Friends and Family

‘A friend is someone with whom you dare to be yourself’

Frank Crane

 

Another of the most important things you can do to help in the battle against any chronic illness is to be honest, confide in family and friends and build up your own support network.

 

Friendships can make a huge difference to your own health and well-being, they can help boost your happiness, or reduce stress, they can make you feel good and improve your sense of self-worth and they can help you cope with life’s traumas.  Friends offer companionship and can give you the encouragement and help you need to get through any challenges that arise.  Equally it works both ways and being able to help a friend in need may take your mind off your own problems and help you appreciate some of the simpler things in life.

 

Both family and friends can react differently to fibro, and sometimes their responses can add to your stress but it’s important to persevere and to help them to understand.  It’s incredibly difficult for anyone to understand what it’s like to live with a chronic illness, and given the diversity of symptoms it can be equally hard to explain it.

 

I don’t think there are any words that can do justice to the sheer torment of these conditions, and to feel that no-one understands is a very isolating feeling, so keep the lines of communication open and be honest about how you feel.

 

Friends and family are a vital support network, and you need to be able to rely on other people to help you when you’re really struggling.  It’s essential to make it very clear what you can and can’t do, talk about your pain and things that can affect it or make it worse, and don’t be afraid to share your problems or fears.  Equally share the good news when you’re feeling better, and try to remain positive even through the bad days!