Troy C. Wagstaff aka CallahanWriter Blog: Topics of interest include Western Historical (1865-1899) Topics. Additionally inspirational Christian and Fibromyalgia interests.

Five Ways To Have Fun With Fibromyalgia

I have recently written several articles on the downside of fibromyalgia. Makes sense right? Can any fun come from having a terrible, disabling illness like fibromyalgia? The answer is typically no, that is unless you make an attempt to have some fun within the disabling limitations of fibromyalgia, chronic pain or chronic fatigue.

If you can some how manage add some fun to your life you will likely feel less depressed, maybe even feel a degree of happiness and a little contentment. It is easy to watch life pass you by as you lay in bed, the couch or your favorite recliner.

Also if you try to have some fun within your limitations it can help keep your mind be active in a positive way, and hopefully pull some energy away from feeling sorry for yourself and use that energy in giving your life some meaning outside of the crippling pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia.

1. Read – Watching videos or TV is a passive activity for your mind. Watching TV and Videos isn’t the worse thing you can do and it has its place in this list which we will touch on later. Reading books is an engaging activity for your mind and stimulates your mind while you’re having fun being caught up in an engaging story. Reading is also like exercising your brain but it is an enjoyable event.

2. Listening To Your Favorite Music – While this may seem like a passive way to use your mind, music is different in that it stimulates memories and emotions. I can listen to certain songs that immediately bring up memories that are both good and bad. Don’t listen to the songs with bad memories attached.

3. Sing along With Your Favorite Music – As you are listening to your favorite music sing along to it. It doesn’t matter if you are bedfast or not, you can sing to your favorite music. Watch out though, in the middle of one of your favorite songs you might hear your self really getting caught up in the music and belting out the words like a rock star. That’s even better. If you need to, lock the door and let it roar.

4. Watch TV and Movies – Besides trying to learn ways to have fun within the constraints of your chronic illness, part of the point of this list is to get your mind off of your illness, even if it is only for ten or twenty minutes. Watch exciting TV or videos that catch your attention and get you hooked. This can give you motivation each day to watch the next part in a series of movies or a TV series. I know I said that TV and movie watching is a passive brain activity, but it can also be fun. But don’t just flip the TV on for background noise. Watch comedy’s that make you laugh out loud. Watch documentaries on your favorite subjects, watch the TV with a purpose.

5. Find A Doable Hobby – This idea can be a little more difficult because of the limitations that fibromyalgia, chronic pain and chronic fatigue place on your body. But it’s not impossible. Maybe bird watching might be fun. Rather than hiking in the woods to look for bird you take a passive approach and find a comfortable folding chair and site in your back yard or in a park and watch for bird. The first hobby I picked up was to study World War II. I’ve always been a history buff so I picked up a book that had a general overview of the war, read it, and was hooked on wanting to learn more and more. I would often take a history book with me to read in doctors offices. It was interesting and helped pass the time of day.

What things have you come up with that help occupy your time in a meaningful way? What hobbies can you participate in? Let us know in the comments below.

“I’ve got a large list of other things that you can do to have fun while suffering from fibromyalgia or chronic pain I’ll post later on. Make sure you are a follower so you won’t miss the next several installments.

Filed under: Fibromyalgia - Fbro Awareness | Tagged: 5 Ways To Have Fun With Fibromyalgia, chonic pain, chronic fatigue, fibro, five, hobbies, movies, music, reading, tv |