement and anticipation. When mild anxiety is introduced into your system there is an increase in the exchange of energy within and with your environment, The perceptual field is broadened. Peplau states that mild anxiety increases sight, hearing, and ability to grasp more than previously (Stuart ans Sundeen, 1983). This corresponds to Longa and Williams table that shows Minimal anxiety is demonstrated in altered cognitive states such as daydreaming, yoga, relaxation, meditation, and some stages of sleep. However, as anxiety increases to moderate levels the perceptual field is narrowed and is less perceived. You block out the periphery and focus only on the immidiate concerns. You, thus, experience selective inattention, but can do more if directed to do so. Severe anxiety greatly reduces your perceptual field. You focus only on a specific detail and do not think of anything else. Panic is the last level of anxiety. This involves personality disorganization with increased motor activity, decreased ability to relate to others, distorted perceptions and loss of rational thought. In Stuart and Sundeen's model of anxiety pictured as a circle within a circle for mild anxiety, the perceptual field is aware of all surroundings. In the panic state the perceptual field and surroundings are exclusive of each other. It is within severe anxiety and panic states that people with fibromyalgia operate. Fibromyalgics are in a constant of fight or flight due to the physiological effects of excess phosphates. 52

Anxiety or an increased state of perception is part of everyday life and necessary for survival. It is when the anxiety state exceeds positive anticipation and turns to fear that problems occur. Mild anxiety to moderate anxiety brings about a positive energy flow. It is a bidirectional feedback loop that can be reversed with positive thoughts and energy work.53

In the far extreme the cellular energy becomes so depleted that the body will shut down to prevent cellular death and this when you feel frozen mentally, physically, and spiritually. You pass out at the slightest exertion. You are so stiff you cannot move and this is the time the cells are in rigor mortis and new cells must take over(St, Amand, 1999). In your brain you have fibrofog and your cells cannot make a connection. You can no longer read, spell, or remember what you were talking about and you started the conversation! Your words are slurred because you cannot get them out and your thoughts are disconnected. Your energy fields then wither as you can no longer perform physically or mentally. 54

The fibrofrustration then leads to further isolation and you lose your connection with spirit and the universal storehouse of abundance. You have no energy to draw from your environment or from within you. You are at this moment like a seed from a dried plant blowing in the wind. You are subject to wherever you are blown with no protection or knowing how to survive. You can be placed in hollow ground or you can direct your path to rich and fertile ground with your thoughts.55

Your thoughts can direct the wind and where you will be planted for regrowth. All energy in the body is directed by your thoughts (Bloodworth, 1952). Thoughts of love produces positive and thoughts of fear the opposite. It is the principle of polarity(Virtue, 2006). Luckily for us our cells are in a constant state of change and every eleven months we have formed an entirely new body (Bloodworth, 1952). You can direct the biochemical direction reaction of these new cells to produce harmonious reactions. Our mental state of energy sets the vibration of healing into motion of each cell.56

As you progress to a more balanced state, you will progress through several stages of healing. Living with fibromyalgia is like having a death in the family, only the death all that you have ever known about yourself. You have lost your identity, your body, mind and spirit, and your freedom and independence. As you move toward healing, you will move through the five stages of healing as described by Dr. Keubler-Ross(Brennan, 1993). These stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. 57

Denial ia a temporary defense that gives you time to prepare yourself for what is to come. Anger is felt because you have an interruption in your life and there is no end in sight. Next comes sbargaining with God and for his immediate healing you will lead a better life, give more, love more, or whatever you can think of to take this affliction away. There is usually a quiet guilt that comes up and it is important to let go of this guilt or it will lead to more bargaining and depression. Depression is the fourth stage of healing. There are three causes of depression guilt, loss and any intervention of a harsh invasive treatment(Brennan, 1993). The depression is full of self-judgement and self-rejection. The fifth stage is called acceptance and is a time of preparing for change, getting to know your self better and meet your self in a new light. You feel your true needs and seek nurturance inways you have not before(Brennan, 1993). Brennan also adds on two more stages of healing in her book, Light Emerging. These steps are rebirth and creating a new life. In rebirth there is a new light emerging within you, new internal resources, and you experience everthing is life within a new context both past and present. Creating a new life the seventh stage of healing finds all areas of your life affected. All blockages in your life are gone. You will find internal humility, faith, truth. and self-love (Brennan, 1993). These positive changes internally tract positive changes externally. This is the Law of Attraction(Bloodworth,1952. 58

As you enter rebirth, you need to know that your body deteriorated over time and rebirth will occur over time. It is a second by second journey. As your beliefs and values become more positive so will your future. Your thougts weave tomorrows reality(Bloodworth,1952). This is a challenging journey maintaining positive thought all the time, especially when you are symptomatic and in pain. The Law of Opposites states that if you concentrate on the opposite of what you are felling soon the opposite will occur, positive or negative(Virtue,2006). 59

Under stand that the pain and symptoms you feel are occurring at the cellular level and the energy of your thoughts is directerd to each cell.  To stop the cycle of chronic negative reactions begin by not letting fear find you.  Substitute the destructive self-judgement thought of "why me, my day is ruined now, and if I do this I'll be in bed for weeks" ; with loving harmonious thoughts and a balance of knowing your physical limits and not pushing past these limits.  60

As the cells relearn how to react, there is going to be a release of chemicals from the cell that will cause an initial further imbalance in your body.  This imbalance will magnify symptoms and pain but know and understasnd that this is a reversal process.  You are not getting worse; you are getting healed.  It is very important at this time to concentrate on the positive future that will occur in the next moment, hour, day, month, and years to come.  61

To keep your mind in a loving throught train, you must remember your connection to the Light(God, Higher Source).  This will give you a neverending supply of abundance.  You can start with a single breath.  With each breath you deliver the perfect fuel for each cell, oxygen.  The oxygen allosw each cell to start to function at it's maximum level and efficiency.  The oxygen decreases the amount of toxin production.  Although breathing will increase your oxygen level, you need to bring as much oxygen as you can with each breath, maximizing the delivery of oxygen to each cell.  62

Most of us breath very shallow and rapidly as you would when you are afraid.  You keep the abdomen muscles tight to protect your center.  So, the first step is to learn how to breathe.  You need to expand your lungs completely, exposing your lungs surfaces to as much oxygen available for maxium delivery. Begin by filling your abdom and fill your lower lobes, fill your middle lobes, and finally fill your upper lobes by raising your shoulders with each. Your abdomen should expand outwards if your are breathing properly.  Breathe in to the count 1,2,3 and hold for 4 seconds and then release slowly to a count of 1,2,3,4,5,6.  As youo breathe out let your body relax.  Begin at the top of your head and face and relax each muscle group all the way down to your feet. Pay attention to the creaces between your eyes.  When you can relax this portion of your face all the other muscles will follow.  This relaxation allows the blood to flow faster to the cells and oxygen is delivered faster.  Return blood is also increqsed to be expelled at a quicker rate.  Also place your thumb and index finger and middle fingers together to form a circle, you will naturally breathe deeper.63

Meditation breathing and concentrating on connecting to the Light is the best form of maintaining a positive throught train.  This exercise needs to be done 30n minutes a day to internalize the feeling of wellness and self care that is generated.  It can be done in  3 ten minure intervals during the day or one thirty minute sitting.  Always provide yourself withn a quiet and pleasing environment,so you can meditate without interruption.  The goal of meditation is to bring your mind into a constant of healing thoughts created by the connection with the Light and awakening the Light within you.64

Meditation can be done using a centering prayer with one word that makes you feel closer to Spirit.  Another way it can be done is using guided imagery.  Transporting yourself to another place and time that makes you feel wonderful.  Meditation can also be done with just breathing and paying attention to each part of your body and how it feels.  If the sensation of pain is felt, visualize the pain melting away like a piece of ice on a hot sidewalk.  Watch the ice cube in your minds eye and see it become smaller and smaller until it disappears.  Whatever the physical unpleasantness is, acknowledge it, breath into the feeling, release it with your breath and visualize it going away with each breath until it is gone.  You are the one in control, not fear.  You can choose how you will react and how your body will react.65

You can connect with Spirit(God, Universal Mind) to reshape your outcome.  You cannot do this without this occurring.  Jesus said of his miracles, "You can do this and more". Our greatest fear, according to Nelson Mandella is not how weak we are but how great we really are.  This fear relates to fear of failure.  "What am I if I am not as great as everone else.  It is this self-judgement and condemnation that prevents many from being the best and healthiest they can be.66

If we are made in the image of God, then we are made in the image of Love.  If God is good than than good is all(Bloodworth,1952).  There is good in everthing and everyone.  Your pain brings you to a spiritual awareness and your path to becoming One with the All and true healing, love and forgiveness.  Even though you may still be physically incapable of functioning, your spirit is wanting and waiting to be connected.  The connection makes you invincible to negative energy, whether it is others or your own.  If you always react with love, compassion and forgiveness wtih all things, you will be filled with positive energy and healing.67

Yes, change can occur but change is challenging.  Remeber everything in the universe is in a constant state of motion.  Often change is subtle, you don't notice your cells being replaced every eleven months.  You effect positive changes because you have the choice to choose your path and outcome.68

Treating yourself with love needs to extend to your nutrition, water inaake and exercise.  Your body needs fuel and it needs to be usable by the body.  You need fresh vegetables, raw friuts, protein and complex carbohydrates so tht the insulin production will not scomplicate the symptoms of hypoglycemia.  You need sixty-four ounces of water or more each day to promote adequate circulation for oxygen and waste product transportation and to dilute the toxins erleased for excretion.  In Masaru Emoto's book, Hidden Messages In Water, he has demonstrasted that water has the capacity to copy and memorize information.  The words love and graditude create a beautiful crystal when exposed to water(Emoto,2001).  In essence we are composed of water, adults are 70% water, babies at birth are 80% water, and a fertilized egg is 96% water.  When we take in good water, we can expect to maintain good health(Emoto, 2001).  The quality of water improves or deteriorates depending on the information given to it, the corollary for humans, who are made up primarilyof water, is to take in good information(Emoto, 2001).69

You need exercise for bone and muscle health.  However, exercise can be a two-edged sword.  When you exercise, lactic acid is produced in an environment that is already hostile.  The toxins and excess chemicals held in the cells are released but there is too much and it cannot be carried away and an even more hostile environment is created.  It takes days for these to clear and for the nuscles to feel relief.  Muscle cells that are already contracted with excess phosphatres and has trigger points cannot be strengthened(Staryln, 2002).  The trigger points become worse.  Excercise must be gentle and limited to your endurance and not past your limits.  You can create the movement needed to clear the body of blockages and peel away layers of conditioned restraint and find your natural center(Winston, 2005).  70

Stretching helps to improve circulation and if not overdone can help to clear the excess.  Swimming or water excercises in a warm pool helps to tone and relax the muscles.  Yoga and tia chi can help to connect with all that is around you, reset cell memory, find your natural center of strenth, and increase your energy.71

Altrnative therapies will help clear the body of negative energy and promote positive energy flow throughout your energy fields.  Chiropractic care helps to align your spine to allow energy to flow along your energy current.  Massage stimulates circulation and helps to release and remove toxins.  You must remember to drink plenty of water to produce dilution and excretion.  Reike, accupuncture,  healing touch, therapuetic touch, reflexology, quantum healing, medical intuition and EFT all promote positive energy flow and balance and release of negative energy throughout the body, your surrounding energy fields, and spirit. These non-judgemental therapy sessions help you to remain hopeful as feelings of wellness are felt.  You can relax and let someone else minister to you and your spirit so you can regain the energy to help yourself.72

All these therapies begin with a single thought and an intention of healing.  The healing is brought about by the connection with the Universal Mind(God) of both the client and therapist.  This connection brings love into the hands of the therapist to the body of the client and healing is effected.  The Standards of Practice for the American Holistic Nurses Association calls this connection presence(Frisch, Dossey, Guzzetta, and Quinn, 2000).  It is defined as the essential state or core in healing; approaching an individual in a way that respects and honors her/his essence; relating in a way that reflects a quality of being with and in collaboration with rather than doing to; entering into a shared experienced (or field of consciousness) that promotes healing potentials and an experience of well-being(Frisch, Dossey, Guzzatta, and Quinn, 2000).  Through this connection of healing the client is able to carry this feeling of being in a balanced state with them after leaving the session.  Trust bonds can be rebuilt by allowing someone to help who is not judging anything about you.  You learn to accept to accept things as they are at the moment and move toward positive changes and your center of strength.  A positive energy loop is reinforced.73

Your thoughts and actions create your physical, mental, spiritual state.  If you love and promote a positive energy loop through and  around you, a connection of Oneness with the Light is created.  This connection is the blissful love sought after the soul(Prakash, 1986).  Although you may feel that you lost your life to fibromyalgia, you will discover that you have found your true self as you progress to self love and forgiveness.  These qualities will radiate from within you to all those around you and you will receive love, forgiveness, and healing in unending abundance in return. This is your journey this lifetime and only you can find the true path to your healing.  Healing does not come from someone doing something outside of you but the changes effected by you from within by love and forgiveness. skye200774

Addendum:  There is a new research study that shows that stress causes the hippocampus to shrink and this decreases the production of dopamine.  This reduction then causes further brain damage and starts the cascade of fibromyalgia symptoms.  Those of us with fibromyalgia are not able to turn off the flight or fight reaction.  It is like living in the tiger's cage all the time according to Dr. Wood, the leading researcher who has clinically demonstrated this brain damage on MRI.  His web site is Lifebeyondpain.com.  He has produced a DVD called Life Beyond Pain that explains and demonstrates his research findings and I would highly recommend anyone interested in fibromyalgia to take a serious look at his findings. 75

On a personal note, I had read one research artice from England that had stated that fibromyalgia had been linked to decreased dopamine levels.  I had seen a press release on the National Fibromyalgia Association site also. It is a long story but even before I had seen Dr. Wood's research or his research DVD and web site, I was presented with the opportunity to start a sample pack and thought why not?  After 3 hours I had an energy flow that I do not get unless I am in the deepest states of meditation and it has not stopped.  I cannot say that I have not had flares but they have lasted only a short amount of time and the recovery level is minutes to hours not days to weeks.  I have been able to increase my daily scheldule from 4 good hours a day with breaks to 12 hours a day with breaks here in my home.  I am handling the physical demand so much better and can relax at night better.  I still have trouble sleeping but when I do sleep it is deeper and more restorative and refreshing.  I still cannot handle emotional stress situations without increasing the fibrofog and aphasia and a flare but I can better realize what is occurring and step back from the stressful sitiuation and relax before I shut down. 76

The medication has dramatically changed my life but I do not believe that it would have worked as well had I not done the energy work with Healing Touch, meditation, accupuncture, and counseling to better understand me.  Each one with fibromyalgia has to find their own path to healing and to work with their physician to find the right combonation of medication and vitamins.77

This story is not a replacement for a professional relationship with one's physician and healing care providers and should not be construed as such.  One must consult their own physician to find what will be one's path to a successful treatment plan. 78

References:79

Brennan, Barbara Ann, Light Emerging: The Journey of Personal Healing, 1993, New York, Bantan Books, 55.80

Bloodworth, Venice J., Key to Understanding Yourself, 1952, 2005, California: Transformational Book Circle81

Cabot, Sandra M.D.. The Liver Cleansing Diet, 1990, Arizona: S.C.B International, 27-85.82

Emoto, Masaru, The Messages in Water, 2004, Oregan:  Beyond Words Publishing, 46.83

Emoto,Masaru, The True Power of Water, 2005, Oregan: Beyond Words Publishing, 16.84

Hay, Louise, Heal Your Body, 1988, California: Hay House,Inc., 47.85

Frisch, Noreen Cavan PhD., RN, HNC, FAAN, Dossey, Barbara Montgomery MS, RN, HNC, FAAN, Guzzetta, Cathie E. PhD., and Quinn, Johanne A., PhD., RN. HNC AHNA  Standards of Holistic Nursing Practice, 2000, Maryland:Aspen Publishing, Inc., XXV.86

Longo, D. C. and Williams, R. A. ed. Clinical Practice in Psychological Nursing: Assessment and Intervention, 1978, New York:  Appleton-Century-Crofts, 87-104.87

Prakash, Prem The Yoga of Spiritual Devotion, 1986, California: Transformational Book Circle.88

Roberts, S. L., Behavioral Concepts and Nursing Throughout  the Lifespan, Englewood Cliff: Prentice Hall, Inc., 1978.89

Shapiro, Debbie, The Body Mind Workbook, 2002, London: Vega, 133.90

St. Amand, Paul M. D. and Marek, Claudia Craig What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia, 1999, New York: Warner Books, Inc.91

Stuart, G. W. and Sundeen, S. J. Principles and Practice of Psychiactric Nursing, 1983, St. Louis: C.V. Mosby Co., 206-241.92

Syswekda, Jean E. ed Women of Faith Study Bible, 1984, Michigan: Zondervan Corporation, 901.93

Teitelbaum, Jacob M.D. From Fatigue to Fantastic, 2001, New York, Penguin Putnam, Inc., 3, 99-212.94

Thorson, Kristin ed. Fibromyalgia Network, 2001, 55-A, 2,3.95

Virtue, Doreen Devine Magic: The Seven Sacred Secrets if Manifestation, 2006, California: The Transformational Bookn Circle, 4.96

Winston, Nikki, Every Move You Make, California: Hay House, Inc., 18.97

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