NO, fibromylagia is NOT another name for depression

Fibromyalgia is a REAL disease (or, more accurately, a syndrome). It is recognized by the association of rheumatologists (or whatever they call themselves). It is NOT a manifestation of laziness, or depression, or caused by being fat and out of shape.

So, in that vein, it cannot be fixed by being more motivated, taking anti-depressants or resolving to be more "positive", and, while leading a healthy lifestyle will help, will not be cured by salad and frequent visits to the gym.

It varies in symptoms and severity from person to person. The one thing I have learned from being a member in a few online support groups is that people with fibromyalgia (yes, there are men too) are some of the most positive, motivated, and full of life people I have ever met.

Of course, depression can play a role. Especially if you have been told repeatedly by the esteemed medical community that your symptoms are "all in your head" when you know something is wrong. You watch your life slip away, piece by piece. You start to feel much older than your chronological age. You find that people, so called friends, start to back away because you just aren't who you used to be. Where once you were the one people turned to for help, to get things done, you find the tables reversed and spend more time accepting help (for the lucky ones) or simply sitting in your home unable to do the simple things most people take for granted and just wishing for help. So yeah, it can be downright depressing folks! 

But, it really is true that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Imagine having a bad flu. Your body aches. You are so fatigued you can't see straight. You aren't sleeping well because of your symptoms. All you want to do is curl up in a ball in your bed and wait it out. There is no going out for groceries, taking the kids to the park, or going out to play ball with Rover just for the heck of it. You put your life on hold and cater to your symptoms. You do only what is absolutely necessary to survive and let everything else wait until you feel better. Because you know you WILL feel better.

 A person who suffers from Fibromyalgia (or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which is also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis which I suffer from in conjunction with the Fibro) doesn't have the luxury of waiting to feel better. This is it folks. You make good use of the good days because you never know when you might get another. And you do more on your bad days than anyone you know who is down and out with a bad cold or flu because that is your reality. If you didn't live your life on the bad days, you wouldn't have much of a life at all.

And sure, to an outsider looking in, we must seem pretty boring and look like we have plenty of reason to be depressed or even wish we weren't alive. But there is always a silver lining. We have TIME. We have time to notice the beautiful flowers in the summer because we aren't rushing off to kickboxing class. We have time to really watch our kid(s) grow up because we aren't lost in a flurry of frenzied cleaning (yeah, cleaning past minimal standards is one of the first things to go, lol). We have time to reflect on what is important in life because we are not able to get caught up in the things that so many others do due to sheer lack of energy. And, at least for me, the gift of time to get to know God and learn about Him is one of the best gifts anyone could ever be given.