This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my link, I receive a small amount of money. Your cost does not increase because of this.
Fibromyalgia Book Review
I just recently finished reading Take Back Your Life: Find Hope And Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms And Pain by Tami Stackelhouse. This is the first book about fibro that I’ve ever read. I was hoping that it would provide answers and a quick fix for my fibro symptoms. If that’s what you’re looking for you won’t find that in this book, but stay with me for a moment. To be fair to Tami there are no quick fixes for fibro. Doctors don’t know all the factors involved in causing fibro and why people experience it differently. So my expectations were unrealistic.
As I mulled over Tami’s book for this review, I went back and took another look. One of the most meaningful quotes for me was
“To live your best life with fibromyalgia, it’s necessary to pay attention to your body. Take care of yourself, honor your body, and know your limits. Treat yourself the way you would treat your most cherished friend or family member. Remember that your body isn’t the enemy-fibromyalgia is.” (Chapter 7)
Later in Chapter 7, she tells us what her doctor told her:
“My job is the really easy 10% of telling you what to do. Your job is the really hard 90% of actually doing it.”
“…90% of the medical care you receive comes from YOU.”
These ideas are really challenging, but they also offer hope. I think we all can do better at taking care of ourselves. I know that I certainly need to do a better job of taking care of me. She reminds us that it’s fine to put our needs first, instead of always putting other people’s needs first. This is a new idea for many of us or one we’ve heard many times before, but never believed.
Sleep, Pain, and Energy
Tami’s chapter on sleep encouraged me to really work on getting to bed by 10pm every night. On the nights when I get 9 hours of sleep, I feel much better when I wake up. Without enough sleep I feel so groggy, and struggle all day to stay awake. Her writing about taking care of ourselves, helped me to stop teaching Sunday School when it was just too much for me to handle anymore. When the guilt monster comes my way, I remind myself that I can’t do anything for others if I don’t take care of me first.
Tami covers how to improve energy levels, lessen pain, and work with healthcare professionals to help ourselves heal. She includes worksheets to really help us implement her ideas. She even includes this fun coloring page on her bonus website.
C. Anne Manera Designed exclusively for readers of The Fibromyalgia Coach
Healing Is A Full-time Job
The hardest part of all of this, is realizing that we need to do the work in order to get better. I would definitely encourage you to read this book for yourself and to start to work on changing your attitudes toward your body, your health, and your self-worth. Without attitude changes, healing is probably not going to happen.
You can check out this book above. I purchased and read this e-book for myself. I have also purchased and plan to read Tami’s The Fibromyalgia Coach next.
Have you read this book? What do you think? Has implementing Tami’s ideas helped you? I would love to hear what you have to say in the comments below.
If you’d like notice of new posts plus access to subscriber-only freebies, please enter your email address below. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Pace Your Activities With Chronic Illness/Pain: 6 Essential Tips
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Hello, my name is Kathy and I’m a disabled nurse with multiple chronic illnesses. I write tips and encouraging pieces to help you and me make the most of life with chronic illness. More
May 2021's Link Party with Sheryl at "A Chronic Voice." Prompts are Pushing, Stretching, Disciplining, Preserving, and Thanking. The post May 2021’s Link Party appeared first on UpBeat Living.
Dismissive or controlling statements/questions shut down communication. Learn how to identify them, & respond in better ways. The post Communication Pitfalls: Words That Shut It Down appeared first on UpBeat Living.
We all need affirmation, acceptance, and love. When we aren't receiving these words of life from others we need to be very mindful to use them in our self-talk. The post Speak Words Of Life To Yourself, Especially If No One Else Is appeared first on UpBeat Living.
How we talk to ourselves determines how well we cope with daily life, & impacts our mental/ physical health. Learn how to talk realistically to yourself instead. The post Your Self-Talk Impacts How You Handle Stress appeared first on UpBeat Living.
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Review of “Take Back Your Life: Find Hope & Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms & Pain” by Tami Stackelhouse
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my link, I receive a small amount of money. Your cost does not increase because of this.
Fibromyalgia Book Review
I just recently finished reading Take Back Your Life: Find Hope And Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms And Pain by Tami Stackelhouse. This is the first book about fibro that I’ve ever read. I was hoping that it would provide answers and a quick fix for my fibro symptoms. If that’s what you’re looking for you won’t find that in this book, but stay with me for a moment. To be fair to Tami there are no quick fixes for fibro. Doctors don’t know all the factors involved in causing fibro and why people experience it differently. So my expectations were unrealistic.
As I mulled over Tami’s book for this review, I went back and took another look. One of the most meaningful quotes for me was
“To live your best life with fibromyalgia, it’s necessary to pay attention to your body. Take care of yourself, honor your body, and know your limits. Treat yourself the way you would treat your most cherished friend or family member. Remember that your body isn’t the enemy-fibromyalgia is.” (Chapter 7)
Later in Chapter 7, she tells us what her doctor told her:
“My job is the really easy 10% of telling you what to do. Your job is the really hard 90% of actually doing it.”
“…90% of the medical care you receive comes from YOU.”
These ideas are really challenging, but they also offer hope. I think we all can do better at taking care of ourselves. I know that I certainly need to do a better job of taking care of me. She reminds us that it’s fine to put our needs first, instead of always putting other people’s needs first. This is a new idea for many of us or one we’ve heard many times before, but never believed.
Sleep, Pain, and Energy
Tami’s chapter on sleep encouraged me to really work on getting to bed by 10pm every night. On the nights when I get 9 hours of sleep, I feel much better when I wake up. Without enough sleep I feel so groggy, and struggle all day to stay awake. Her writing about taking care of ourselves, helped me to stop teaching Sunday School when it was just too much for me to handle anymore. When the guilt monster comes my way, I remind myself that I can’t do anything for others if I don’t take care of me first.
Tami covers how to improve energy levels, lessen pain, and work with healthcare professionals to help ourselves heal. She includes worksheets to really help us implement her ideas. She even includes this fun coloring page on her bonus website.
Healing Is A Full-time Job
The hardest part of all of this, is realizing that we need to do the work in order to get better. I would definitely encourage you to read this book for yourself and to start to work on changing your attitudes toward your body, your health, and your self-worth. Without attitude changes, healing is probably not going to happen.
You can check out this book above. I purchased and read this e-book for myself. I have also purchased and plan to read Tami’s The Fibromyalgia Coach next.
Have you read this book? What do you think? Has implementing Tami’s ideas helped you? I would love to hear what you have to say in the comments below.
If you’d like notice of new posts plus access to subscriber-only freebies, please enter your email address below. You may unsubscribe at any time.
You may read my Privacy Policy here.
Till next time, Kathy
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