Posts by Fibromyalgia Support Network

by Irene Roth, Blog Editor/Writer

This is a Haiku poem that I wrote while the ladies in my group wrote in my writing program on October 25th, 2025. Everyone in the group loved it. So, I thought I would share it here with the greater FSN Community.

Once I ran with wind
Through fields of unbroken dreams—
The body obeyed.

Morning was easy,
Like breath before the first sigh—
I was infinite.

Then came the whisper,
A flicker beneath my skin,
Lightning without rain.

Bones became anchors,
Muscles turned to molten stone,
Fatigue wrapped my soul.

Friends spoke of my glow
Fading like a late sunset—
They could not see pain.

Doctor after room,
Labels fell like autumn leaves—
None could name the storm.

I learned the language
Of aching and surrender,
Syllables of rest.

Days slowed into dust,
A clock with no urgency,
Time lost all its edge.

Identity cracked—
Who was I without my fire?
Who beneath the mask?

I mourned the woman
Who once danced through deadlines’ dust,
The “old me” vanished.

Yet in quiet hours,
I heard a gentler heartbeat—
One that matched my pace.

The world moved too fast,
But I found a softer sky
Inside stillness’ arms.

I became fluent
In small mercies and moonlight—
The art of pacing.

My worth once measured
In doing, producing, proof—
Now, in simply being.

The mirror offered
A face lined with tenderness,
Not defeat—but grace.

I learned to listen
To whispers of weary bones—
They are my teachers.

Each flare a lantern,
Revealing the sacred now—
Pain as slow wisdom.

I stitched new meaning
From broken threads of my days,
A tapestry whole.

Fibro did not steal;
It remade the architecture
Of my belonging.

Now I live gently,
A pilgrim in my own skin—
Unhurried, aware.

I breathe differently—
Less as conquest, more as prayer,
Each inhale a gift.

In stillness, I bloom,
No longer who I once was,
But something deeper.

Beneath all the ache,
A self reborn in silence—
Light through fragile glass.

The storm still visits,
But I have learned its music,
And I hum along.

Soft morning rises,
And I greet it with open hands—
Alive, enough, whole.

It all began in 2015, at about age 24. A lot was going on in my life. My grandmother passed of old age two years before. I had relocated later in the year before. 

I was unemployed, but taking courses online. I was also trying to publish a book. I didn’t have many friends either, as who could relate to being chronically ill? I don’t know a lot of younger people in my life. 

In 2017, I tried renting in another location, but that didn’t go well. It lasted five months. The landlord was mentally ill, a gambling fiend who was running from mega credit card debt and was using her tenants as pawns in her addiction. The other tenants put stale bread at my front door and harassed me. 

I was only 26 years old at the time and it didn’t help with symptom management. Dealing with it all was stressful. I moved back in with my mother. Then we figured out something, and by late 2018, we lived separately again. 

During that time, I began to learn about myself, about my physiology, and inner core. I learned that I was a highly sensitive personality (HSP).  Suddenly, everything started to make sense-my past and current poor health. I began to write for several blogs, sharing my story and some research on chronic illness and high sensitivity. 

I wasn’t paid for any of it, but it gave me purpose. It allowed me to build a writing portfolio, credited with over twenty blog posts, and over forty guest posts. I’ve contributed to several chronic health blogs people in the FSN community may know: Counting my Spoons, Despite Pain, Positivity in Pain, The Disabled Diva, Painfully Living, My Medical Musings, The Disabled Diva, and many other non-health blogs. All are available online to read by members and caregivers.

I’ve had a myriad of negative, adverse experiences growing up which resulted in my never feeling connected or safe. I then realised my mother likely had mental health issues as well. It’s no surprise, as she’s an adult child of an alcoholic. 

I’ve tried therapy online six times in the past two years, but it hasn’t helped. I didn’t resonate with any of the counsellors, which is common being an HSP. Many, many of us are mis-attuned as children, and then when there’s a mismatch with therapists, we’re unconsciously sent back to our childhood of feeling misunderstood, unseen-and unloved. Not to mention, the process is pricey. 

I’ve relocated once again two years ago, and don’t enjoy the situation but it has, once again, been something I can’t control. 

In terms of simple fixes, I’ve been trying to eat healthier, get better sleep, and find connections in online communities. Also, when I’m able to, I keep writing for blogs or work on my book or screenplay. It’s frustrating to feel as I do, because I’m so young. But this is life. Sometimes you can’t control some aspects, but others you can. 

Jade Bald is a freelance writer, as well as author and screenwriter in progress. She lives in a town in Ontario. When not writing, she is listening to music, and watching the latest series on Amazon Prime Video. 

by Irene Roth, Blog Editor/Writer

Living with fibromyalgia often feels like navigating a storm without a map. The pain, fatigue, and mental fog can seem relentless, and it’s easy to focus on what’s missing—energy, ease, or control. Yet, there’s a simple, scientifically supported practice that can help calm that inner storm: gratitude. While it may sound overly simplistic, cultivating gratitude can actually bring measurable improvements to both physical and emotional well-being for those living with fibro.

The Science Behind Gratitude and the Body

When we consciously focus on gratitude, the brain releases feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin—chemicals that help regulate mood and promote relaxation. Gratitude also lowers the stress hormone cortisol, which is often elevated in people with fibromyalgia. Chronic stress exacerbates pain perception, triggers fatigue, and worsens sleep quality. By regularly practicing gratitude, we can help soothe the nervous system, which is often overactive in fibro warriors.

Research in positive psychology shows that people who practice gratitude regularly experience less depression and anxiety, sleep better, and report lower levels of perceived pain. When your body and mind are calmer, pain signals don’t fire as intensely, and flare-ups may become more manageable. Gratitude doesn’t erase fibromyalgia—but it can change how we experience it.

Shifting Focus from Pain to Possibility

Fibromyalgia can consume your attention. Every ache, every wave of fatigue demands notice. Gratitude gently retrains the brain to look beyond the pain and recognize what is still good and working. Instead of dwelling on what you can’t do, gratitude helps you focus on what you can—even small victories like making it through a busy day, connecting with a friend, or enjoying a quiet moment of rest.

This shift in focus creates emotional resilience. When you start to notice and name your blessings, even amidst discomfort, you teach your brain to look for balance instead of catastrophe. Over time, that mindset change can reduce emotional distress and create space for healing energy to flow more freely.

Gratitude and the Nervous System

One of the key challenges in fibromyalgia is nervous system dysregulation—the body stays in a chronic “fight or flight” state. Gratitude acts like a gentle brake pedal, signaling safety to the brain and helping the body transition into a calmer “rest and digest” mode. This can reduce inflammation, improve digestion, and even enhance restorative sleep—areas often disrupted in fibro.

Think of gratitude as a daily nervous system reset. Just a few minutes of mindful appreciation can help lower your heart rate, ease muscle tension, and quiet anxious thoughts. Over time, this practice builds a sense of safety and steadiness in your body.

Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude

You don’t need to overhaul your life to start feeling the benefits. Try incorporating these small, fibro-friendly gratitude habits:

1. Keep a Gratitude Journal: Each night, write down three things you’re thankful for—big or small. It could be a moment of laughter, a cup of tea, or a pain-free hour.
2. Start Your Morning with Thanks: Before getting out of bed, take a deep breath and think of one thing you’re grateful for.
3. Gratitude Breaks: During flare-ups, pause and name something that comforts you—your favorite blanket, your pet, or a supportive friend.
4. Express It: Send a quick thank-you note or message to someone who has made a difference in your day. Gratitude shared multiplies its effect.

A Softer Way to Live with Fibromyalgia

Practicing gratitude isn’t about denying your pain or pretending everything is fine—it’s about finding peace within the storm. Gratitude reminds you that you are more than your symptoms, that moments of beauty and comfort still exist even on the hardest days. Over time, this gentle practice can ease stress, calm your nervous system, and bring a sense of emotional lightness that makes each day more livable.

Gratitude won’t cure fibromyalgia, but it can transform how you experience it—turning each day into an opportunity to notice, breathe, and find strength in what still shines.