Articles
Fibromyalgia pain: Options for coping
Why prepare a list in advance?
Content
Why prepare for a bad day?
Avoid negative self-talk
Tell someone when you're having a difficult day
Spend your energy 'pennies' wisely
Practice makes perfect
Avoid negative self-talk
Studies have shown that what we say to ourselves inside our heads can affect our perception of pain. Turning negative thoughts into positive ones takes practice, but it's worth the effort.
| Negative | Positive |
|---|---|
| I can't do anything because of my symptoms. | I can do many things. I just need to pace myself and take breaks. |
| I have no control over my happiness. The pain controls me. | I can control my happiness. I can be happy and enjoy life despite pain. |
| People at work are upset with me. They don't think I'm doing my share. | I will do the best job I can and feel good about my accomplishments. |
