Yes, from everyone I have met or spoken to that has FMS, there is some type of traumatic event whether mental, physical or both. To overshare for a moment, I was abused my entire life but I sorta prided myself in being one of the "select few" who could still achieve great things and get past it. Then my dad killed himself 10 years ago and again, just kept blowing right through like a steam train thinking, "man, I must be one tough cookie." Then everything out of no where just sorta came to a head in the last two years. I had two kids, was sick a lot and my anxiety was through the roof. All of a sudden, I was fearful of everything - flying, finances, my kids health, my future, my job and DEATH. Anything related to not feeling secure and safe just set me into a total tailspin. That compounded year over year and literally out of no where, I started feeling weird...neurologically weird mainly but even before that, I had like 4 months of non stop stiff neck, etc and I was having a lot of reactions to overstimulation around the holidays. I kept blaming it on my kids but I later realized it was really me having the issues. Long story short, it's been one traumatic issue after another. And once your brain is "wired and fired" as in, prepared for Armagedon at any time, you are ultra sensitive to everything (known as centralized sensitization). Even when I hear a horn honk or something fall from our walls (like a picture), I completely jump out of my skin and that is because even when I think I'm calm, my brain is prepared for disaster. So yes, trauma/emotional events really kick things off. It's sad because once the brain is wired that way and the neural connections have been made, it's really hard to disconnect them....

I've literally told my husband, if I don't get better in the next 6 months, Im taking another leave of absence, for a month, and renting a cabin in the Redwood forest or along the beach where I can meditate and be alone for a month. He thinks Im nuts for saying that but it's either the looney bin or that for me...Im pretty close to a nervous breakdown...or, at least it "feels" that way

@A MyFibroTeam Member I wouldn't call it "common knowledge" but in the medical field it is well known and accepted, there are plenty of studies on this if you want to know more about it. Your Dr should have at least mentioned it to you if not recommended or referred you to undergo a course of CBT.
I have had CBT for other conditions and I find it very useful. Especially the coping strategies and knowing what emotional triggers can cause flair ups for myself.

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A MyFibro...

Unfortunately, it is known that emotional stress can cause physical distress/pain. And if someone suffers with a pain condition to start with you body can be more susceptible to the physical consequences of emotional distress. This is why CBT is quite often recommended to people with pain conditions, as it is about knowing the affects on your body from the emotional distress and how to deal with/handle both the emotional and physical side of the condition and the links between the 2. Hope this helped a little bit :)

Thanks for info!!

Oh I never actually tried this. I never heard of it to help fibro!! Is this common knowledge? Has it worked for you HiCharley?