Social connections when energy runs low

Most people take socializing for granted, but socializing actually requires a great deal of energy.  When chronic illness is present, energy is low and it is critical that people choose daily activities thoughtfully and with intention.  No one knows this better than someone with fibromyalgia.  Every activity throughout the day must be carefully weighed for priority and necessity.  Socializing may seem to be low in priority so it may tend to take the back burner, but that may be a mistake.  The mind/body connection cannot be dissected from one another and we need to regularly care for both to ensure our health on every level.  Depression and anxiety are common with fibromyalgia so attending to emotional health is so critical and yet it seems that we frequently neglect our brain's needs.  The brain's complexity makes this task even more difficult, because there are needs to be met on many different levels.  Top that with being a highly sensitive person and the task becomes daunting.

We are a gregarious people and social connections are critical for our emotional health and our general well being.  Connecting socially may not be possible face-to-face every day, but setting time aside for socializing is key in managing the depression and anxiety that frequently accompanies fibromyalgia.  I make it a point to connect with someone every day.  There are days when I don't have the energy to connect with others, but social media has made that easier and less energy draining than connecting face-to-face.  On facebook I have rekindled friendships with people I haven't seen in 44 years and facebook doesn't zap energy like face-to-face encounters do.  Same thing with Twitter except it's even less taxing because the messages are so brief.  I hadn't spent much time on facebook or Twitter, but I am now learning their benefits and it has been a positive experience.  I can interact with people and not feel the energy being sucked out of me.  That leaves me with energy to spare for other necessities.

Currently I have been experiencing some stressful events in my life and that naturally takes its toll on my body and tends to put me in a flare.  Bad news.  I inherently know this and have made intentional decisions regarding my emotional health, which also makes my body feel better.  That single act of intentionality saves my mind and my body from traumatic and stressful events.  This may seem to be a no brainer, but I am amazed when I see other people that don't seem to understand the critical nature of this connection between mind and body.  This is an amazing phenomenon!  The other positive element for me is that I have had fun learning new things and my brain gets exercise at the same time.  That is good for my body too!  When my brain is happy, my body is happy too.  The problem with learning new things is that it takes a great deal of energy.  But for me, it is well worth the energy it drains.  I just have to use small amounts of energy and be aware of how much I'm going to need to get through the day and not sabotage myself for the next day too.

So when you find yourself feeling lonely and blue, text a friend, meet a new friend on facebook -- just communicate with someone outside of your immediate environment.  This simple 10 minute act will change your perspective on life and re-energize your mind and body.  May you meet each day with intention, purpose, priority, understanding and awareness of the energy stores that are available to you.  Blessings!

Psychobiotics and the dark chocolate connection . . .

There has been a fair amount of interest regarding neurotransmitters in the medical community, but treatment for depleted neurotransmitters has remained a mystery.  Nutritional supplements have been the first line of treatment with dubious results and psychoactive medications have been prescribed for decades with little to no benefit.  Neurotransmitters are those chemical messengers in our body that modulate all the functions of our body and mind.  The table below provides a brief explanation of common neurotransmitters and their function.

It is interesting to note that many people with fibromyalgia have depleted neurotransmitters, which may be responsible for some of the symptoms that decrease quality of life.  But renewed hope may be just around the corner.

It seems that the human body is teeming with beneficial microbes that are critical for our physical and emotional health.  There are approximately 15 trillion cells in our bodies and 100 trillion bacteria.  Amazing, huh?  These bacteria are essential to digestion, metabolism, immunity and our psychological health, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.  These bacteria act as messengers that orchestrate our body's function and wellbeing.  So the question is "How do we ensure these essential and beneficial bacteria remain healthy and functioning properly?"  As it turns out, probiotics rarely make it past our stomach and its acid environment.  According to Davidson in "The Psychobiotic Revolution" (Davidson, Jordan.  Psychology Today, April 2014, pg. 40), "It's long been known that the stress system is intimately involved in depression.  People suffering from major depression frequently have elevated levels of the hormone cortisol, released in response to stress.  In a recent study, a probiotic cocktail of Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum was found to reduce cortisol levels."  In addition, "many physiological and psychological processes associated with depression can be traced to a deficiency in the neurotransmitter GABA.  Lack of GABA in the brain may bring on the negative ruminations long linked with depression."  Researchers have determined that gut microbes secrete GABA, which include Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum organsisms.  It is interesting to note that dark chocolate increases numbers in both of these bacterial families.  The polyphenols in the chocolate act as a prebiotic and enhance the growth of benefical gut bacteria.  Now that's the best news I have heard in the last 20 years.  I not only drink red wine for health benefits but I am also eating 2 squares of dark chocolate every day.  The specific strain of Lactobacillus reuteri that is found in yogurt or as a supplement works to improve mood, appearance and general health by increasing levels of oxytocin.  Oxytocin is that hormone that gives you a feeling of wellbeing when you cuddle, hug, or have sex.  There are also active yogurt ingredients that reduce anxiety and fear.

We are on the cusp of gaining more knowledge regarding the best way to ensure the health of our body's microbial community that will ensure the health of our body and mind.  Meanwhile, I intend to eat Greek yogurt and dark chocolate every day so my microbes don't go hungry.  Blessings to you and your microbes; may you live happily ever after!

A wildfire called fibromyalgia

California wildfire near Los Angeles

California is in the worst drought conditions in 150 years.  Instead of rain the weather is sunny, in the 80's with Santa Ana winds blowing and gusting to 70 miles per hour in the southern part of the state.  As a result a wildfire burns acre after acre of timber fuel that hasn't seen fire in 40 years.  Australia is in mid-summer and wildfire burns there too.  In dry, arid regions it doesn't take much for a spark to become a wildfire that ravages the land and destroys homes.

One of 70 wildfires burning in Australia

The wildfires made me think about the insidious onset of fibromyalgia and how quickly those early symptoms turned into an illness out of control.  When did it really start?  I can trace fibromyalgia back to my 20's when random symptoms began to appear, which seemed completely unrelated.  The Restless Legs Syndrome, the IBS, unexplained exhaustion, slow recovery from exercise . . .    I wonder when that early spark was set before the fibromyalgia wildfire began that has ravaged my body and threatened to rob me of my life.  There was no doubt about when this illness became a wildfire that was completely out of control.  Symptom management has succeeded in maybe 30% containment, but what will fan the flames in the future?  That is when the fear and anxiety set in.  Will this wildfire be completely out of control again?  How long can I fight?  Do I have enough endurance?  Can I fight against depression?

I wanted to join some friends for a fun, 3-day trip to Tucson for a bead and jewelry show, but I realized that I don't have enough fortitude or physical resources to be able to do that.  I have to use the energy I have to fight this wildfire called fibromyalgia.  I feel cheated, because after all my friends that will be going without me are 10 years older than me.  So why can't I do this???!

There is one thing I do know.  If I don't stay at home and fight this fibromyalgia wildfire it will no longer be contained and then I will be facing a flare.  So it's time to regroup, get my priorities straight and be satisfied with my 30% containment.  I need to focus on what I can do and not what I can't.  After all, that is what everyone must do so I'm not alone.  Everyone has limitations in one way or another.  Hmmmmm.  I wonder what would happen if I set a backfire.  What would that look like anyway??  Maybe I should call in some firemen!  Ha!  Blessings to you as you fight this wildfire called fibromyalgia.