Exploring the Impact of Fibromyalgia on Relationships

I had to drop out of school in 10th grade and it was like I never existed to most of my friends. I tried to talk to them, but they stopped messaging me. I only have a handful of friends who didn't leave. My mom experienced the same thing and she only had one friend, but she only really calls my mom to rant about life.

It's been hard, I lost a lot of people who either didn't understand or they refused to believe me or listen. It felt very lonely, and right now being a single mom...it hit that my kids are having a hard time understanding what all my stuff means too. But unlike most of the other adults in my life, they've been listening and trying and been willing to work with me more. I also tended to isolate myself from people due to things like anxiety and depression as well, feeling like I was actually that burden I feared I'd always been seen as...but I still have a few close people in my life that believe me, they listen and they try to be helpful or understanding. It's been less lonely. And I'm working on building up better support systems now, instead of isolating and thinking myself a burden. I don't deserve to be punished for things I can't help having to deal with, especially not my my own self.

Yes nobody understands what I’m going through even though I explain. I’m always exhausted. And if I do to much, I’ll definitely be paying for it later. I realize I can’t worry about what others feel. I have to focus on helping me. And if I’m feeling up to it I’ll extend my time. 🫥

It’s so important to communicate with significant others especially. And in good days I try to do what I can so on days that I can’t, my family knows I actually will help out when I am feeling up to it. It’s been a learning experience for all of us. It’s teaching my family compassion and trust. It teaching me to be humble and grateful that I do have the family I have, they believe me. It’s hard when you feel like your family doesn’t.

I'm so sorry what everyone is going through on here, I to am also..I have soon to be 7 grandchildren that I can't do " fun stuff" like playing outside, going to outdoor events...things like that and to make it worse yet the other grandmother makes it like its " in my head" to my grandchildren which makes it even more hurtful. I'm 62 how about you? My daughter says come on mom 62 is the new 40- wish I felt that way! I know its her way to try to inspire me but.....it hurts as well 😥

For me it does because they don’t understand what we are going through. I wish I could do more things like clean cook and so on. It affects me a lot because I can’t stand on my right foot.

I’ve learned that it’s pushed some relationships away, but it’s shown who is really there for me in my life. My life and relationships look different than I thought they would at this point in time, but I try to focus on being grateful for those people who are willing to help me and be in my life. And I try to find ways to serve others that fits my lifestyle (I’m a great texter/check-in friend, but I’m bad at going out; I can’t help my family with housework too much, but I can help my parents figure out technology)

Definitely. I used to be able to do a lot of things and now no one understands why I can’t anymore and think I’m lying.

I have a hard time having the energy or low enough pain level to do anything. I feel like I’m holding my partner back and I fear he will start to resent me