Self Care Means Taking Responsibility ... for your health and in curing Fibromyalgia

A critical component of your Fibromyalgia treatment plan is a self care routine that reduces your symptoms and supplements your treatment plan, as defined by your healthcare practitioner.

Your personal treatment plan can, and should, include a variety of different approaches reflecting your participation and commitment to creating a life of wellness and joy.

The elements of your plan can vary, depending upon what symptoms you are exhibiting on any given day or week, but much of your self care should stay constant.

Consistancy is important in that it provides your body, mind and spirit a positive, pro-active routine that can reduce stress, decrease or alleviate aches and pains, while increasing positive thinking and promoting a sense of personal empowerment.

Living with Fibromyalgia, and what seems to be a life of endless and on-going symptoms without relief, requires a defined self care protocol, a regular routine that is put in place. It can affect the individuals long term outlook and promote a sense of hope.

Taking personal responsibiltiy for your own health and wellness allows you opportunities to made decisions regarding your lifestyle, that ultimately can assist in creating well-being.

There are so many different ways to provide

All of these approaches require no money. So, if money is limited, these are FREE!

Besides being free, they are also very effective in establishing a positive way of looking at your life and health, while reducing the stress that can negatively impact your physical being.

Daily baths, aroma therapy and essential oils can help to alleviate the symptoms of aches, pains and muscle soreness, promote relaxation and reducing the stress of the day.

The cost associated with this self care approach is minimal.

Click the link below to find out:

Aroma Therapy - What essential oils would alleviate, or reduce, my symptoms and be most effective for me?

Exercise should be a non-negotiable part of your Self Care Plan to reduce the pain of Fibromyalgia symptoms.

Movement promotes circulation throughout the body, increases a sense of well-being, improves mood, and strengthens your muscular skeletal structure, while at the same time moving the lymphatic system that facilitates healing.

With all those benefits, and there are lots more, why would we not include exercise in

The key to incorporating exercise into your life, while living with the the aches and pains of Fibromyalgia, is to take it slowly, set limits and increase the duration as your stamina increases.

You don't have to run a marathon the first week, the first month, or ever, for that matter! But what you do need to do is get up and move.

Select a type of exercise that you will enjoy, that you will be able to do on regular basis. Start slowly and incrementally increase in duration or difficulty.

Don't expect to be able to do everything you that you were able to do prior to the onset of Fibromyalgia.

You will only be setting yourself up for frustration, disappointment and failure.

Allow yourself to start slow and know that progress will be slow. But, also, know that overtime, with a slow, steady approach you will see yourself and your ability to move increase.

Patience and a slow, steady, consistent approach will pay off!

Including exercise, and other physical activity, in your Self Care Plan will give you a sense of accomplishment and will parallel your other self care routines to take you down the path to curing Fibromyalgia.

What are some exercise options that help reduce the symptoms of Fibromyalgia and increase wellness?

The sleep habits that you create can assist you in getting a good nights rest or creating insomnia.

The importance of your evening routines, diet choices and sleeping quarters cannot be overstressed.

Sleep deprivation studies has shown that insufficient sleep or disrupted sleep can cause aches and pains in the muscles and joints. And this is something that you know about!

So, create healthy sleep habits that will allow for restorative sleep, a critical component of curing Fibromyalgia.

Creating a written Self Care Plan can be very useful in helping us to stick with our plan.

Our lives get busy, things get in the way, and all our good intentions get put aside.

By creating a written plan, we will have a visual reminder of what we need to do to support our healing process. It is a written commitment and action plan that supports our desire and intention to cure Fibromylagia.

Download a... FREE - Self Care Plan Worksheet that will help you stay on track!

Some of the greatest results are achieved through practices, such as yoga, tai chi and qi gong.

In many places, classes are offered on a regular basis and can be quite affordable. Look in your local phone book. Check out the YWCA, gyms, senior centers. These are some of the locales that may offer these types of classes.

Also, you might consider calling an acupuncturist or massage therapist in your town, as they often recommend their patients incorporate these practices into their lives.

The benefits to mind, body and spirit are beyone measure. The movement of energy that reduces pain requires minimal physical effort with excellent results.

A good teacher of any of those practices will adapt the practice to meet your needs and physical limitations.

If you try one class and don't like it, try another. Different teachers approach the practice differently, so find one that works for you!

If you can't afford the time or the money to attend a class on a regular basis, many excellent videos and DVDs are available that will teach you the practice.

Certainly, if you can attend a class, that is preferred, as the teacher can make the adjustments based on your personal abilities or limitations.

Also, getting out and being with others who are working toward creating positive health benefits through regular practice is an additional benefit and motivator. There is a lot to said for creating a support system to keep you going and practicing.

Is yoga for me?

What is tai chi and qi gong?

Is this something I can do at home?

Any Self Care Plan should include identifying postive, social relationships that enhance your life.

It should include opportunities for positive conversation, sharing of ideas, goals, dreams, continuing support, lots of laughter and hugs.

Each and everyone of those criteria is imperative to an interpersonal relationship that will enhance your life and create positive influence and support in your personal healing process.

Many who have chronic pain, depression and the other symptoms, as associated with Fibromyalgia, tend to isolate from friends and family and don't extend themselves to create new life enhancing relationships.

Friends bring joy and laughter into our lives ... and laughter heals!

Take a look at your life.

If you are isolating or withdrawing, it is important to include postive interpersonal relationships as part of your Self Care Plan.

Download a FREE Self Care Plan Worksheet to assist you in developing a self-directed approach to enhancing your life and healing through self care.