The 12 R’s of Christmas 2021

Christmas can be a tough time of year for a lot of people, but particularly for those living with fibromyalgia. FAC presents The 12 R's of Christmas, to help you enjoy the season and prevent a flare. When you have #fibromyalgia, you need to plan ahead in order to make it through the holidays in one […]

Christmas can be a tough time of year for a lot of people, but particularly for those living with fibromyalgia.

FAC presents The 12 R's of Christmas, to help you enjoy the season and prevent a flare.

When you have #fibromyalgia, you need to plan ahead in order to make it through the holidays in one piece & minimize the risk of a flares.
For people with fibromyalgia, who are already struggling to cope with daily life in general, the added demands and stresses of the holidays can trigger a flare of fibromyalgia symptoms. While you may not be able to totally avoid all stress, you can try to reduce your stress level.
The countdown to Christmas is on and so is the pressure. What is, for lots, a wonderful time of the year, can prove to be extremely stressful for those of us with Fibromyalgia. Without some support and planning, we can easily become overwhelmed and our symptoms will invariably flare.
Don’t let expectations & pressures ruin your festive season. Kick the Grinch to the curb & take care of yourself without the overwhelm & stress that Christmas can cause.
Having fibromyalgia can really sap your energy. Dealing with Christmas on top of that is a double whammy. Pacing is essential & how you do that is different for everyone. Doing too much on a good day can really set you back for the next day and maybe even the day after that. Set priorities and spread them over more than one day.
We all have this wonderful idea of what the perfect holiday should be like: there should be family, friends, food and parties along with holiday joy. And yet, the fact is that even on the best of days, fibromyalgia limits what we can accomplish. This discord between reality and our ideal image of what should be causes guilt. Instead, we should focus on what we really want to achieve and then plan how to achieve it realistically.
Studies find, negative thinking increases stress and affects your perception of pain, so learning to minimize and control these thoughts can improve your symptoms.

The key is not so much to "think positively," but to "think non-negatively." Focus on the things that you can do and do well. Be proud of your accomplishments and equally, pat yourself on the back for trying things, even if you don’t achieve what you set out to do.
We resist change because we believe we will lose something of value. It’s important to develop a healthy acceptance of the lifestyle changes that our condition require.
Sometimes all it takes is a 20-minute power nap to be able to feel better Be gentle & kind to yourself there’s no need to apologize for prioritizing your well-being
Being kind to others is part of what makes this season so special. Showing yourself kindness isn’t something that comes naturally for a lot of people, especially those of us who live with fibromyalgia. This year, let’s change that. Let’s be as kind to ourselves as we are to those around us, AND let's learn how to ask for help. 💜
Whether it is a hot water bottle or that favourite cushion, we all have those little things that can help make life more comfortable. Make sure you have got yours handy during the festive season.
Christmas Wishes from Fibromyalgia Association Canada for this Holiday Season. May you have a joyful day with minimal fibromyalgia issues.
en_CAEN
fr_CAFR en_CAEN