All About Fibromyalgia and How to Overcome it with Psychological Therapy & Counselling

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a condition in which you may experience chronic widespread pain and a heightened pain response to pressure.

You may also get tired to such a degree that normal activities are affected, for example you may develop problems getting to sleep.

Additionally, you may also experience restless leg syndrome, bowel or bladder problems, numbness and tingling, and sensitivity to noise, lights or differing temperatures.

Fibromyalgia is frequently associated with depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The actual cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, although it appears that environmental factors and genetics may play equal roles.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Behaviours

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain, tenderness, and fatigue.

Other common symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

• Sleep disturbances: People with fibromyalgia often have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up feeling rested.

• Cognitive difficulties: This may include difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and difficulty processing information.

• Headaches: Many people with fibromyalgia experience tension headaches or migraines.

• Stiffness: Stiffness in the joints, especially in the morning, is common in people with fibromyalgia.

• Digestive problems: People with fibromyalgia may experience irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which can cause bloating, abdominal pain, and constipation or Diarrhoea.

• Anxiety and depression: Many people with fibromyalgia also suffer from anxiety and depression, which can worsen pain and fatigue.

• Numbness or tingling: Some people with fibromyalgia may experience a sensation of numbness or tingling in their hands or feet.

The pain appears to result from processes in the central nervous system and is often referred to as a central sensitisation syndrome although this theory is yet to be proven.

Getting a medical diagnosis involves first ruling out other potential causes and verifying that a set number of symptoms are present.

Because you may have underlying medical reasons for many of the symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia, we recommend that you consult your GP before consulting for any psychologcal help.

Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2–8% of the population.

Causes of Fibromyalgia

Despite many years of research there is still no known cause of Fibromyalgia.

It is thought that the central nervous system, which is responsible for transmitting chemical signals to the brain, over-emphasises the signals coming from pain receptors.

Furthermore, other potential cause include emotional problems, infections, physical injuries and stress.

It also seems reasonable to assume that psychological factors are involved.

Therapy & Counselling for Fibromyalgia

We offer a number of different types of therapy and counselling for fibromyalgia and related problems.

Choosing the most suitable therapy depends on a number of different considerations including factors such as:

• How long you have had the problem.
• Your personal preferences.
• How your problem is affecting you today.

You can read more about the different types of therapy for fibromyalgia on the following links:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Fibromyalgia
• Counselling for Fibromyalgia
• Pluralistic Therapy for Fibromyalgia

Although all therapies use slightly different approaches, the one thing they all have in common is the relationship that is formed between the client and therapist.

Research suggests that this therapy relationship may be the most important factor in achieving a good therapy outcome.

The Behaviour Change Framework

All of our counselling sessions and programmes for fibromyalgia use the Behaviour Change Framework (BCF).

This scientifically proven protocol defines the stages of behaviour change that you need to go through in order to achieve long lasting and sustainable change.

The framework provides a roadmap that indicates if more change is required before entering the next phase of mental health therapy.

In this way, we are able to ensure that you get the best possible level of support in overcoming your mental health problems as well preventing early termination of therapy.

You can read more about the Science of Change here.

Arrange your FREE initial consultation here.

If you’d like to find out more about overcoming fibromyalgia or recovering from any of your mental health problems then why not arrange a free initial consultation with us.

During this consultation we will discuss your particular issues and the different types of mental health counselling we offer without you having to commit to any counselling going forward.

The consultation lasts around 50 minutes and is a great opportunity to meet with either Paul or Joan and decide if you would like to proceed with any support.