yep, it's all in your head

I can't believe I forgot to share this with you all!

I work with a lot of college students adn young people. They are a really touchy-feely group, but they know for the most part not to touch me by now. Some still do, but even just someone laying a hand on my back hurts now. How do you explain to them that no, don't touch means absolutely no laying a finger on me? One girl, I had to remind her again, and she was very surprised. She said, "I know to be gentle with you, but I hardly touched you!" All she had done was put her hand on my back as she moved behind me. It is very hard to get across.

Anyway, another server, he was about to squeeze my shoulders when he remembered and stopped himslef. He then asked why my back has been so sore so long... had I hurt it somehow? So, I thought this was my opening so my coworkers won't think I'm so crazy. I told him my doctor thought I had fibromyalgia. I was about to start explaining it when he said, "Oh yes, we took that in school last year!" My first thought was, great! He then continued, "Isn't that a psychological decease, or psycho somatic or something?" And this is a friend of mine. Needless to say I was very down the rest of the night.

Ignorance is bliss!

 

Sherrine

This sort of thing really burns my chili! What makes me the most mad is that "psychosomatic" conditions (which fibromyalgia so far isn't) are still REAL conditions. If you have psychosomatic pain, or a rash or diarrhea, it is still very real! Don't we have enough publicity and education out there these days about psychological disorders, mental illness, etc. that folks know by now that it's nothing to be ashamed of?
In fact, so what if fibromyalgia turns out to be a mental illness? Who cares if our nerve-endings are the problem or the brain that "tells" us we're in pain is the problem? What the hell's the difference?
Grrrrrrr....
*runs around house in a circle, arms flailing above head, smoke blasting from ears*

i agree-what a croc! it is so much more than "all in our heads". like karen said-it's everywhere! maybe this would be an opportunity for you to do some educating. i think a lot of people think these things not out of mean spiritedness, but out of ignorance.

i am sorry you were faced with that person's ignorance, though.

{{hugs}}
~danielle

I had a cardiologist tell me a couple months ago that my main problem is my sleep.  If I could not drink coffee or colas then I could sleep & all my other symptoms would go away.   I was so surprised I think my jaw hit the floor.  He told me to call him after a few days without the caffeine, he was so sure I would be totally healed.  Between the coffee & the fact it is all in my head, I am doomed!!   LOL  Hugs, Denise 

isn't it funny the things people assume is wrong with us? my father is convinced that my sole problem is that i don't get enough exercise. he's not talking about the walking and yoga i do (that's not enough! he says)..he thinks i should be doing like massive cardio workouts everyday and that if i could just get a good schedule like that down, i'd feel perfect! of course, exercise is his answer for everything-got a headache? exercise! all stuffy from a bad cold? exercise! feeling tired because you haven't had a proper night's sleep in eons? exercise! hang nail got you down? exercise!!!! you can do it!

he's like my own personal richard simmons without the headband.