THE FIBROMATES JOURNAL

by Irene Roth, Blog Editor/Writer

As the days grow shorter and summer fades into fall, September often carries a sense of transition. For many, it’s a time of new beginnings—kids returning to school, routines shifting, and the busyness of daily life picking up again. But for fibromates, these changes can feel overwhelming. The pressures of adjusting to new schedules, keeping up with responsibilities, and meeting others’ expectations can amplify stress, which in turn intensifies fibromyalgia symptoms.

This month, we’re dedicating our blogs to exploring practical and compassionate ways to navigate stress and nurture well-being. Each post will focus on tools and mindsets that not only ease the physical toll of fibromyalgia but also foster emotional resilience. Together, we’ll look at how to create more space for healing and joy—even in the midst of life’s demands.

Stress and Fibromyalgia: Understanding the Connection

We’ll begin by exploring the intricate link between stress and fibromyalgia. Stress is not just an emotional experience; it has real physical consequences. Heightened stress hormones can trigger flare-ups, increase muscle pain, and cloud the mind with fibro-fog. Understanding this connection is the first step to taking back control. By recognizing stress as a factor we can influence, fibromates can begin to manage symptoms more effectively and feel less powerless in the face of pain.

The Power of Mindfulness

Next, we’ll shift toward mindfulness as a powerful antidote to stress. Mindfulness doesn’t mean sitting in silence for hours; it can be as simple as breathing deeply, focusing on the present moment, or noticing the sensations in your body with kindness rather than judgment. We’ll explore how fibromates can use mindfulness practices to calm the nervous system, improve quality of life, and bring a greater sense of peace into everyday routines.

Journaling for Healing

Another theme we’ll explore this month is the healing practice of journaling. Writing is more than putting words on paper—it’s a way to process emotions, track physical symptoms, and uncover patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed. Journaling can be a private space where fibromates release stress, express gratitude, and cultivate hope. Research shows that writing can lower stress, improve immune function, and foster clarity—tools that are especially valuable when living with a chronic illness.

Releasing Guilt and Embracing Rest

Finally, we’ll look at one of the most challenging yet essential practices for fibromates: learning to rest without guilt. Too often, rest is seen as laziness in a productivity-driven culture. But for those with fibromyalgia, rest is not optional—it’s a form of medicine. This post will guide readers toward releasing the shame often tied to rest, reframing it as a courageous act of self-care and empowerment.

Moving Forward Together

This September, our focus is on cultivating calm and compassion. Fibromyalgia may shape our daily lives, but it does not define our worth or limit our potential for healing. By managing stress, practicing mindfulness, embracing the healing power of journaling, and resting without shame, fibromates can build a life filled with greater balance, resilience, and joy.

We invite you to journey with us through these themes. Each post is an opportunity to learn, reflect, and practice small but meaningful steps toward healing. This month is about giving yourself permission to breathe, rest, and grow.

by Irene Roth, Blog Editor/Writer

For many fibromates, doctor visits can be emotionally draining. You might enter the appointment with hope—hoping for validation, answers, a new direction—only to leave feeling dismissed, confused, or worse, invisible. When you live with a chronic illness like fibromyalgia, not being heard by a medical professional can feel like yet another weight to carry.

But a disappointing appointment doesn’t mean your voice doesn’t matter. It doesn’t mean your pain isn’t real. It simply means you now need to turn inward and offer yourself the support, validation, and care that may have been missing in that room.

Here’s how you can support yourself after a less-than-satisfying doctor visit:

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings

It’s okay to feel upset, angry, disheartened, or even hopeless after a difficult appointment. You are not overreacting. Your emotions are valid. Give yourself space to name and process what you’re feeling. Journal it out, talk with a trusted friend, or simply sit with it. By acknowledging your emotional response, you prevent it from festering or turning into self-blame.

2. Remind Yourself: Your Experience Is Real

One of the most painful aspects of being dismissed by a doctor is the seed of self-doubt it can plant. But just because a provider didn’t understand your symptoms doesn’t make them any less real. Fibromyalgia is a complex, invisible illness. Unfortunately, not every practitioner is informed—or compassionate.

Remind yourself: I know what I feel. I know what I live with every day. I do not need outside validation to make my pain real.

3. Ground Yourself in What You Know

After a difficult visit, it’s helpful to re-center yourself in your own truth. Revisit your symptom journal, pain logs, or previous diagnoses. Look at the work you’ve done to manage your health—the tools you use, the strategies you’ve learned, the strength it takes to live with fibro every day.

This is your evidence. This is your truth. And no one can take it from you.

4. Talk to Your Support Network

Sometimes, you just need someone to say, “That sounds really hard,” or “I believe you.” Whether it’s a friend, partner, therapist, or fellow fibromate, reaching out after a frustrating visit can help you feel seen and understood. Support groups—online or in person—can also be a lifeline for those navigating complex healthcare systems with invisible illnesses.

You’re not alone in this struggle. So many others have had similar experiences. Sharing your story can bring comfort and clarity.

5. Reflect, Then Plan Your Next Steps

Once you’ve had time to process, decide how you want to move forward. Ask yourself:

• Do I want to give this doctor another chance?
• Would a second opinion be helpful?
• Is it time to look for a more fibro-informed provider?
• What would I like to do differently in my next visit?

You’re allowed to change providers, ask for referrals, or bring someone with you next time. Taking action—even small steps—can restore your sense of control.

6. Treat Yourself with Compassion

After a hard appointment, practice intentional self-care. Rest. Wrap up in a blanket. Watch a comfort show. Take a walk if you can. Remind yourself: you did something hard today. You showed up for your health, even when it was uncomfortable.

Don’t push yourself to bounce back immediately. Give your mind and body time to recover.

Not every medical encounter will be satisfying—and that’s an unfortunate truth many fibromates face. But a disappointing appointment does not define your worth, your illness, or your future. You are your own best ally. When the world doesn’t understand you, you can still choose to understand, believe, and support yourself.

You are resilient. You are wise. And you are worthy of care—always.

by Irene Roth, Blog Editor/Writer

While browsing at my local library, I discovered this gem of a book. The title immediately resonated with me. And despite the fact that the anthology isn’t strictly about fibromyalgia, there were a lot of resonances.

I believe Shari Graydon’s, I Feel Great About My Hands holds special relevance for people living with fibromyalgia. Living with a chronic condition often means confronting constant reminders of limitation, loss, or societal misconceptions. This anthology, however, offers a refreshing counterbalance by reframing aging, and by extension, life with chronic illness, as a space for humor, self-acceptance, and unexpected joys.

For fibro warriors, the contributors’ reflections on embracing change, letting go of perfection, and finding strength in vulnerability resonate deeply. Many with fibromyalgia already face an “invisible” struggle, much like aging women often do. The book challenges cultural narratives that equate wrinkles with decline; in the same way, readers with fibro can challenge the idea that illness defines them. The humor woven through the essays is especially healing, reminding us that laughter and perspective can lighten even the hardest days.

Most importantly, the anthology celebrates resilience and the power of reframing one’s story. Just as these women choose to see beauty and freedom in aging, those with fibromyalgia can cultivate gratitude, compassion, and even delight amid challenges. Graydon’s book becomes not just about aging, but about living fully, regardless of circumstance.

Here is the book review of this wonderful anthology.

Shari Graydon’s I Feel Great About My Hands is a witty, honest, and uplifting anthology that reimagines what it means to age as a woman in today’s world. Through a collection of essays from more than fifty accomplished women—including authors, performers, politicians, and activists—Graydon curates a chorus of voices that explore the surprises, delights, and occasional absurdities of growing older. Rather than dwelling on loss, decline, or nostalgia, this book highlights the humor, freedom, and wisdom that come with maturity.

The collection opens with the idea that aging does not have to be synonymous with invisibility or despair. Instead, many of the contributors discover new forms of power and joy as they let go of the anxieties of youth. The essays range in tone from comedic to contemplative, but they are united by a refreshing refusal to be defined by societal stereotypes about aging women. Graydon herself frames the anthology with warmth and irreverence, creating space for contributors to speak candidly and often hilariously about their evolving identities.

One of the book’s strengths lies in its diversity of perspectives. Some essays focus on physical changes—gray hair, wrinkles, or hands that reveal the passage of time—while others emphasize inner transformations, such as increased confidence, self-acceptance, or freedom from external judgment. The title itself, I Feel Great About My Hands, encapsulates the playful spirit of the anthology: what society often treats as flaws can instead be embraced as badges of experience. For many of the women, aging brings not only resilience but also a sharper sense of humor and a deeper appreciation for life’s absurdities.

Graydon includes both well-known figures and lesser-known voices, which broadens the book’s reach. Celebrities and public figures share space with everyday women whose reflections are equally powerful and engaging. The result is a collection that feels both personal and universal, reminding readers that aging is a shared journey shaped by unique stories. Readers will likely recognize themselves in some essays while being surprised and delighted by others.

The book also stands out for its celebratory tone. While there are moments of poignancy, such as the acknowledgment of loss, illness, or the challenges of aging, they are always balanced by humor, resilience, and a refusal to succumb to negativity.

What makes this book particularly effective is its accessibility. The essays are short, lively, and easy to read, making the collection perfect for dipping into at any time. Yet despite their brevity, the reflections pack emotional weight and intellectual depth. The humor throughout also ensures the book never feels heavy-handed; instead, it offers a refreshing reminder that laughter is one of the best companions for aging gracefully.

In the end, Graydon’s anthology is a celebration of possibility. It reframes aging not as an end but as a continuation of life’s richness, filled with new opportunities for joy, mischief, and wisdom. I Feel Great About My Hands is a delightful, empowering, and often laugh-out-loud read that will inspire women of all ages to embrace their journeys with courage and humor.