Fibromyalgia is very difficult for couples because their life changes dramatically, according to a pilot study presented last November at a conference of the National Council of Family Relations U.S..
Christine Proulx of the University of Missouri studied the interactions of married couples in which one of them (mostly women) were diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain. The couple kept a daily journal of their interactions and their personal feelings.
There seems to be a close link between fibromyalgia and feelings of depression and fatigue that affect the person with the diagnosis and relationship. The mental workload experienced by both spouses may negatively affect the quality of their relationship.
People with the disease were almost three times more depressed than their spouses (e) s. They reported higher levels of marital instability and anger towards each other, thus being more likely to consider divorce their spouse (e) s. The healthy person on his side found it difficult to see the other feels pain.
“Both spouses are in a difficult position when the two had a diagnosis of fibromyalgia,” says the researcher. “Spouses should balance the presence of the disease, which can lead to hostility or withdrawal behavior, with the difficulty of being sick or to provide support to the spouse who is sick. These factors can create a ring that can be very negative if it can not be broken. ”
Tags: daily journal, Fibromyalgia,