12/05/2025
💜 Hello everyone, it's Jane Taylor here, and today, May 12th, is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. As the Holistic Fibro Fighter, I want to beat my shamanic drum for awareness of this often invisible chronic illness that affects so many, myself included.
Yes, I have a fibromyalgia diagnosis, but it definitely doesn't define me. Living with fibro brings a complex constellation of symptoms, including widespread pain that often shows no outward signs, relentless and crippling tiredness that can hit out of nowhere, and that oh-so-fun brain fog.
This brain fog can be so disorienting that sometimes it feels like my internal sat nav has completely conked out, leading to moments like being utterly lost trying to find the teabags in my own kitchen, or even finding myself the wrong side of my own front door, keys inside with the patiently waiting dog who you were actually supposed to be walking. And don't even get me started on trying to remember names or what I was just saying...
Beyond these, there are so many other challenges - digestive issues, sensitivities to light and sound, restless legs, headaches, and so much more. The constant battle with these varied and unpredictable symptoms can also take a significant toll on our mental well-being, often leading to feelings of depression and isolation.
It's a daily juggling act where you can look perfectly 'fine' one minute and be completely unable to do anything the next, often stopping us from enjoying the hobbies and activities we once loved. Sometimes, even simple things we take for granted, like being able to comfortably hold cutlery or even my beloved drum beaters, become a real challenge.
What's particularly challenging for me, as an energy healer and therapist, is knowing exactly how I could potentially help myself through various techniques, yet often lacking the motivation and sheer energy to implement them. It takes serious strength and resilience to navigate all of this. My shamanic drum has been a powerful tool on this journey, helping me to connect, find inner strength, and navigate the challenges.
For me, having a supportive network is absolutely crucial. When people around me understand these daily realities – the invisible pain, the crippling exhaustion, the foggy brain moments (like the front door and teabag scenarios!), the struggle with seemingly simple tasks, the myriad of other physical sensitivities, the frustration of knowing how to help but lacking the energy, and the emotional toll, including the potential for depression – it makes such a difference. Raising awareness isn't just about sharing a few key symptoms; it's about building a community where we feel understood and supported in the entirety of this condition.
If you're living with fibro, please know you are not alone. Your pain, tiredness, and the impact of all your symptoms on your ability to manage everyday tasks are real, even when they're not visible, and your struggles, including those frustrating brain fog moments, the difficulty with simple actions, the additional physical sensitivities, the added frustration of lacking the energy to help yourself even when you know how, and the feelings of depression, are valid. Perhaps you too have found unique ways to cope and find strength. Reach out to support networks, connect with others who truly understand, and be kind to yourself.
For those who don't have fibromyalgia, I encourage you to learn more about it and how it impacts lives, including the reality of invisible pain and overwhelming fatigue, the frustration of no longer being able to do what you once could, the challenges with seemingly simple tasks like holding cutlery, the difficulties with brain fog (sometimes leading to comical yet frustrating situations!), the potential for depression, the wide range of other physical symptoms, the added layer of frustration for those who are also healers, and the diverse ways individuals find to cope and heal. Understanding and empathy can make a world of difference. Let's work together to raise awareness and support those living with fibro in every way.
💜
