Poll: Personality Types in Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Surprise I’m type A, so I think the world wants to hear my opinion when generally it’s too busy to listen.

My brother is type B and we joke that if he got sick it would have taken us a long time to recognise it because he is generally very laid back. (which is probably why we get along so well). I think he would have suffered quietly a lot longer than I did.

I think M.E. is trying to reshape me into a type B…

Maybe that’s the secret to getting better??

Was being a type A, more highly strung and more likely to self inflict stress part of the reason why I got sick?? I don’t like that idea, it makes me feel more responsible for this illness.

You’ve certainly given me a lot to chew on, I’ll try and take a chill pill and think about it from a type B’s point of view.

Sarah

Sarah,

How do you know your stress was “self-inflicted”? (I’m wondering if “type A’s” are more apt to berate themselves?)

My GP implied to me that FM happened to a certain type of person. I think he was referring to the fact that I had brought a typed up list of symptoms in with me. I am generally an organised person. But I believe that the condition has always driven the methods I use rather than the other way round. If I’m not organised and efficient, the brain fog will take over and prevent me from communicating effectively, and it will take me much longer to get things done – allowing fatigue to take over before the job is done.

Yes, that’s me, you could say organisation is my middle name. I have found I always have to make ure everything is completely organised right down to the smallest of things, I don’t usually take much notice until other people comment how organised I am at certain things, could say it’s kind of aa subconscious thing I guess, I always thought of it more as a mild O.C.D. rather than being organised, but I guess really it’s just the same

My neurologist who first treated my FM said the same thing – that most of her Fibro patients were “Type A’s” or “Super (often single, like me) Moms”, but that the Fibro often forces them to “slow down”.

I’m pretty sure I’m a mixture of the two traits though I used to lean more towards A; now, more towards B. I still am assertive with my doctors which has gotten me into trouble when it’s the type of doctor driven by ego and who feels “challenged” by any (even innocent) questions.

Does anyone relate to this? When stress is high, maybe a family crisis or whatever, my “Type A” traits are apt to surface (in my case, organization, research, going “full steam” even though I know it will send me into a flare); whereas if things are relatively calm environmentally, I’m now able to stick with the more relaxed, slower, and for me, balanced “Type B” traits, which keep pain levels down.
Not sure if I’m expressing it clearly……

Anyone have a link to one of those “Personality tests” that might at least fashion itself after the Myers-Briggs?

I’m fascinated by research & theories about personality types, especially the Meyers-Briggs. I would love to know how fibro sufferers fall on that scale. One trait that I think I see is pretty common among us is being more sensitive than others. Also, more easily overwhelmed by life in general (for me, I’ve had these qualities since the day I was born, long before fm/cfs set in). Anybody identify with that?

I do, Jenny, but I’m not sure that every person struggling with CFS/FM would.
Your question makes me wonder if there might be a correlation with people who struggle with sensory difficulties as well. (Or at least, correlation between generic “sensitivity” and sensory challenges.)

fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome have nothing to do with personality type : it is either the result of exposure to toxic products, or connected to a virus or a car accident

Many people confuse cfs with the burn-out syndrome which is the result of too many activities for some people.

People with fibro or CFS have a long list of specific symptoms besides being fatigue all the time (allergies, skin rashes, overreaction to medications, hormonal and gut problems, …)

I disagree. I have CFS but it wasn’t triggered by any of those things. At 24, I had undiagnosed Post Natal Depression, sole care of my daughter because her father worked nights 6 days a week (I would also wake up when he came in during the night so we can add interrupted sleep patterns), managed a business for someone and did 50 hours a week whilst my mother was dying from cancer in another country. In my situation it was severe emotional and physical stress that triggered it.

that could be, but many people have severe emotional and physical stress and don’t get CFS.

in the stress-triggers-CFS hypothesis, there is an underlying cellular problem (methylation block, oxidation issue)

it is the cellular disease which is relevant to CFS in such a scenario, not the trigger (even though the trigger is relevant to you as a person!)

i disagree with u!! i dont suffer from any rashes or other things u listed….i have fibro & cfs & several other things that go hand in hand with fibro!! i wasnt exposed to checmicals or an illness that caused it!! i believe mine comes from a very traumatic separation from my husband it took me bein disagnosed by 3 diff drs b4 i believed i had fibro!!!

I think your personality influences the type of illnesses you are genetically inclined to develop. Type A personalities are wired; have up-regulated immune systems and are more likely to develop autoimmune illnesses. They are also more likely to have allergies, asthma and suffer a sudden heart attack not caused by clogged arteries, but by inflammation; an immune system trying to over-achieve, just like them.

Type B personalities are laid back and in need a lot of stimulation to get motivated. This also applies to their immune systems. They are more like to get illnesses like cancer and diabetes. They are also prone to colds, flues, viruses and infections. They probably benefit from eg flu shots etc because their suppressed immune systems need a boost, just like them.

The best place to be would be somewhere in the middle; a not-too-wired personality, and a not-to -aid back personality, but this has a lot to with genetics and is mostly decided at birth. I definitely think your genetic make-up predisposes you to certain diseases and conditions. Type A’s are more likely to end up with CFS.

BTW, Type A personalities are more likely to suffer from high anxiety; Type B personalities are more likely from depression, which are polar opposite.

So then, if I come out with a combination of A and B traits, does it make sense that I suffer from both high anxiety and depression? How are they polar opposite?

Thanks for your comments – I’m finding them very interesting.

I’m with you, AB… I have both A & B traits, and also am blessed with both depression and anxiety. And both cfs & fibro. How did we get so lucky?

Great discussion, everyone!

Rachael, I tend to agree w/ your descriptions of both type A & B. I am classified as a type A personality, I am an overachiever, perfectionist, o/c to nth degree. I, however, also am a nurturer, wear my heart on my sleeve and tend to allow others to use my shoulders to leave their problems on! My husband is a type B, laid back, doesn’t worry over much, copes w/ most issues and will not allow people to drag him into their problems. we are complete opposites! I have FM and he has diabetes! Interesting….isn’t it? Since I have been ill with fm I have tried to be less A and more B…doesn’t work, and believe me I am still trying….so I also believe it is hardwired in my DNA somehow, some way.
Just an observation and thought I would share it. I am enjoying all the comments and I would post some more but it has been a bad couple of weeks, w/ pain and fog the order of the day, so I’ll stop for now!

I’m definately type B. I am too nice to push anyone around. I have been told many times that I am doormat and let people push me around. I am better now at asserting myself but it’s only because I am tired of doctors not listening to me.

April: I don’t think being too nice disqualifies you from being a Type A personality. Type A’s are not always aggressive; sometimes they just work way too hard trying to be perfect in every thing they do. A lot of Type A’s are people pleasers. They seek excellence and are always taking care of everybody’s needs; sometimes forgoing their own needs. They sometimes go against the grain of what they were meant to be, or do, in order to please others. This can leads to high levels of stress. High-strung, wired and way too nice often describes Type A personalities also.

Hmmm……I’m seeing myself in your description of Type A’s here.

You sound like you’ve explored this a lot. I’m wondering if you see commonalities with the issues of co-dependency and/or the traits of Elaine Aron’s “Highly Sensitive Person”?

I’m a type B kind of girl, but because of medical reasons I have to take charge of my treatment. My health and welfare is at stake. I don’t want to, but if I didn’t speak up about what is going on with me, then issues wouldn’t be treated and I would a lot worse off.

AB: The way I look at it is “high anxiety” is caused by an up-regulated immune and central nervous system? The “flight or fight” response which causes high anxiety has been activated. In some people it is so severe that it causes uncontrollable emotions; fear, crying, loss of control etc, which may be looked upon as depression by those who are observing, but in actuality it is severe anxiety. These people are in a heightened state. They are in need of restoration; calming. Stimulating activities will only worsen symptoms.

Depression on the other hand is caused by a suppressed immune and central nervous system; no ambition, no desire, no reason to live, hopelessness etc. These people are in need of a boost; stimulation. Exercise, will give some people suffering from depression a much needed lift.

Of course, you could suffer from both (bi-polar). It’s just that I think people confuse the two, as the same condition. I think they are completely different. Highly sensitive people are far more likely to develop autoimmune conditions, allergies and suffer from anxiety. I believe CFS is an autoimmune illness. Elaine Aron’s book has led me to some of my conclusions.

Rachael,
Thanks for your reply. I also think they’re very different, but I don’t see them as two opposite poles, like “manic” and “depressed”. I realize there can be an irritable, agitated form of “mania” (I experienced both as a reaction to different Rx’s.), but in my own experience, “high anxiety” is very different from either form of “mania”; and it can happen simultaneously with a serious bout of depression. I don’t mean to argue about terminology…….rather, I’m trying to sort out the interesting differences and similarities between the two. I’m not expressing it as clearly as I’d like. For instance, I share most of the “HSP” traits, but have nearly always struggled with depression. Anxiety is a more recent thing for me, occurring after a very traumatic event. I guess I think of anxiety as more of a part of PTSD.

thanks for the conversation!

AB: You might find this article interesting. It talks about how an overactive immune system be the trigger for some people’s life-threatening depression, or which I prefer to call “high anxiety”. If so, meds that stimulate the immune response in CFS patients may cause more harm than good.

“Most of us associate depression with being run down and having poor immunity to infections. The startling side effects of the immune-boosting drugs turn that notion on its head. They suggest that some people who are depressed may actually be suffering from an over-heated immune system, and that damping down inflammation could offer a brand new way to treat routine clinical depression–while making billions for the pharmaceuticals industry into the bargain. It’s a theory that recasts depression–one of the great plagues of our time–as a chronic inflammatory disease like rheumatoid arthritis.”

http://www.biopsychiatry.com/immunesystem/index.html

Cheers!

Thanks, Rachael, interesting.

Fibromyalgia may or may not be real. Something is causing a lot of people to have physical pain and disability.
I”m with the ones who say take the drug commercials off of TV. The pharmaceutical companies seem to be spending more on advertising than on R&D. No wonder prescription prices are sky-high.

I was a type A, after living with FMS and CFIDS for 10 years I have learned traits of a type B and use them to stop myself from overdoing. But I still overdo, just at a slower pace and with a smile. I don’t think it caused the illness, but the illness sure stops a type A (or B!) cold!

Definitely Type A…..no surprise here.

I’ve always been a Type B person and tend to be shy and introverted most of the time. I don’t think personality is an issue with CFS/fibromyalgia. Stress will definitely make these conditions worse but doesn’t cause the illness in the first place.

CFS and fibromyalgia appear to affect people of all personality types and in all walks of life.

I believe it’s so much more important for researchers to continue to identify the biological causes of our illness rather than concentrate on these issues.

I think we have to be careful about assigning personality type to any illness, particularly CFS. You don’t hear anyone talk about a cancer or MS or Parkinson’s personality type.

In addition, I know dozens and dozens of Type A people (I’m surrounded by them) who are perfectly, amazingly healthy, and stay that way well into very old age. It always amazes me that the Type A people around me, filling up every moment of their time with busyness that all my life would have overwhelmed me, say to me when they hear I have CFS, “Oh, you must be a perfectionist.” I, after a lifetime of being Miss “good enough,” just sort of stand back in awe at what this perfectionist in front of me is saying. The personality they’re describing is themselves — but they don’t have CFS, and I do.

Obviously, being Type A is not the cause of CFS. Otherwise, who would run our corporations, entertain us, run our governments?

Now, if you tell me that our hypersensitivity makes us vulnerable to CFS, then I’d buy it. But that is biological first, which then can inform the personality, which may be what we are seeing in CFS. That makes more sense to me.

Tammy- Watching the amazing amount of productivity some of the people in my life manage every day is something I have a hard time with. Not comparing myself to these types is tough. I know I can’t help that I have fm/cfs, but I still feel LAME that there’s so much that I just can’t do, especially in my role as parent to my teenage kids. I’m getting better at accepting it all, though, and discussions like these have really helped. This site (along with ChronicBabes) has been very helpful in the evolution of the way I view this illness and myself. Thanks, everyone.

Jenny, I’m right there with you…feeling “lame” about not being able to do things, especially in regards to my teens, but it sounds like you’re working hard to come to terms with it all. Best of luck to you!

Re: chronic babe(s) . com Is that with or without an “s” on the end? 2 quite different sites – made me laugh. Ty for the laugh either way.

I think this discussion has pretty much run its course…..thanks, everyone, for the conversation.

I know many people refer to those with fibromyalgia as perfectionists. I would call myself more of a people pleaser. Not perfectionist or aggressive so much as trying to make everyone happy. And trying to do it all, and do it all well. I definitely think major stress + surgerywas part of the onset of the illness.

Jenny — Thanks so much for your comment! And thanks also for pointing me to Chronic Babes, a site I didn’t know about. It’s great!

Thanks to everyone for contributing to this site, and to Adrienne for running it. On days like yesterday, when I had a generally well-meaning healthy person give me her unsolicited opinion of how I should feel about and deal with my Fibromyalgia (ignoring, as so many people do, my CFS diagnosis — why do so many people do that?), it’s nice to know I have a place I can go where people understand.

I am the farthest thing from a Type A personality. So, I think that’s not always true.

I’m completely Type A, except for competitiveness from Type A to a certain extend, but that probably comes from competing at a sport from a very young age

I disagree with the illness being linked to a certain personality type – and if you look at the poll results so far, it’s pretty equal….I’m definitely a Type B

My work personality certainly was Type A. Addicted to goal attainment and ultimately willing to give up relationships and health to keep on doing it. I was the go-to guy in stressful situations and able to achieve my peak performance at the highest levels of stress. And I liked being able to do this.

But it’s kind of like the warp speed button on the old tv series Star Trek. For years you push it and jump into hyper(performance) space. Then one day it’s gone and irreparably so. Dealing with stress becomes very difficult, not to mention all the rest that goes with the illness. The mind still says go-go-go, but the body limps along just trying to keep up with minimum activity levels.

i have a type A personality raised by a type A and a type B. I was a B long before I was sick. I do feel that stress is a big factor in my illness. i know for a fact that it does make it worse, HOWEVER- i strongly believe that the triggers for this-at least for me- were serious emotional and mental trauma and it all went downhill when i had a near death experience while having my son. I have been sick for about 12 years now and it got severely worse once I had my son. No one in my family has this disease. My personality enables stress because i am a perfectionist. My husband is a type B and I see type A traits in my son already at 3. I do not agree that your personality dictates predisposition to this disease, but I agree that it plays a large role in perpetuating it regardless if you are an A or a B.