Dear THMI-FMS subscriber,

First a welcome to new subscribers. Anyone unfamiliar with the general program suggested for FMS/CFS you can find out more information at "The Basics of THMI's Wellness Program".

A website that has plenty of good information is: Aging Healthfully.
If you look at this site, you will find that Dr. Ali's take on FMS and CFS is similar to what I propose. One statement that Dr. Ali makes is "The true answer to stress is spirituality -- not psychology". He writes about this on his website. It is worth reading.

I recently saw a television program dealing with the topic of stress. Several people were wired to a monitoring device and their stress levels were recorded throughout the day's activities. They were surprised to discover how much stress they were experiencing during these activities that they performed daily. Some of the activities were recorded as stressful even though the person commented that they did not sense that the activity was causing them stress. For some of the people monitored, stress levels were particulary high while driving on the freeway and in traffic.

I believe that there is a subset of people with fibromyalgia that have developed the condition as a direct result of prolonged stress. And, all people with fibromyalgia find that the condition is exacerbated by the effects of stress. Stress causes a prolonged release of insulin into the bloodstream which contributes to weight gain. Stress also depletes the body of many nutrients, especially the B vitamins which researchers have found to be deficient in people with FMS/CFS.

There are several mineral deficiencies that effect the FMS/CFS sufferer in a manner that heightens the person's sensitivity to stress. Little things that may not have bothered the individual before onset of the illness, now may be major irritants.

Is it purely coincidental that more than half of the trigger points for fibromyalgia are around the collar area? Ten of the recognized eighteen trigger points for fibromyalgia are around the neck. If we were a beast of burden, such as an ox, these trigger points would nicely align with the placement of the yoke about the neck.

I believe the location of these trigger points may be symbolic of the mental and emotional burdens that a person with this disease carries. I also think that women are predominately affected by FMS and CFS because they tend to carry more stress than men. The majority of men follow the wisdom of Alfred E. Newman, "What! Me worry?"

Life is stressful. Unfortunately we have a tendency to make life more stressful than it need be. There are ways that we can reduce stress.

Daily prayer helps to reduce stress. Christ has said "Take my yoke upon you... For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light". Christ is able to share our load and comfort us from our personal burdens. Prayer allows us the opportunity to commune with One that is concerned for our welfare and is there to help us through lifes' trials.

I was surprised when I first read that stress reduces the production of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach. I used to think that stress caused ulcers because too much acid was being produced. This thinking was not correct. What is more likely is that with the decreased production of HCl the stomach becomes more hospitable to the H. Pylori bacteria. It is this bacteria that is then responsible for stomach ulcers.

If stress reduces HCl production, then it is important that we not eat when under stress since this will interfere with our ability to properly digest food, especially proteins which require a very acid environment for digestion. A prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude at mealtime will help calm ourselves so that our digestive system will be able to digest the food and obtain the nutrients needed for the health of our body.

A number of the people being monitored for stress in the television program mentioned earlier found that driving was a stressful activity. Something that I've found helpful to reduce stress while driving is to mentally send good wishes to other people on the highway. At times when someone cuts in front of me on the road I tend to curse the imbecile. But if I mentally forgive the person for this perceived act of rudeness and wish him a safe journey, my physical body remains more calm than had I chosen the first response. ( Sometimes I still curse. There are a lot of fools on the road, and I am one. )

If you have an appointment that you must make, leave with ample time to get to your appointment on time. Drive with the flow of traffic, if that means driving a few miles over the posted limit, do so. If you are driving slower than the flow then stay in the lane designated for slower traffic. Don't crowd the car in front of you and on occasion make room for other cars to merge in front of you. You will be surprised at how much more calm the driving experience can be.

To reduce stress in the evening and help to get a better nights sleep start unwinding an hour or so prior to going to bed. A person cannot jump into bed immediately following some exciting activity and expect to fall fast asleep. I find that reading scriptures at this time to be benefical toward calming myself before bed. An evening prayer provides the opportunity to unload some of the things that may be on your mind, reducing the likelihood that you will lie in bed unable to sleep with these thoughts racing around in your head.

Ponder on the fact that you are a child of God. Think of all that that implies. For with God nothing shall be impossible.

All the best,
Jim

Posted to the THMI-FMS email list on 9/16/2002.