If you have fibromyalgia, you may want to join an online support group. This can be a great idea. No one understands your struggle more than someone fighting something similar.

Support groups also help fight isolation. People who don’t feel well tend to spend more time at home. If it hurts to move, finding support while sitting at your computer has its benefits.

However, online support groups have a downside. If they’re not used properly, they can be counterproductive. Large groups, in particular, attract a wide array of people. Some of the members are extremely depressed, angry and cynical.

Even though I’m not a doctor, or a mental health professional, I believe support groups can become a tripwire. Common sense dictates that spending too much time in a negative environment isn’t good for you. This includes communities on the Internet.

Fibromyalgia Support Groups Online

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I’ve lived with chronic pain for more than a decade. I know how distressing it can be. I spent many days with no relief. Nights were, well, a nightmare. When my condition was at its worst, my lower back pain was so intense I could barely sleep. I couldn’t get comfortable. Muscle spasms also prevented me from turning over in bed.

This was my reality for years. My condition was extremely limiting. For instance, I was invited to a relative’s graduation party. It was held at a civic center. I envisioned a relatively long walk from the parking to to the center. So I decided not to go.

Can Natural Remedies Help With Fibro?

Fortunately, I changed my mind. It was a small town civic center. I only needed to drag myself about 40 steps from my car to the graduation party.

My nerve pain struck while my children were young. I was also homeschooling them. Lessons happened with me planted on the couch. My children brought their work for me to check.

The good news is my story has a happy ending. I’m not cured. Nor do I think I ever will be. Instead, I’ve learned to manage my pain with diet changes and natural remedies. So life has gotten back to normal.

Support Groups for Fibromyalgia Online

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Many fibro support groups are on Facebook. I didn’t join them at the onset of my illness. That’s because I was put off by Facebook and its lack of privacy. However, as a blogger, I finally relented. I need this social media channel to connect with my readers. So I set up a profile and started meeting other bloggers. Later, I joined a large online support group for women with fibromyalgia.

This is a wonderful community. It’s one of the first places I check every day. I’ve gotten to know a few of the women. I think you’d have a difficult time finding nicer people on the Internet, or anywhere, for that matter.

However, everyone is at a different point in their illness. Some of the women in this group are very sick. Others are very concerned with getting approved for disability benefits. Some women focus on obtaining prescription drugs. Some women are there to help. Still others are committed to using natural remedies. (That’s where I am, right now.)

Are Support Groups Good for People With Fibro?

Overall, the atmosphere is extremely supportive. There’s little judgement and surprisingly little drama, considering the size of the group. (This particular group has nearly 40,000 members.) However, there are frequent posts about just giving up. I believe people should be free to express their feelings, even painful ones. But I think being bombarded with these messages can scare off the newly diagnosed.

Constant negativity also gives the impression that fibromyalgia is hopeless. It’s not. You can read more about my story here, and how I basically got my life back, thanks to prayer and a lot of natural remedies. Not everyone can regain their health. Some people are just too sick to begin with. But some of us can.

Support Groups for Fibromyalgia Patients

In one way, it was a blessing that I didn’t join a Facebook support group until my condition was under control. I’m not cured, by any means. But I manage my pain. It doesn’t run my life anymore. Most of the time, I don’t even think about it, except when I’m writing about my experience. Occasionally, it flares up. When this happens, I use a special essential oil blend designed for natural pain relief.

I’ve found that OTC pain relievers don’t work. Or, at least they don’t for me. Plus, they have a host of potentially nasty side effects. Some of them could even be life threatening. So I’m really happy to have a safe, non-toxic pain relief option. Below, you can see the essential oil pain and inflammation formula I currently use.

Essential Oil Anti-Inflammatory Blend

Are There Support Groups for Fibromyalgia?

Actually, there are countless online fibro support groups. I suggest joining a few. I also recommend skipping over posts you don’t like, to protect yourself from negativity. I suspect some of the people in these groups are severely depressed. They need a place to vent. But the rest of us need to find a way to thrive with a painful and chronic health condition.

Chronic nerve pain changed by life. But it didn’t end it. I’m on a new path. And I want to invite you to join me. I’ve started my own group called Kicking Fibro Naturally. It’s a supportive group for people who want to talk about drug-free options. I can’t promise what worked for me will work for you, or for anyone else. But I hope this group can continue to be a positive place on Facebook. Hope to see you there.

Disclaimer

These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.