When every muscle in your body seem to be shouting out in pain, with some tender areas that are unusually painful when touched, and you somehow feel tired as if devoid of all energy, and don’t get enough sleep, you may be experiencing symptoms of Fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is a medical condition characterized by widespread chronic pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points. Tender points are parts on your body where even a slight pressure may cause pain. They may be found on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs which may hurt when pressure is put on them. More women than men are afflicted with fibromyalgia, and it shows up in people of all ages. It used to be known by other names such as fibrositis, chronic muscle pain syndrome, psychogenic rheumatism and tension myalgias.
Signs and symptoms may vary depending on the the severity of the condition. In some cases, symptoms will probably never disappear completely. At any rate, it may be reassuring to know that fibromyalgia is not progressive or life-threatening. There are available treatments and self-care procedures which can improve this condition and one’s general health.
Signs and Symptoms
Many factors can affect symptoms of fibromyalgia such as the weather, stress, physical activity or even the time of day. Common signs and symptoms include
Widespread pain – When pressure is applied in specific areas of your body, including the back of your head, upper back and neck, upper chest, elbows, hips and knees, pain accompanied by stiffness is often felt and may persists for several months.
Fatigue and sleep disturbances – People who suffer from this condition often wake up tired and unrefreshed in spite of getting enough sleep. According to some studies, this sleep problem is the result of a sleep disorder in which deep sleep is frequently interrupted by bursts of brain activity similar to wakefulness, thus, missing the deep restorative stage of sleep. Nighttime muscle spasms in your legs and restless legs syndrome also may be associated with fibromyalgia.
Irritable bowel syndrome IBS – Constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating associated with IBS are common in people with fibromyalgia.
Headaches and facial pain Symptoms of headaches and facial pain may be related to the tenderness or stiffness in the neck and shoulders.
Heightened sensitivity People with fibromyalgia are usually sensitive to odors, noises, bright lights and touch.
Other common signs and symptoms include
Depression
Numbness or tingling sensations in the hands and feet paresthesia
Difficulty concentrating
Mood changes
Chest pain
Dry eyes, skin and mouth
Painful menstrual periods
Dizziness
Anxiety
Possible Causes
There is no known cause of fibromyalgia. Recent findings focus around a theory called “central sensitization” which states that people with fibromyalgia have a lower threshold for pain due to increased sensitivity of the brain to pain signals. This is why people with fibromyalgia seem to overreact when a slight pressure is applied on a certain part of the body which would not hurt if done to a person in normal condition. However, what initiates this process of central sensitization still baffle most research experts. Other theories cited as to the cause of fibromyalgia include
Sleep disturbances Some researchers suggest that disturbed sleep patterns may be a cause rather than just a symptom of fibromyalgia.
Injury Accidents that cause injuries or trauma, particularly in the upper spinal region, which affect the central nervous system may trigger the development of fibromyalgia.
Infection – Some researchers believe that a viral or bacterial infection may trigger fibromyalgia.
Abnormalities of the autonomic sympathetic nervous system When the sympathetic nervous system fails to function normally during nighttime, it leads to fatigue, stiffness, dizziness and other signs and symptoms associated with the condition. The sympathetic nervous system is part of the autonomic nervous system which controls involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, blood vessel contraction, sweating, salivary flow and intestinal movements.
Changes in muscle metabolism A decreased blood flow to muscles may contribute to decreased strength and fatigue. Such differences in metabolism and abnormalities in the hormonal substance which influences the activity of nerves may play a role.
Psychological stress and hormonal changes also may be possible causes of fibromyalgia.
Seek Medical Advice
Whenever you experience general aching or widespread pain that lasts several months and is accompanied by fatigue, it is time to see your doctor. Many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia mimic those of other diseases, such as low thyroid hormone production hypothyroidism, polymyalgia rheumatica, neuropathies, lupus, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Only your doctor can tell if one of these other conditions may be causing such symptoms.
Fibromyalgia isn’t progressive and does not lead to other serious conditions or diseases. Nevertheless, it can cause pain, depression and lack of sleep. These problems can then interfere with your ability to function at home or on the job, or maintain close family or personal relationships, thus, require medical attention.

Many women have resigned themselves to the monthly emotional and physical roller coaster that their menstrual period brings. Psychological symptoms include weepiness, moodswings, irritability, anger, and depression. Physical symptoms can include bloating, cramping, backaches, breast tenderness, food cravings, headaches, acne, and digestive problems.

Oriental medicine has developed treatment for the many complaints of pre-menstrual syndrome over the past two thousand years. Treatment and prevention involve the use of acupuncture and herbs along with nutritional and lifestyle counseling.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are based on the theory that life energy, called “Qi” pronounced “chee”, flows through channels or meridians in the body. When a person is under mental, emotional, or physical stress, the energy, which normally flows freely through the body, begins to stagnate.

This may not sound rational to the modern mind, so it might be helpful to illustrate an obvious example of “Qi Stagnation”. When a person is under stress, their neck and back muscles tense up. This can interfere with nerve stimulation to the arms or legs. The Chinese would consider the person’s neck or back to be “stagnant” while the person’s limbs would be “deficient” lacking in nervous stimulation.

The buildup of the uterine endometrial lining and the hormonal changes a woman experiences before and during her period are seen as a natural process that is conducive to stagnation, particularly at times of stress in a woman’s life.

Acupuncture and herbal medicine is used to harmonize and free up patterns of stagnation in the body in order to alleviate the many symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome. This can result in relaxation, stress relief, and mitigation of many of the symptoms of PMS. Symptoms of PMS such as cramps, breast tenderness, backaches, depression, moodswings, constipation, bloating, can all be treated with herbs and acupuncture. Acupuncture has also recently been endorsed by the National Institute of Health for the relief of pre-menstrual pain.

Many of the herbs used for PMS alleviate depression and are phytoestrogenic. They may improve a woman’s natural hormonal functioning. Herbs such as vitex, bupleurum , white peony, and black cohosh are used in Chinese herbal formulas to balance hormones and treat Qi stagnation. Vitex is particularly useful for fibrocystic breasts and for menstrual pain due to endometriosis and fibroids.

As a result of acupuncture and herbs, many Asian women have a much easier “time of the month”, and now women in the West can also benefit from the wisdom of Oriental medicine.

According to recent surveys, around 35 of the female population is suffering from insomnia and disturbed sleep. Night sweating, headaches, fatigue, tiredness are slowly becoming a daily feature of a womans life. Are you one of them, who have started loosing their sound sleep and is lying awake even longer than before? If this type of sleeping disorder persists, then its time you should consult your doctor.

Your body needs around 6 to 7 hors of sleep daily. But some people can do without it too! Some woman sleep for just 4 to 5 hours and stay healthy, while some may take 10 hours daily to counter the same level of stress. Well, the actual amount of sleep is an individual matter. A sleep deficit of only a few hours can result in irritability, fatigue, trouble with concentration, and our ability to stay alert. Additionally, insomnia is usually a symptom of an underlying problem, such as a psychological or physiological reason, diet, or it may be due to a sedentary lifestyle.
Here are some key points that a woman must take to ensure proper sleep patterns

1. Avoid going to bed either too hungry or too full.
2. Stop smoking, caffeine, alcohol and other similar drugs.
3. Keep regular patterns of sleep and rest during day as well as night, so it does not disturbs your biological clock.
4. Make arrangements for a good comfortable pillow and mattresses. Keep the environment of your room neat & clean.
5. Make exercise a part of your daily routine. Being fit helps make you resistant to stresses that can work to keep you awake at night and research shows that when people are active, they tend to rest better.

Incomplete sleep patterns can be very frustrating for women at times leading to depression of moods and depreciation of health. What makes this all so bad is that many forms of depression are natural, normal and temporary.. Likewise they can be relieved through safe, gradual methods using your bodys natural mechanisms.
As with other symptoms of imbalance, depression is your bodys way of sending you a signal that something is awry. Some advice to take antidepressants in this case, but it is not that advisable. Because they dont address the underlying problem; they drown it. Therefore the best solution to all these insomnia problems is maintaining a good diet and a healthy routine.

It is often said that each person is unique and totally distinct from the eight billion other people on the planet. Different people have different interests, biases, wants, needs, and desires. Where these interests and desires take a person in life totally depends on each decision that is made every day.

For example, a typical teenager in college can choose between being a do-gooder whose life revolves around the home and the classroom; or going just a bit wild and experiment with all sorts of new things. Experiencing new things can be as simple as meeting girls, having intimate relationships, to drinking alcohol, or to something as risky as taking drugs.

Teens who experiment with drugs often do so because of peer pressure and the need to belong. Poor choice in friends can lead an otherwise normal teenager to go over board and become addicted to illegal drugs. Sometimes, the pressure and bad influence from peer groups can overcome a teenager’s sense of right and wrong, or the values and principles taught to them from the home and the church. Some who do not get hooked on drugs say that they tried doing drugs just to satisfy the curiosity about how it feels to get high.

The usual period for a person to experience and try new stuff would be during their teenage years, since their curiosity for the world is at its highest point around that age. Almost all of us have been exposed to drugs and alcohol at some point in our life. Alcohol is considered as a social drink for some, but this could lead to a more difficult alcohol addiction, or alcoholism. A more alarming fact would be to know that a certain number of teenage boys and girls get addicted to drugs, such as marijuana, crystal meth, or even LSD. This addiction could lead into a more dangerous position, causing them to go into drug rehabilitation.

Of course, a recovering addict would naturally be anxious or frightened by the prospect of being confined in a drug rehabilitation facility. Anxiety is present and felt at all times since they do not know what to see and think after they get out of rehab. Turning them into rehab may also cause depression, not just for the patient, but for the parents as well. Of course, the addict does not want to be into rehab because of the fact that they cannot use their drug inside the premises and that they will be separated from their drug- addicted friends. This isolation or separation would naturally cause depression. It would be a hard time for both the parents and the patient since this would be a time for detoxification, counseling, and basic addiction treatment.

Being inside a rehabilitation center would be like punishment for the addict. In this scenario, they are required to attend, listen, cooperate, and learn the benefits of having a healthy, drug-free life, instead of being addicted and enslaved by a chemical substance. In case they have to stay there for a set period of time, thoughts of depression and feelings of withdrawal from their drug may arise. These patients may be hard to talk to or communicate with due to their withdrawal symptoms. By having a relaxed and calm environment, this could help in releasing stress and anxiety from the patients, as well as giving them a fresh perspective on life.

Whether the addict is registered in the rehabilitation center as an out-patient, short term in-patient, or long term in-patient programs, they would have to deal with drug counseling activities, open forums, and educational facilities that might help in decreasing their need for drugs. Depression should decrease as time flies because through the rehabilitation sessions, the patient would learn how to be set free from the addiction and get back on the road to recovery.

It is said that the true measure of a man is not seen in times of victory, but in moments of great challenge. A hero, in the true sense of the word, is not about accomplishing incredible feats due to strength, power, and authority. Heroism is best exemplified by men and women who strive for accomplishment inspite of overwhelming odds and latent weaknesses. Abraham Lincoln was one such hero.

In his book entitled, The Inner World of Abraham Lincoln, the author Michael Burlingame attempted to explain the roots of the former U.S. president’s depression. Burlingame claims that the death of Lincoln’s mother was the cause and the beginning of Lincoln’s lifelong battle with melancholia. The book also reveals that as a young child, the future president had to endure the pain and grief of losing a newborn brother, a sister, an uncle, and an aunt. These deaths became embedded in the young Lincoln’s psyche, resulting in a series of deep sadness.

Overcoming depression, it can be argued, was Lincoln’s greatest feat as a human being. His long list of failures and defeats would surely overwhelm a lesser man.

In 1832, he lost his job abd was defeated in his first attempt to win a legislative seat. The following year, his business collapsed and he spent the next 17 years paying-off his debt.

In 1835, his fiance died, which then made him suffer from a nervous breakdown.

In 1838, he ran for Speaker of the Illinois State Legislature and lost.

In 1843, he again ran for Congress but failed to get nominated. Four years later, he again tried in vain to run for Congress.

In 1854, Lincoln tried his hand at running for the Senate and, again, he lost. Two years later, he ran for Vice President but failed to convince his partymates to nominate him.

And even when he was elected 1860 as the 16th U.S. President, he faced a country that was being torn by a civil war that claimed more than 600,000 lives.

With all the stress and anxiety that he has gone through, it is no wonder that Abraham Lincoln often looked forlorn, tired, and weak in many of his official photographs. One can only imagine the sheer burden of making decisions that would impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children during a time when America was divided unto itself.

How many sleepless nights did he have almost endlessly pacing his room in deep thought? What kind of torment did he experience just pondering about the thousands of lives that were lost because of the war? As commander-in-chief of the Federal Army, his decisions spelled the difference between life and death for each and every infantryman. Yet somehow, inspite of all the failures and heartaches in his life, Abraham Lincoln was able to pull through and lead a nation. Even in the middle of crippling psychological and emotional upheavals, he was able to win the war and keep the Union together.

During Lincoln’s time, the medical and scientific community still had no name for manic depressive disorder. The psychological disorder was simply called melancholia. In those days, there were no psychiatrists, antidepressant prescriptions, counseling, and group therapy available as we know them today.

Indeed, during the nation’s darkest hour, Abraham Lincoln was able to ride above the storms of his life and lead as President. While he was never able to achieve complete emancipation from his psychological problems like the freedom that was won for the Negro slaves, Lincoln heroically faced the obstacles and hardships to become America’s most revered president.

There was a recent incident in a school in Nova Scotia, Canada that called the publics attention. This incident involved two high school seniors who arranged for them and dozens of their classmates to wear pink shirts to show support for another student who got bullied for wearing pink. Their actions have certainly brought light to the problems of a lot of students worldwide bullying.

Bullying
Bullying is a form of harassment perpetrated by an abuser of more physical andor social power and dominance than the victim. Bullying is done with clear intentions of causing harm to the target through verbal harassment, physical assault, emotional blackmail, or other more subtle methods of coercion such as manipulation.

Bullying exists in any setting where social interaction is present. This includes schools, workplaces, inside the home, and around the neighbourhood. This may even between different social groups, social classes and even between countries. Like any kind of abusive behavior, bullying is a repetitive act done to gain power or control over another person.

Generally, bullying is classified into 2 types
Direct bullying. This includes physical aggression in the form of shoving and poking, throwing things, slapping, choking, punching and kicking, and beating.
Indirect bullying. This is also called social aggression. This forces victims to go into social isolation. This is usually done by spreading gossip about the victim, refusing to socialize with the victim, name calling, mocking the victim, forcing other people to not socialize with the victim as well, and manipulation.

Why do bullies act the way they do? Some studies have shown that some bullies do it to be thought of as popular or tough, or to get attention. Bullies may also do it out of jealousy or may simply be acting out because they themselves were bullied. Some bullies are noted to have come from abusive families and neighbourhoods.

After-effects of bullying
Constantly being submitted to bullying may cause a person to develop inferiority complex. Inferiority complex, as the terminology implies, is a feeling of being inferior to others in one way or another. Always being mocked or negatively criticized by bullies may force a person to start believing the lies and second-guess themselves. Victims may also be more prone to developing stress related mental conditions such as anxiety and depression from frequently being bullied.

How does one cope with bullying?
Victims should always keep in mind that theyre not the problem, the bullies are. Victims should not start second-guessing themselves just because of the comments being thrown at them by bullies. Everybody has a right to safety and security. If youre different in any way, dont be ashamed of it and stand strong. Its not your fault youre unique. Always go out in a group with your friends, bullies wont be able to single you out if youre in a group. Theres always power in numbers. You can always just ignore the bully, tell them to stop pestering you, and walk away. If these tips dont work, tell someone you trust.

Thinking back on how the two senior students had acted upon seeing a co-student get bullied, its refreshing to know that even in the age where violence prevails, there are still people willing to help and stand up for whats right. Bullying has been a long-time concern for schools and parents now, and its nice to hear of people taking a stand for those who are being bullied.