Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome's Impact on Your Loved Ones
Fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) impact more than just those of us who have them. They also force changes and extra burdens onto the people in our lives.
Everyone touched by FMS and ME/CFS has to make adjustments. If we sickies are fortunate, we have people who will help and support us through those adjustments. We're dealing with so much, though, that it's easy to forget that the people who are supporting us may need some help as well.
My husband was always great about doing half of the housework, but since FMS became part of our lives he's had to pick up even more, in spite of the fact that I left my full-time job and now work from home. At times he has to take care of the house, the kids, and me, by himself. On top of the demands on time and energy, anyone in this situation can face added stress, anxiety, fear, confusion and more.
The sad reality is that I can't always be as supportive of my husband as he is of me, and sometimes my FMS-related moodiness makes me ... well, not the easiest person in the world to live with. Based on conversations we've had in the Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome community forum, I know I'm not the only one who has trouble showing how much I appreciate everything someone else does for me.
Just as we need to learn how to live with this, so do the people close to us. You can help, by showing them this article:
Also, you can explore the articles here:
There, you'll find simplified explanations of FMS and ME/CFS, FAQs, fact sheets and more to help them understand and adapt to your illness.
What has helped the people in your life adapt to your illness? How has it made life better? Share your experiences here or in the forum (under Newsletter & Blog Topics).
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