Are You Normal If You Have Fibromyalgia?

So many times when listening to fibromyalgia sufferers, I hear them comment “I just want to be normal again.”  Yes, their lives have been ripped apart and their dreams shattered, but that does not make someone who suffers from fibromyalgia abnormal.  In fact, contrary to popular belief, most people who have been stricken with fibromyalgia are caring, loving individuals with a hard working, type A, personality.

If you have fibromyalgia, you ARE normal.  You are every bit as normal as everyone else.  The only difference with you having fibromyalgia is your pain.

Pain can have bizarre effects on people.  Especially chronic pain.  Chronic pain is known to cause depression, worry and anxiety.  Chronic pain also causes difficulty sleeping and irritability.

When others see you, their definition of “normal” kicks in right away.  They think that since you have your body in one piece,

you explain to them that you live in constant pain, it is difficult for people to understand just how much that can affect you.  Therefore, their ideas of “abnormal” or “crazy” set in.

Ignore their ideas.  Other people do not live your life and it isn’t worth the time or precious energy to explain it to them.  Your family should have a better understanding, but many times that understanding doesn’t go as deep as yours. 

Family will realize that at one time you were a hardworking individual, but something happened and now you are just not the same.  They will see you doing a task one day, but then the next day you’ll be unable to do that same task because of your pain. It is this type of behavior that fibromyalgia sufferers go through that confuses family members.

It is easy for someone to understand what you are going through right after a trauma, but once their mind is set that your suffering should be over, they think you should be at 100% and not have any residual effects.  It is the unfortunate individuals, like you, that continue to suffer long after the initial trauma.

Whatever you do, don’t get discouraged.  Remember that “normal” is usually in one’s own definition.  You are a thinking, feeling, loving individual just like all off the other “normal” people.  Besides, what is normal anyway?