Guilt

Yep, I hurt. More today than usual, probably due to overdoing last weekend. Normally I can't complain compared to others, but fngers, hips, neck and shoulders are screaming at me today...

So WHY do I feel guilty? WHY can't I just stop and take a day of rest without feeling bad?  WHY do I see this as a weakness within myself? 

Thanks for letting me vent.  

You remember the "old" you.  You are a new person.  We all change during life...even those without chronic illnesses.  So, I think perhaps you haven't totally accepted this illness.  You know you have it but you feel you can continue doing what you always have done.  Your body is just reminding you that that isn't true!

 

You are not weak or lazy.  You suffer from chronic pain.  Now, you have to remember, fibromyalgia is not for sissies!  It's hard work to live and function with pain but we are all doing it and doing it quite well, I might add!  Don't tell yourself that you are weak.  Tell yourself that you REALLY are very strong to deal with this and that you do deserve a break.  Pace yourself and rest when needed.  You are getting everything done, but not in the same time frame.  And, I would be willing to bet that you keep your home and your family running better than a lot of healthy people.  Why?  Because nearly all of us are Type A personalities.  Perfectionists.  So, when you look around your house, think like I do.  "No one has called the Health Department on me yet!" 

 

Sherrine

I do understand where you are coming from and like the others said allow yourself a day of rest. I have learned that there are some days where I just dont have the energy to do much and I refuse to feel guilty about it. I do as much as I can on the good days but still take frequent breaks. Just allow yourself this time to relax and you are not lazy by any means. Take care and gentle hugs.
Shirley

I know exactly what you are feeling as I am going through some similar things right now. After 35 years of working and just pushing through the pain being the dutiful, driven employee I have been I am facing telling my employer on Monday that I will not be coming back to work, filing for Long Term Disability benefits from my company and my doc says I need to file for SSDI benefits too. I'm 50 years old and have this overwhelming since of "taking advantage' of a system althouh when I reason it out there is nothing fradulant or wrong about it. I tend to worry about what others think too much. I have to learn to accept that I just can't keep pushing. If I can't get out of bed on Monday morning to go to work and I make myself, I am even more misrable. I have to accept the limitations and know that I have worked hard for the benefits I am trying to obtain. My husband is great support and the people that really care about me are great support. I am going to have to let those that are negative go distant in order to keep my stress levels down. I find that talking helps me through it. I will tell you not ot feel guilty and as I'm doing that I am talking to myself too.

Good Luck and God Bless all of us. Someone said "We are strong" We have always been strong, this is a different king of strength we need to find within ourselves. It's there somewhere.