Fighting Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia: A Journey to Healing

As someone with a history of chronic pain and fibromyalgia, I know there comes a moment when you face a choice—give in to the symptoms or fight for your life. Not everyone gets this choice, but for some, like myself, the instinct to fight can’t be extinguished. However, the demands of my recovery on those around me were immense. No one could have prepared me—or them—for that.

I was fortunate to have a doctor in my close family who suggested that my mind was likely causing my symptoms because they were functional, meaning there was no physical abnormality in the body to explain them. It took me three years to be ready to listen, but the opportunity was there because of him.

Until that moment of acceptance, I was lost in the finality and inevitability of my situation. My own doctor had no answers beyond medication (which didn’t work). I became immersed in Facebook groups and Instagram communities of people who suffered like I did, which validated my experience in ways nothing else ever could. However, I didn’t realize at the time that sharing my suffering and absorbing the suffering of others was actually feeding my pain.

I was becoming my symptoms.

By the end of 2020, my health was in ruins. Six months of invasive medical investigations yielded no further progress. By August 2021, my final chance at a diagnosis failed, and I received a call from a specialist who told me there was nothing more the medical profession could do.

That was my ‘enough is enough’ moment. Somewhere deep within, a small flame flickered, and I knew I had to heal myself or give up entirely.

Healing Chronic Illness Naturally

I was one of the lucky ones. But three years on, I wouldn’t be where I am without the support of my husband, family, and employer. Together, we navigated the complexities of my healing journey, clashing frequently as I fought to be understood. The process was hard, messy, and unnecessary.

Hindsight is powerful when it comes to understanding healing chronic illness naturally. According to the US National Fibromyalgia Association, between 200 and 400 million people globally suffer from fibromyalgia. Another estimated 17 to 24 million are believed to suffer from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME or Chronic Fatigue), and anywhere from 60 million to 1.5 billion suffer from Chronic Pain.

There are so many of us out there, struggling to function, drowning in the complexities of a functional chronic illnesslike fibromyalgia, ME, or other forms of chronic fatigue. The likelihood is that you know someone who is silently suffering—whether a colleague, friend, or family member—trying to balance their life while their symptoms dominate.

So, what if even 1% of these people suddenly decide to reclaim their quality of life through natural remedies for fibromyalgia or alternative healing for chronic pain? What does that look like, and how can you advocate for them?

Emotional Healing and Support

The answer: It’s going to get messy. Emotions will flare, symptoms will worsen before they get better, and the person will struggle to maintain hope. There will be moments of optimism and success, followed by hours of defeat and despair. Each day will be a blank canvas, with outcomes determined by how much resilience the person can summon to face their symptoms head-on.

But here’s the truth—it’s worth it because emotional healing WILL work. The mind-body connection is crucial in overcoming these challenges. If you’re supporting someone fighting this battle, you need patience and understanding. You must hold your nerve and believe in their recovery, even when they don’t, especially when they don’t.

Nervous System Regulation Techniques

Understanding how functional illness works is critical—emotional stress and nervous system dysregulation feed the illness. You can support your loved one by helping them explore nervous system regulation techniques such as mindfulness, deep breathing, and energy healing to calm their body and mind. It’s essential to be educated about the connection between emotional stress and physical symptoms and to seek support for yourself and anyone else involved in their healing journey.

In the end, no one benefits from someone suffering from a functional chronic illness. It’s not just about the person in pain; it’s about everyone around them. If you know someone who believes they can heal and wants to try, then listen, learn, and advocate for them. Keep that flame of determination alive.

Healing from Fibromyalgia is possible

If you’d like more information on how to support someone recovering from a functional chronic illness, visit our Resources page and download a free PDF. Our wellness workshops for chronic illness and mind-body courses for stress relief are also available to guide you through this process of healing and recovery.

For more information about how you can support someone who is working to recover from a functional chronic illness, head to our Resources page and download a free PDF.