Top 5 Fibro Newbie Tips - Rebuilding Wellness

• Read original article here

Are you a fibro newbie? Did you just receive a fibromyalgia diagnosis? I’ve been at this for more than 20 years so I’m an old hand at the healing game. Along the way, I’ve learned a thing or two in the last couple of decades. In a wish-I-knew-then-what-I-know-now way, here are my Top 5 Fibro Newbie tips for the road ahead.

After a diagnosis of fibro (or any chronic illness for that matter), the question is always, “Now what?”

Here’s my short reply to that weighty question.

These tips are general concepts and not necessarily in order of importance.

It may seem like the diagnosis is the finish line to the journey you’ve been on, but it really is just another step along the way. Whether you struggled for ages to get a diagnosis (as I did) or it happened quickly, it simply marks a place in time for another journey to begin. Recognize the skills you’ve mastered to get to where you are now. Appreciate them and pay attention to how they fit into your current and future plans.

Don’t buy into the hype that the rest of your life is all about mitigating symptoms and managing pain levels (as if it’s a career). You know more about your body than anyone else. Healing – and even recovery – is possible. Every step you take to heal your body at the root level is well worth it. Your collection of symptoms may change. Don’t get so wrapped up in the perceived limitations of your diagnosis that you miss out on opportunities to grow and heal. You may find powerful and meaningful healing tips in books and media geared toward other chronic illnesses and that’s okay. Keep your eyes – and your heart – open. 

When it comes to finding a doctor or medical professional, if he/she dismisses your concerns, talks over you, or in any way makes you feel unheard — speak up. Stand up for yourself! You may find that he/she is having a bad day. Or you may find that he/she is not a good match for you, in which case, walk away. In either circumstance, you get to decide what action to take. YOU are in charge of creating a support team to help meet your health goals. Assembling resources that include helpful doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, practitioners, coaches, educators, accountability partners, etc. is now your job.

This may be a new concept for you. It’s just as important to discover what things to include in your healing protocol as things to exclude. When you think of exclusion (removing) you may think of food. It’s common to remove wheat/gluten, dairy, sugar, processed foods, etc. And, while that may be important, it’s equally important to include healing elements. Be sure to include whole, natural, nutrient-dense, and fiber-rich foods. Include plenty of hydrating, clean, fresh, and pure water. And, what about your environment, relationships, career, and other areas of your life? Are there circumstances, activities, or even people that need your attention? Some things you need more of and some less. You get to pay attention to your body’s reaction to everything around you and make adjustments as you move forward.  

I spent a lot of my early years (after my fibromyalgia diagnosis) following the advice of authors and doctors who never had a chronic health challenge and never created their own path to heal from one. There were no fibro bloggers or authors at the time who had turned their lives around. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I wasn’t even aware that I could create my own path.

There’s now a wide variety of bloggers, authors, practitioners, etc. who have forged their own paths and healed in their own way (there’s no RIGHT way to do it). You get to decide who makes you feel inspired, encouraged, and supported. Pick your guide(s) and keep on going!

While there’s SO much left to say, I’ll leave today’s post with these questions. Which of these tips surprised you the most? Which one(s) do you struggle with? What will your next steps be? Start the conversation here and let me know what you think!

Would you like a handout called, The Restoration Trio? It details some of the benefits you can experience once you put healing practices into place. Check it out HERE.

If you’d like to finally get the support you’re looking for and start healing from the root level, go HERE for more info.