Living with Fibromyalgia plus Alexithymia

“You cry, I’m suffering severe pain! Are you then relieved from feeling it, if you bear it in an unmanly way?”  —SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 78.17 Fear can be a nasty thing. It can keep us up at night, make us doubt ourselves, and even cause us to miss out on amazing opportunities. But what if we told you there's a way to turn that fear into something positive? It's all about changing your mindset and focusing on what you do want instead of what you don't want. So, here's the thing about chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia. It's really easy to get caught up in the pain and the fatigue. It's like your brain gets focused on the negative, which makes it harder to find any positivity. But guess what? Even when you're body's not cooperating, your mind is still a powerful tool. You can use it to find small wins throughout the day, focus on the things you can do, and train your brain to see the good even when it feels impossible. Living with alexithymia adds another...

My brother's recent struggles have been a stark reminder of the importance of Stoic philosophy in navigating life's challenges. The Stoic philosopher Epictetus emphasized three key areas for personal growth.  First, he stressed the importance of mastering our desires and aversions. My brother's addiction to drugs and gambling has led to a cascade of unfortunate events, highlighting the destructive power of unchecked desires.  Second, Epictetus emphasized the importance of acting with purpose, rather than impulsively. My brother's actions, driven by addiction, have consistently led to negative consequences, from job instability to the potential loss of a cherished possession.  Third, Epictetus stressed the importance of cultivating sound judgment. Developing the ability to perceive reality accurately is essential. My brother's clouded judgment, likely influenced by his addiction, may be hindering his ability to assess his situation honestly and make sound decisions. ...

“Erase the false impressions from your mind by constantly saying to yourself, I have it in my soul to keep out any evil, desire or any kind of disturbance—instead, seeing the true nature of things, I will give them only their due. Always remember this power that nature gave you.”  —MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 8.29 Living with fibromyalgia and alexithymia presents unique challenges. Fibromyalgia, with its constant, invisible pain, can easily trigger frustration and anger. Alexithymia, on the other hand, makes it difficult to identify and understand the emotions underlying these reactions. The Stoic principle of controlling one's reactions, however, offers a powerful framework for navigating these challenges. While I can't control the chronic pain that often feels like a constant, unwelcome companion, I can control how I react to it. Initially, the pain would often leave me feeling overwhelmed and resentful. I'd find myself dwelling on the unfairness of it all, allowing the...

"What’s left to be prized? This, I think—to limit our action or inaction to only what’s in keeping with the needs of our own preparation . . . it’s what the exertions of education and teaching are all about—here is the thing to be prized! If you hold this firmly, you’ll stop trying to get yourself all the other things. . . . If you don’t, you won’t be free, self-sufficient, or liberated from passion, but necessarily full of envy, jealousy, and suspicion for any who have the power to take them, and you’ll plot against those who do have what you prize. . . . But by having some self-respect for your own mind and prizing it, you will please yourself and be in better harmony with your fellow human beings, and more in tune with the gods—praising everything they have set in order and allotted you." —MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 6.16.2b–4a Today, like any other day, I find myself grappling with the stress of making ends meet and providing for my family. Living with fibromyalgia and ...

“From Rusticus . . . I learned to read carefully and not be satisfied with a rough understanding of the whole, and not to agree too quickly with those who have a lot to say about something.”  —MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 1.7.3 In today's fast-paced world, we're inundated with information. News feeds scroll endlessly, opinions fly fast, and it's easy to get swept away by the torrent of words. We often accept information at face value, forming opinions based on headlines and snippets, rather than engaging in a deeper, more critical analysis. This intellectual laziness, as Marcus Aurelius reminds us, hinders our ability to achieve true understanding. This Stoic principle encourages us to question our assumptions, to delve deeper than surface-level information, and to resist the urge to blindly accept the opinions of others. In a world overflowing with information, true understanding requires effort, discipline, and a genuine desire to learn. It demands that we slow down, que...

“Let’s pass over to the really rich—how often the occasions they look just like the poor! When they travel abroad they must restrict their baggage, and when haste is necessary, they dismiss their entourage. And those who are in the army, how few of their possessions they get to keep . . .” —SENECA, ON CONSOLATION TO HELVIA, 12. 1.b–2  As I sat contemplating today's Stoic lesson, a profound question arose: What wouldn't I trade for more time with my loved ones? Money? Material possessions? The answer was clear: nothing. More time translates to more memories, and those are infinitely more valuable than any material object. My home, unfortunately, tells a different story. It's filled with 'knickknacks' – a collection of odds and ends that accumulate over time. My wife gently reminds me of the need to declutter, but I often find myself clinging to these items. 'What's the point of losing this?' I ask myself. 'Does it truly bring me happiness, or just a ...