Time seems to be at a premium these days. There’s hardly enough time to get half of the work done that needs to be completed each day. Then, there are the chores that somehow need to be finished up at home in between spending quality time with the family.
For the Fibromyalgia sufferer, time management becomes even more of a challenge. Living with pain and fibrofog on a daily basis takes a toll on the body’s ability to function. Lack of recuperative sleep and debilitating fatigue further reduce the energy reserve allotted for each day.
It seems that the majority of those with Fibromyalgia have type A personalities. Before the condition, they were high energy individuals. These are the people who do more before ten o’clock in the morning than most people do all day. They are organized, driven, and focused. They are used to setting goals and achieving them.
Can Do Attitude
Due to this “can do” kind of attitude, these individuals often become the problem solver and “go to” person at work, at home, and in the community. This becomes a sense of pride, something to live up to, and eventually a mask to show the world.
Then, Fibromyalgia strikes. Suddenly, this normally competent person is no longer able to complete all his or her duties. Work slips and things seem to fall apart at home. Promises get broken and excuses become even more common than fast food meals.
It’s not that these individuals don’t try. In fact, most Fibromyalgia sufferers push themselves to the point of exhaustion hoping to catch up each day. They know that people depend upon them to organize, keep the peace, and get things done. The problem is that the harder they try, the more debilitating the symptoms, and the less that seems to get done.
Essentially, the Fibromyalgia sufferer becomes his or her own worst enemy. When the average person is tired, they rest. If they are in pain, they take time to heal. It may be an irritation but most people don’t see illness or injury as a sign of failure or weakness.
Super Mom/Super Dad
However, Fibromyalgia sufferers often associate what they accomplish each day with their self value. They see themselves as that super mom or super dad. Therefore, if they are anything less than perfect, they are failures.
This is the reason that many sufferers go to extremes to deny their symptoms. They’ll work through the pain. They’ll drink six cups of coffee to get a little energy boost so they can push a little more. Then, they wonder why the intensity of the symptoms increases.
When there is finally a reprieve between bouts, the Fibromyalgia sufferer sees an opportunity. Now, he can finally catch up on everything on the "to do" list. Perhaps he can even do a few special things for family members or friends, people that in the Fibromyalgia sufferer’s mind were wronged or put out during the sufferer’s latest flare up. Not surprisingly, not even half of the list gets complete before Fibromyalgia symptoms return with a vengeance. It’s a vicious cycle.
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