Has fibromyalgia affected your mental health? Or vice versa?

Hi all. I have had a few major depressive instances in my life so it’s not new to me. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia almost two years ago following which I became very depressed, mainly because I’ve been told by my counsellor that I’m mourning the former fit and agile, outgoing me. Also as a result of lockdowns I’m a bit agoraphobic, anxious, and don’t go out much. Unfortunately I was also diagnosed with breast cancer in October last year so after surgery & radiotherapy - pain, stiffness and my other fibro symptoms have worsened. This could possibly be because I’m taking hormone therapy in tablet form for five years (to stop production of oestrogen as my tumours were oestrogen & progesterone positive). The therapy strips the body of oestrogen so I’m having menopausal symptoms all over again. (Thought I’d finished with that 10 years ago!)

So at 63 (retired at 58) the fit, active, outgoing and happy person I was has left the building and in her place I have a much less mobile, overweight and depressed me! Antidepressants, nerve pain meds and pain relief make life just about bearable. So I would say that yes, fibro - but also getting cancer on top - has made me depressed.

But I’m taking one day at a time now and trying to appreciate that I’m still here - and the cancer could have been so much worse.

hi @Courtney_J , I think it has taken a toll on all of us. With the lockdowns that have been on and off since covid, as @Maryquitecontrary said, it just added to our anxiety and feeling of loneliness. I really don't know how I managed to get out of my depression. But then again, I "only" have fibro..

@MariaB having fibro is enough. It can ruin your life and is the main cause of my problems. It steals away your zest for life having to deal with daily pain. Strangely enough I dealt with the cancer diagnosis a lot easier. It was a relief to get a fibro diagnosis after all the strange symptoms and pain. Coming to terms with knowing you have fibro is horrendous and accepting it’s forever is definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done. We are sometimes referred to as “fibro warriors” and that sums it up. We have to find a lot of courage to face up to what we have and it’s not surprising that it affects our mental health. Take care. Xx

Hello everyone,

How are you today? 😊

Living with the many challenging symptoms associated with fibromyalgia—such as chronic pain, debilitating fatigue, migraines, and sleep disturbances—can have significant implications for both physical and mental health. I'm curious about your experiences.

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Has fibromyalgia affected your mental well-being? If so, how? Or, have you found that your mental health, including anxiety, depression, or stress, has influenced your experience with fibromyalgia? How do you manage in either scenario?

Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with us here!

Stay well,

Somya from the Carenity team 🌼