If your fibromyalgia onset was triggered by emotional trauma then EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy may be an option to explore.  This therapy involves the patient thinking and talking about the trauma while simultaneously tracking the therapist's finger as it moves back and forth across the patient's visual field.  The theory is that the side-to-side eye movement helps the brain to process the emotions associated with trauma.  

EMDR seems to have a direct effect on the way that the brain processes information. Normal information processing is resumed, so following a successful EMDR session, a person no longer relives the images, sounds, and feelings when the event is brought to mind. You still remember what happened, but it is less upsetting. Many types of therapy have similar goals. However, EMDR appears to be similar to what occurs naturally during dreaming or REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Therefore, EMDR can be thought of as a physiologically based therapy that helps a person see disturbing material in a new and less distressing way.

The amount of time the complete treatment will take depends upon the history of the client. Complete treatment of the targets involves a three pronged protocol (1-past memories, 2-present disturbance, 3-future actions), and are needed to alleviate the symptoms and address the complete clinical picture. The goal of EMDR therapy is to process completely the experiences that are causing problems, and to include new ones that are needed for full health. "Processing" does not mean talking about it. "Processing" means setting up a learning state that will allow experiences that are causing problems to be "digested" and stored appropriately in your brain. That means that what is useful to you from an experience will be learned, and stored with appropriate emotions in your brain, and be able to guide you in positive ways in the future. The inappropriate emotions, beliefs, and body sensations will be discarded. Negative emotions, feelings and behaviors are generally caused by unresolved earlier experiences that are pushing you in the wrong directions. The goal of EMDR therapy is to leave you with the emotions, understanding, and perspectives that will lead to healthy and useful behaviors and interactions.

Finding ways to guide yourself into the relaxation response and address the long-term effects of trauma are key elements in treating fibromyalgia.  What may work for one person, may not for another.  That is why it is important to survey many alternate treatments to gain a better quality of life.  

The past several months proved a bit of uncomfortable bloating and weight gain for me.  I had not made any new diet changes.  In fact, I am always steadfast on my daily requirements, nonetheless, I noticed some acute changes in my digestive tract.  I searched every lifestyle change I could to combat this, and finally took a good look at my probiotic bottle.  "Could this be the culprit?" I thought.  "Did I happen to receive an inactive bottle the last time I ordered?"

Probiotics are a supplemental form of healthy bacteria used to recolonize the gut. The gut is home to trillions of microorganisms, the balance and composition of which affect everything from nutrient assimilation to immune health. Most people with fibromyalgia also suffer from intestinal bowel syndrome, another condition with no known cause or cure. Probiotics can help relieve the symptoms of IBS.

According to Katherine Zerensky, nutritionist at the Mayo Clinic, probiotics, the "good" bacteria in the gut, may help with digestion and offer protection from the destructive properties of "bad" bacteria. Probiotics can be taken in supplement form or attained from foods such as yogurt, miso, and some juice or soy drinks. Look for labels with wording such as "live and active cultures."

Probiotics may help treat conditions such as diarrhea, IBS, intestinal infections and may even prevent or reduce the severity of colds and flu. Probiotics may help anyone who has recently taken antibiotics, since antibiotics strip the gut of bacteria, including your good bacteria.

Probiotics are often a useful tool to relieve the IBS symptoms that afflict most fibromyalgia patients.  But what happens if you're unsure if these jewels that keep that bloating and weight gain down are not working?After all, we are not scientists here and can easily be plagued for months before noting what is actually causing these new found symptoms.  Luckily, there is a simple test to see if you've got an inactive probiotic on hand.

Tools:
2 liquid containers, cleaned and dry
1 cup of regular milk. 
2-3 sample probiotic pills from your bottle.

Instructions:
Pour 1/2 cup of regular milk in each container.
Split open your pills and sprinkle the contents into ONE of the containers. Mix it well into the milk.
Wait 8-10 hour to check the results.  

Results: 
If the milk containing the probitic curdles, clumps or firms, it is proven to be active. If the milk appears the same in both containers (watery and not curdled), you have an inactive bottle. Get your money back!

Cranioscaral therapy is a manual therapy technique developed from the osteopathic medical tradition almost 100 years ago. Dr. John Upledger further developed this unique technique.  The premise of this therapy is that fluid around the brain and spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid, has rhythmic pulsations.  These pulsations can be be altered by a therapist who places their hands at the base of the skull and spine using gentle manipulations.  

Using a soft touch generally no greater than 5 grams, or about the weight of a nickel, practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the central nervous system.

By complementing the body's natural healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and is effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction, including:

• Migraine Headaches
• Chronic Neck and Back Pain
• Motor-Coordination Impairments
• Colic
• Autism
• Central Nervous System Disorders
• Orthopedic Problems
• Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Scoliosis
• Infantile Disorders
• Learning Disabilities
• Chronic Fatigue
• Emotional Difficulties
• Stress and Tension-Related Problems
• Fibromyalgia and other Connective-Tissue Disorders
• Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
• Neurovascular or Immune Disorders
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Post-Surgical Dysfunction

New footage is making way for a technique that can activate the parasympathetic nervous system in the brain.  It was developed in the USSR in the 1950s as a sleep inducer under the name electrosleep at that time.  Then in the 1970s it was heavily researched in the US for treatment of anxiety.

Recently, Alan S. Lichtbroun, MD, says he learned about the electrotherapy technique while searching for better treatments for his many fibromyalgia patients.

"This technique is gaining wide acceptance at chronic pain treatment centers," says Lichtbroun, assistant professor at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, in East Brunswick, N.J. "At first I looked at this device very skeptically -- and even now I am beginning to see some patients who had a marked response at the beginning are gradually beginning to deteriorate -- so again I wondered if the machine had lost its power. But what I've found is that patients eventually lose their incentive to use the machine, and less frequent use appears to mean a return of symptoms."

The machine Lichtbroun refers to is the Alpha-Stim CES device made by Electromedical Products International Inc., of Mineral Wells, Texas. Patients using the device clip electrodes to their earlobes, which transmit low levels of electricity back and forth, through the head.

It is believed that that a low-dose electrical current applied to the brain will affect the parasympathetic nervous system.  One theory is that the electricity passing between the ears hits the vagus nerve, a branch of which runs near the ear. The vagus nerve is the main conduit of signals in the parasympathetic nervous system from the brain to the body.  Another theory is that the electric current runs through the areas of the brain that control the autopilot nervous system that is able to shift the brain signals more towards a parasympathetic mode.  Lastly, another thought is the electrical current acts as a rhythmic pacemaker throughout the brain, changing brainwave patterns to a slower, more relaxed rhythm.  

Adam Sandler's The Cobbler did not grab the greatest reviews, but for an online streaming special it was adorable.  Enjoy this one with the kiddies on a family movie night. 

Max Simkin (Adam Sandler) repairs shoes in the same New York shop that has been in his family for generations. Disenchanted with the grind of daily life, Max stumbles upon a magical heirloom that allows him to step into the lives of his customers and see the world in a new way. Sometimes walking in another man's shoes is the only way one can discover who they really are. - Cinema Blend

This is a great one if you're in the mood from some high speed drama but not into the usual gore associated with such flicks.  Super acting, you won't be able to pause this one.  

Nancy Grace's THE ELEVENTH VICTIM is a taut suspense-thriller that follows Atlanta Assistant District Attorney Hailey Dean (Jennie Garth) as she tirelessly pursues the conviction of a serial killer. Just when her courtroom prosecution of the murderer begins, Haileys fiancée is killed in a seemingly unrelated crime. Shattered by her personal loss, she moves to New York City and begins a new career as a therapist. When her clients start to turn up dead, one by one with the murderer using the same M.O. as the Atlanta serial killer she put behind bars she is forced back into the dark world she left behind to help catch a cold-blooded killer who could very well make her his next target. - IMbD  

Many fibromyalgia patients are feeling relief due to Myofascial release therapy (MFR).  In fact one patient stated, "Myofascial release works better than any pill to relieve my pain." "Furthermore", she stated, "its effects last longer than traditional massage."  If you already receive some form of manual therapy, I do press you to ask your masseuse if he is familiar with this technique.

Myofascial Release is a safe and very effective hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. It is called the "trigger point method." It is a massage technique which uses gentle, sustained pressure on the problem areas to release adhesions and smooth out the fascia. Multiple studies show that Myofascial release can result in decreased pain, better posture, reduced symptoms, increased range of motion, and improved quality of life.

One clinical review suggested that we get more benefit from treating fibromyalgia pain at Myofascial trigger points and other places with active pain was more effective than treating the tender points that doctors use to diagnose the condition. 

A study showed that 20 weeks of Myofascial release improved sleep, pain, anxiety levels and quality of life in people with fibromyalgia for at least a month after the treatment ended. At the six-month mark, sleep quality was still higher but other improvements had tapered off, suggesting a need for continued treatment.

Because fibromyalgia makes us so sensitive to touch and pressure, some people are reluctant to try massage. The gentleness of myofascial release may make it easier for many to tolerate than deeper forms of massage, such as Rolfing. With any form of hands-on therapy, it's crucial to communicate with your therapist about how much pressure you can tolerate and any pain you may experience during or after treatment.

Nicholas Sparks' novel comes to life in this one.  You won't be disappointed when you pop this movie in. It will keep you reeling till the end.

(Amanda (Michelle Monaghan) and Dawson (James Marsden) were once high-school sweethearts. They have a bittersweet reunion when they return to their hometown for the funeral of a mutual, beloved friend. Seeing each other again after 20 years apart reignites the love they've never forgotten, but Amanda and Dawson soon discover that the forces that drove them apart when they were younger pose even more threats today. Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks. _The Best of Me, Film synopsis

More than 75 studies have been completed that tote the benefits of exercise for those suffering from fibromyalgia.  But I know when you are exhausted most of the day and hurt all over, this is the last thing that will EVER cross your mind!

Many individuals who experience fibromyalgia feel that every time the exercise they feel WORSE afterwards.  They complain of strained muscles, or an overall achy, exhausted feeling just hours when through.

Too boot, I know of one woman who took to swimming as an exercise.  One afternoon she felt as if she pulled a muscle in her neck while finishing a few laps.  How do you manage to injure your neck during gentle, she wondered?  Another, after beginning a light walking program complained of heel pain and plantar fasciitis. Not only that but she felt wiped out for days afterwards.  

So despite the medical benefits, how do you exercise and feel the relief that is promised?  First of all the key here is GENTLE EXERCISE.  Marybeth said she always felt wiped out after she concluded her warm-water therapy.  This added three days of pain to her life.  When I asked her how long she worked out she said, "90 minutes because it feels so good when I'm in there!"  This type of exercise is a guaranteed disaster for those who suffer from fibromyalgia.  15 - 30 minutes is optimal for those trying to gain the benefits of exercise. 

Long exercise sessions do not gain the relief needed for fibromyalgia.  Your muscles are easily injured and less able to heal because of lack of sleep, lack of growth hormone, and tightness in the fascia.  Keeping that in mind, your exercise program needs to speak to these needs.  Most importantly, you need to warm up correctly, exercise gently, and ensure enough rest and recovery in between sessions.  One day of exercise and two days of rest is best.  That is of course is unless you add walking which can be done for up to 30 minutes a day.

The warm up is particularly important for fibromyalgia.  Because of the excess fascial tension due to the overactive stress response, it takes longer to get the muscles warmed up correctly for exercise.  Do this routine warm up routine BEFORE you begin ANY exercise and reap the results!