Hey, it couldn't hurt. And if it does, try another group. Laughter is the best and music is medicine as well!

@A MyFibroTeam Member I took stress management course years ago and it help me throughout the years. First they teach you how to say NO to people. They had me exercise it with another people...one person simulated that she needed me to babysit for her tomorrow and I had to decline..she had to be persistant..bottom line of this lesson was that you don't need to be rude and just say no...you don't need to find an excuse..you have to also be persistant and say something like...I would love to babysit but tomorrow is not good for me but maybe another time......Another one is to give yourself enough time to get ready so you are not late but if for some reason you are.....the lesson there is....it's not the end of the world...no one is going to die....you are going to be late and one apology is fine when you get there and you move on. Nothing is the end of the world unless you're going to die any minute.....If someone stresses you out...it's not the person that stresses you out...it is you that is allowing it....so if you think you get stressed out around that person then you have to stay away..if you love that person....you can make your visit less often.....I know if you're not feeling good....specially us fibro girls, it's an every day thing...it's very difficult to keep up with a long story after another...You have to then sit down, grab her hand and tell her how life is for you and that you enjoy the company but need to keep things on the lighter side and keep it short because (blame it on your attention span because of pain) she will understand. I have a friend that is a fibro girl, she has problems coming out of each direction. She has a difficult time to manage her life...because of her pain....I love her to death but it's one bad news I hear from her to one disasterous news either her news or someone else...It's very stressful...I told her about how it makes me feel and she understood and everytime she slips...I remind her that Bad News Mary is coming out again....lol...hope that helps

Mentioned Users

A MyFibro...

I took a stress management class in 2010 & 2011...a total of 3 times...in college. I got a D each time. I always thought I managed stress pretty well until then...lol...I have removed toxic people from my life and don't go out much, I tend to suffer from anxiety if I find myself around people I don't know or in crowds or in traffic. I avoid situations that make my stress levels worse. My doctor has said that my FM was way out of control and we are still not in control of it, it still has control of me. My rheumy tried a couple of meds and I didn't react well with those meds, so it is a struggle.

I usually just say home.

I was taught breathing exercises and have used tapes for relaxation. It has really helped me. I also try to make time for doing things I enjoy. I make things for my friends and grandson and children. But I don't put a particular time limit on what ever I'm doing. That would just stress me more. The feedback from everyone is a real ego boost.