Hi, Spike, and welcome!
I think you said it well. Fibro is a daily battle, and we certainly do have to have hope, be our own advocate, and support one another. That's why I like this forum so much. I remember visiting another forum some years ago, and it was all about
negativity, bad language, and putting other forum members down. I am so thankful this forum is different! I think you'll really like it here.
So true, too, that friends and family don't know what we go through. I've found some sort of 'get it,' others try but miss the mark, and there are some who shrug and walk away. We definitely are not alone, and this is a good site to visit to see that.
As far as contacting family and friends, I'm older and have found that my friends are relatives are very busy with their own families, jobs, etc.. Maybe people in general just don't socialize the way they used to(?)
I like short visits best and find that if I keep it to a couple of hours or so, things just go better in general. You could even phone and meet a friend at a local restaurant for a really quick get-together if you find yourself feeling a little better. I know it's hard to plan ahead. Those spur-of-the-moment gatherings can sometimes work out well.
You sound like you are finding ways to cope---that's great! Did you check out 'Fibro 101' which is the very first thread on this forum? Lots of great and helpful info.
Again, welcome! Hope we hear from you again soon.
