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Meditation, specifically mindfulness meditation, has been found in studies to be helpful for depression in people suffering from fibromyalgia.  People with fibromyalgia often experience depression, in part because the road to finding effective treatment can often be challenging. This can lead to feelings of hopelessness, increasing the severity of depression.

A mindfulness meditation program called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is being utilized in medical centers all over the country for people struggling with chronic conditions, including chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.  A number of studies conducted on the effectiveness of MBSR training specifically show reduction of depressive symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia (Sephton et al).

This mindfulness training involves different forms of meditation, including a body scan which helps patients to become more aware, moment to moment, of body sensations, including pain, and the thought processes that arise in response to those sensations.  MBSR promotes self observation, acceptance, and thoughtful responses to pain (Sephton, et al).

It is important to remember that acceptance of sensations of pain in a given moment does not mean that you have to like it. Rather, it means that you accept that this is how it is right now.  Given that, how do you want to conduct yourself, care for yourself, live, and love?  And remembering that the pain needs to be tolerated only in this present moment can be less discouraging than falling prey to thought processes which predict the future, such as “I will never feel better.”  Obviously, this is not something any of us can predict, so this kind of thinking is draining rather than helpful.

MSBR formal training is a significant commitment, involving 8 weeks of classes and daily practice of meditation at home.  But one study shows that those who were still meditating at the end of the study had the greatest reduction in depression (Sephton, et al).

While a class and group support to learn and practice this can be extremely beneficial, it is also possible to begin your practice at home. ” by Bob Stahl and Elisha Goldstein is a good way to start.  The workbook includes a CD of guided meditations, including the body scan meditation which is foundational to the MBSR training.

Please talk to your behavioral health provider here at SJNMR if you would like support in developing your own mindfulness practice to help with fibromyalgia or whatever your pain condition is.     -Maggie Harris, LCSW

References

“Mindfulness meditation alleviates depressive symptoms in women with fibromyalgia.” Sephton, Sandra E., Salmon, Paul, Weissbecker, Inka, Ulmer, Christi, Floyd, Andrea, Hoover, Katherine, and Studts, Jamie. Arthritis Care & Research, Volume 57, Issue 1, pages 77-85, February 15, 2007.

A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook.  Stahl, Bob, and Goldstein, Elisha. New Harbinger Publications, Inc., 2010.

About Center for Spine, Joint and Neuromuscular Rehabilitation:

Center for Spine, Joint and Neuromuscular Rehabilitation is a comprehensive approach to the treatment of pain.  We offer nonsurgical treatment for the neck, back, shoulders, hands, hips, knees, and feet by Board Certified anesthesiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation and pain medicine physicians. Services include evaluation and treatment of painful conditions including medical management, diagnostic and therapeutic injections, nerve conduction studies, diagnostic imaging, physical and behavioral therapy.

Phone:  (615) 872-9966          Fax:  (615) 872-9967

Brentwood – Hermitage – Mount Juliet – Murfreesboro – Nashville