Tag: #FibroFlare

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Pain Flare Types, Ranked From “Mild Nuisance” to “Summon the Ancestors”

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Let’s be honest: pain flares deserve their own tier list.
Not all suffering is created equal. Some flares are just a polite tap on the shoulder and others feel like they’ve traveled across lifetimes to personally drag you into the void.

So in the spirit of scientific accuracy (and by scientific accuracy, I mean vibes), here’s the ultimate ranking:

1️⃣ The Tiny Gremlin Twinge — A Mild Nuisance

This one pops up like, “Hey girl, just checking in!”
It’s annoying, but you can still function… mostly. You limp a little, grab a heating pad just in case, and pretend it’s fine.
It’s never fine — but we lie to ourselves anyway.

2️⃣ The Low-Battery Huff — You’ll Feel This Tomorrow

Your body starts sending strongly worded emails.
It’s not enough to stop you, but everything feels… heavier. Slow. Foggy.
You start rationing spoons like you’re preparing for a winter on the Oregon Trail.

3️⃣ The Surprise Stab — The “Who Threw That?” Pain

Sudden. Sharp. Personal.
Like your muscles decided to reenact a crime scene with no warning.
You freeze, gasp, and immediately question every life decision that led you here.

4️⃣ The Weather Channel Special — Barometric Betrayal

You wake up and instantly know a storm is coming.
Your joints creak like a haunted staircase. Your spine predicts humidity better than any meteorologist.
Honestly, you deserve a salary for this accuracy.

5️⃣ The Sensory Riot — Everything Hurts and Also Everything Is Loud

Pain spike + fibro fog + sensory overload = a cursed smoothie.
Clothes? Too much. Lights? Too bright. Air molecules? Too aggressive.
You consider relocating to a dark, soft cave forever.

6️⃣ The “Cancel All Plans” Episode — Nope. Absolutely Not.

The flare that turns your day into a hostage situation.
Suddenly every joint is negotiating its own peace treaty.
Even sitting still is exhausting. Being alive? Optional.

7️⃣ The Full-Body Betrayal — Your Skeleton Has Filed for Divorce

It spreads. It radiates. It’s everywhere at once.
Nothing helps. No position is comfortable. You do that weird slow shuffle walk that looks like your bones are taped in.
Heating pads, meds, and prayers to whoever will listen.

8️⃣ The “Summon the Ancestors” Flare — You Have Exited This Plane

Oh, this one?
You can feel your DNA screaming.
Pain so intense it becomes almost spiritual. You’re like, “I see the veil… it’s thin… tell MawMaw I’m coming…”
You contemplate your will, your life choices, and whether reincarnation offers better warranty coverage.

Final Thought

Pain flares are rude, unpredictable, and truly lack professionalism.
But calling them out? Naming them? Ranking them like Pokémon?
Sometimes that’s how we cope — with humor, honesty, and a little dramatic flair. Til next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other.

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Grounded Spirit, Chaotic Body: Spoonie Grounding Tricks That Actually Work

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So your brain is playing musical chairs, your body feels like a poorly-updated weather app, and you’re trying not to scream into the void. Welcome to Tuesday.

Let’s talk grounding. No, not like punishment (though if my body had a curfew, it’d definitely be in trouble. Or WAIT, better yet what if I could ground myself? I have had a bit of an attitude lately lol). I mean the kind of grounding that keeps your head tethered to Earth when the world starts to spin—literally or metaphorically.

These tricks aren’t cures. They’re sanity-saving, meltdown-preventing hacks from a fibro-fueled, ADHD-spicy, anxiety-sparked brain that’s been there. A lot.

1. 5-4-3-2-1 Technique
Engage all your senses:

  • 5 things you can see
  • 4 things you can touch
  • 3 things you can hear
  • 2 things you can smell
  • 1 thing you can taste (coffee counts. So does chocolate.)

*This works great when your brain is running full-speed in five directions and not one of them is “calm.”

2. Cold Water, Meet Overheated Brain
Grab a frozen veggie bag, cold can of soda, or run cold water over your wrists.

It’s a little jolt to your system that says: Hey, still alive. Chill out (literally).

3. Root Down (With or Without a Tree)
Press your feet into the ground. Feel the floor. Imagine roots growing into the Earth.
Bonus if you’re outside and can touch actual grass—unless you’re allergic. Then, uh… maybe stick to carpet.

4. Texture Check
Have a fidget, squish, or tactile object you like the feel of? Use it.

I include a small sensory item with every tray I sell because I know how hard it is to find something that doesn’t scream “kid toy” but still gets the job done.

5. Pick a Word, Repeat It Like a Mantra
Mine is “magic” today. Because even in the chaos, there’s some weird alchemy that happens when you survive anyway. Choose yours.

Speaking of grounding (see what I did there?), I made a tray that says “Grounded Spirit” because some days I need that reminder sitting right next to me—especially when my brain wants to float away and my pain wants to knock me down.

But this post isn’t about the tray.

It’s about remembering that you deserve tools that help you stay rooted when everything feels like it’s spinning.

Try one, try them all. Add your own. Tape them to your fridge. And if you fall apart a little later? That doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’re trying.

And that’s more than enough today. Do you have any tips others could benefit from? I’m always looking for new ways to ground myself, email me at wannabenormal@gmail.com or contact me through the contact form. Til next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other.

PS.
Because Apparently I’m Not the First Genius to Try Grounding

Look, I’d love to say I invented these grounding techniques while dramatically staring into the void, but some actual professionals with degrees and peer-reviewed studies beat me to it. If you want to nerd out—or just need proof to show your skeptical co-worker—here’s where the science lives:

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
Trauma-informed care guidelines include grounding as a legit tool for managing anxiety and dissociation.
👉 samhsa.gov

Anxiety Canada: 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding
This popular CBT/DBT trick is clinically recognized for calming panic and reorienting during sensory overload.
👉 anxietycanada.com/articles/grounding-techniques

National Library of Medicine
Peer-reviewed proof that sensory-based grounding techniques actually help regulate stress and pain.
👉 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Sunday Scaries, Spoonie Style: A Checklist for Surviving Monday Without Crying (Much)

JoLeave a comment

If Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, why does it feel like a suspense thriller called “What Fresh Hell Will Monday Bring?”

📝 Quick bulleted list to get you ready for Monday:

  •  Locate your bra.
    Or make peace with not wearing one. Honestly, if it doesn’t bring me joy, it’s not making the cut today.
  •  Stare at your meds and pretend you’re not already tired of managing this circus.
    The greatest show on Earth is mostly side effects and co-pays.
  •  Do exactly none of the things you swore you’d prep this weekend.
    I meant to meal prep, but I accidentally disassociated for 24 hours. Like a whole day just gone!
  •  Question if you actually rested, or if you just laid still while panicking quietly.
    There’s a difference between rest and being emotionally paralyzed. I did the second one.
  •  Mentally prepare to act like a human when your body screams “nope.”
    The performance is called “Functioning Adult” and I deserve an Oscar.
  •  Tell yourself this week you will go to bed on time (you liar).
    Sure, keep spewing those filthy lies until one day it happens on accident lol
  •  Wonder if it’s too late to run away and become a moss-covered tree sprite.
    Honestly? Forest Wi-Fi sounds more stable than my mental health.
  •  Make a meal plan that may or may not involve cereal and vibes.
    Nutritional value: questionable. Emotional support: unmatched.

    💡 

You made it to Sunday. That’s already a win. Monday can wait its damn turn. Til next time gang, we got this! Take care of yourselves, and each other!

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Weather or Not, Fibro Hurts: Barometric Whiplash and Summer Survival Tips

JoLeave a comment

Fibro Doesn’t Care About the Season

You’d think pain would be more predictable. Cold = bad, right? Well yes… and no. Because in summer, when the air pressure plays trampoline, humidity tries to choke you out, and thunderstorms sneak up like mood-swing ninjas, your fibromyalgia goes, “Yay! A chance to be more dramatic!”

Your body doesn’t just hurt — it panics, it protests, and it often completely forgets how to function like a semi-sentient adult human.

⚡Why Weather Screws Us Up (Even in Summer)

  1. Barometric Pressure is a Jerk.
    When pressure drops fast (hello, pre-storm), tissues expand. Nerves already oversensitive in fibro-land get even more irritable. It’s like your whole body got a weather alert and decided to throw a tantrum. The research is mixed—effects vary, and for some folks may be subtle. But that doesn’t make your flare-up any less real.
  2. Humidity and Heat Mess with Everything.
    • Heat dilates blood vessels → more fatigue, dizziness, swelling.
    • Humidity slows evaporation of sweat → overheating faster.
    • Add in pain? You’re basically a melted candle with opinions.
  3. Storms Make the Air Feel Heavy.
    Your head hurts, your joints ache, and standing up feels like moving through soup. The pressure swings during storms are sneaky saboteurs.
  4. Your Nervous System is Already Confused.
    Fibromyalgia is a central sensitization disorder. Your brain and nerves are like over-caffeinated chihuahuas — already jumpy, now add atmospheric chaos? It’s not great, Bob.

What Can You Actually Do About It?

💧1. Hydrate Like It’s Your Job.

Barometric shifts and heat can mess with circulation and fluid retention. Water helps regulate your internal temp and reduces dizziness and fatigue.

❄️2. Cooling Tools Are Your Friends.

  • Cooling towels
  • Ice packs on pulse points
  • Fans in every room
  • Spray bottle with peppermint water (YES, seriously)

🧘‍♀️3. Stretch and Move, Gently.

Movement keeps things from stiffening up worse, but go slow. A few light yoga poses, shoulder rolls, or just pacing your hallway counts. You’re not prepping for the Olympics — you’re surviving a weather system.

🛋️4. Pace Like a Pro.

Your energy is a budget. Don’t overspend it just because the sun’s out. Schedule breaks. Cancel plans. Use that “no” like SPF for your soul.

🌀5. Watch the Weather. Plan Ahead.

There are apps just for barometric pressure (like Migraine Buddy or WeatherX). When you see a dip coming, prep your nest: meds ready, chores done ahead, comfy clothes out.

You Are Not Broken — You Are Barometrically Betrayed

So no, it’s not “just in your head.” The weather does affect your fibro. You are not imagining it. And just because you don’t see storm clouds doesn’t mean your body isn’t screaming “WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!”

But you’re learning, adjusting, and finding ways to soften the crash. That’s strength — not weakness. Til next time guys, take care of yourselves, and each other.