How Does Fibromyalgia Impact Your Moods?

Technically, fibromyalgia is classified as an inflammatory disorder, but mounting evidence points toward it being a disorder of your central nervous system. If you have fibromyalgia, you understand the pain, the brain fog, the mood swings, and more that are part of this chronic and debilitating illness.

Our team here at Summit Pain Alliance also understands the far-reaching impact that fibromyalgia can have on your overall wellness, and we’re here to help. As part of these efforts, we believe that education plays a valuable role, especially in conditions where people may withdraw and not seek the help they need.

In the following, we explore the link between fibromyalgia and your moods.

More than feeling pain

For people who struggle with chronic pain, this constant discomfort can lead to mental health issues. Any time you’re in pain, your mood changes abruptly as the pain takes over your wellness. 

When you have a condition like fibromyalgia, the relentless pain can wear you down physically, mentally, and emotionally as your central nervous system works overtime.

Study after study illustrates the relationship between chronic pain and mental health disorders. And the overlap is considerable.

Fibromyalgia and mental health

A significant concern when it comes to fibromyalgia is the link to major depressive disorder.  People with fibromyalgia are three times more likely to have depression when they’re diagnosed than those who don’t have the condition.

Beyond depression, fibromyalgia is linked to several other mental health issues, including:

• Anxiety
• Borderline personality disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

As well, those who have fibromyalgia are more prone to having a negative self-image, low self-esteem, and problems with social and intimate relationships.

While all of these problems can affect how you feel, mood regulation seems to be a part of fibromyalgia. One study of 47 patients with fibromyalgia found that “patients had greater difficulties in the emotional regulation process. In addition, emotional rejection and interference are two variables that influence the pain severity and disability.”

In other words, emotional regulation and fibromyalgia are connected, each influencing the other.

The bottom line is that fibromyalgia can greatly affect your moods, which is why getting the right specialists in your corner is paramount. Our compassionate and experienced team understands the many aspects of fibromyalgia — physical and emotional — and we’re here to help improve your quality of life. 

To get started, contact one of our two locations in Santa Rosa or Petaluma, California.