http://womenandfibromyalgia.com/2008/01/20/the-stigma-of-fibromyalgia-a-womens-condition/ Living with an Invisible Dis-ease Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:43:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 http://womenandfibromyalgia.com/2008/01/20/the-stigma-of-fibromyalgia-a-womens-condition/#comment-302 Barbara Keddy Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:27:49 +0000 http://womenandfibromyalgia.com/2008/01/20/the-stigma-of-fibromyalgia-a-womens-condition/#comment-302 Dear Marco: I am honored that you have chosen to write about your guilt with this condition. I suspect there are many very sensitive, thoughtful and empathetic men out there who are ashamed to admit that they live with this invisible condition. The way in which our society is set up is that men are supposed to be always in control, yet all of us with fibromyalgia experience the same thing: how do we continue day-to-day when we don't have the strengh to do it without help from others? Then the guilt sets in. After all, we look perfectly healthy! 'Controlling' an easily aroused nervous system, our hyper vigilance and intense feelings of family responsibility is not easy. Only by speaking about it openly do we find some degree of relief. You are very brave as few men will do so, as noted from this web site of mine. A few have sent me e mails but chosen not to leave a comment. The fact that you even remember when you were 13 and had the first experiences is intriguing. Men and children with fibromyalgia present us with many questions to explore which have been badly neglected. Hopefully more men will begin to speak out. Like everyone I want more answers to this great puzzle and you are one of thousands who can help fill in some of the pieces. Thank you. Best wishes, Barbara Dear Marco:
I am honored that you have chosen to write about your guilt with this condition. I suspect there are many very sensitive, thoughtful and empathetic men out there who are ashamed to admit that they live with this invisible condition. The way in which our society is set up is that men are supposed to be always in control, yet all of us with fibromyalgia experience the same thing: how do we continue day-to-day when we don’t have the strengh to do it without help from others? Then the guilt sets in. After all, we look perfectly healthy!
‘Controlling’ an easily aroused nervous system, our hyper vigilance and intense feelings of family responsibility is not easy. Only by speaking about it openly do we find some degree of relief. You are very brave as few men will do so, as noted from this web site of mine. A few have sent me e mails but chosen not to leave a comment.
The fact that you even remember when you were 13 and had the first experiences is intriguing. Men and children with fibromyalgia present us with many questions to explore which have been badly neglected. Hopefully more men will begin to speak out.
Like everyone I want more answers to this great puzzle and you are one of thousands who can help fill in some of the pieces. Thank you.
Best wishes,
Barbara

]]> http://womenandfibromyalgia.com/2008/01/20/the-stigma-of-fibromyalgia-a-womens-condition/#comment-301 Marco Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:25:01 +0000 http://womenandfibromyalgia.com/2008/01/20/the-stigma-of-fibromyalgia-a-womens-condition/#comment-301 I am a male and the bread winner for my family suffering with this condition. I am 30yrs old and I can trace my symptoms as far back since I was 13 years old. I also often times feel ashamed to share the fact that I suffer from this condition with others. I feel somewhat guilty when I have to tell my wife that I just cannot handle some chores around the house. I do feel 'weak' and incompetent at times which leads to depression. I do feel emasculated at times. Thank you for your thoughts on the subject. I am a male and the bread winner for my family suffering with this condition. I am 30yrs old and I can trace my symptoms as far back since I was 13 years old. I also often times feel ashamed to share the fact that I suffer from this condition with others. I feel somewhat guilty when I have to tell my wife that I just cannot handle some chores around the house. I do feel ‘weak’ and incompetent at times which leads to depression. I do feel emasculated at times. Thank you for your thoughts on the subject.

]]> http://womenandfibromyalgia.com/2008/01/20/the-stigma-of-fibromyalgia-a-womens-condition/#comment-21 Joan Evans Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:05:14 +0000 http://womenandfibromyalgia.com/2008/01/20/the-stigma-of-fibromyalgia-a-womens-condition/#comment-21 It's great to see the social and gender dimensions of fibromyalgia being highlighted. We don't live our lives in a social or political vacuum and this is particularly true for women who perform so much of the emotional work in our culture as they care for and about others. The implications for health are significant. It’s great to see the social and gender dimensions of fibromyalgia being highlighted. We don’t live our lives in a social or political vacuum and this is particularly true for women who perform so much of the emotional work in our culture as they care for and about others. The implications for health are significant.

]]>