Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic, long-term condition in which general areas of sensitivity occur in the body, pain and general fatigue are felt in the muscles and bones, causing problems in sleep patterns and cognitive disorders.
Fibromyalgia symptoms mostly appear in the neck and back, then in the arms, legs, hips, lower back, joints and muscles. Weakness, fatigue, painful tender points, sleep problems, difficulty in breathing, ringing in the ears, stiffness in the morning, numbness in the hands and arms are seen in people with this disease. Its incidence is higher in women than in men (Karaş, Yıldırım, Küçükgöncü, & Yakut, 2017). If left untreated, it can lead to job loss and reduced quality of life.
FMS (Fibromyalgia Syndrome) does not arise from a single cause or factor. Psychosocial variables, physical and psychological trauma, neuroendocrine, central nervous system, stress factors, genetics and infection may play a role in the formation of FMS (Ataoğlu et al., 2018). It is thought that there is a change in the perception of pain and an increase in pain sensitivity, rather than being a cause of pain. Sayar and Yazıcı-Güleç, 2007). Although the exact cause is not known, it is thought that childhood traumas may also play a role in the development of the disease.
Childhood Traumas and Fibromyalgia
Childhood traumas, especially recurrent or long-term traumas Long-term traumas can negatively affect children's emotional and physical health. These traumas can lead to various psychological problems such as extreme stress, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, especially during adolescence and adulthood. Examples of possible childhood traumas can be physical traumas such as acute illnesses, traffic accidents, and surgery, as well as psychological traumas such as physical, emotional or sexual abuse (Kanik-Tezcan & Yalçınkaya-Alkar, 2022).
Approximately. In a survey of 2600 people, 73% of FMS patients had a traumatic trigger at the onset of their symptoms. reported that the event was effective (Bennett et al., 2007; cited in Kanık-Tezcan and Yalçınkaya-Alkar, 2022). Individuals who are separated from their parents in early childhood or adolescence or who experience traumatic experiences such as sexual or physical abuse in later life are more likely to have mental disorders and diseases characterized by pain regulation disorders such as FMS. In addition to physical and sexual abuse experienced by FMS patients, bad emotional relationships with parents during childhood, lack of physical closeness, divorce, witnessing physical violence, alcohol or other addiction problems in parents, and the presence of poor economic status have been reported more frequently in individuals with the disease (Imbierowicz and Egle). , 2003; cited in Gündüz, 2014).
It was found in a study that women who reported a history of childhood sexual abuse were 3 times more likely to develop FMS symptoms than women who did not report a history of sexual abuse (Ciccone et al. , 2005; cited in Karataş 2002). On the other hand, emotional abuse (being scolded, threatened, belittled, etc.) in childhood has a place as important as sexual and physical abuse. Emotional abuse scores of childhood traumas were found to be significantly higher in FMS patients (Bayram and Erol 2014; cited in Ataoğlu et al., 2018).
Many studies have been conducted on the relationship between FMS and childhood traumas. With these studies, we can say that various traumatic events that we experience can lead to the formation of fibromyalgia, which has no fundamental cause and causes pain by gaining physiological accumulation in our childhood development. We can think that the effect of childhood on fibromyalgia is so much because traumas leave more permanent and deep scars.
Fibromyalgia Treatment
Fibromyalgia treatment, alleviation of symptoms and is managed using a variety of methods to improve quality of life. FMS patients will need to make some changes to their daily routine. A regular, stress-free lifestyle, balanced diet and regular sleep are the most important keys to treatment. Unless the body rests, people do not do the smallest things in daily life. They even overreact to things. It may include exercise, meditation, massage therapy, medications, and therapy. Therapy can help manage emotional stress, especially resulting from childhood traumas, and help patients respond better to treatment. . Kaya, 2020). It is known that CBT is effective in regaining pain, emotional distress and daily life control on these patients. The purpose of applying the treatment is to improve the ability to cope with the patient's reactions to their experiences, to make solution-oriented thinking more useful, and to teach how to fight pain in daily activities (Özkan, 2017; cited in Kaya, 2020).
The method is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). Although originally developed for people who have experienced psychological trauma, EMDR is also used to manage chronic pain because of its neurobiological similarities to fibromyalgia syndrome. According to an EMDR study, it was observed that FMS patients had a decrease in their complaints and a certain improvement, a decrease in the amount of medication, an increase in the quality of life, and a significant decrease in depression and anxiety scores (Mazzola et al., 2009; cited in Kaya, 2020).
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