Fibromyalgia; the link to emotional pain and how therapy can help

Fibromyalgia is often described as an “invisible illness” . On the outside, nothing may look wrong, but inside people can be living with constant pain, fatigue, poor sleep and brain fog. It can feel like carrying a heavy load that nobody can see.

For many people, this is not just about physical pain, there is also an emotional story associated with emotional pain. Research has shown that emotional pain particularly from trauma or difficult life experiences is strongly linked to fibromyalgia. In fact one study found that over 70% of people with fibromyalgia had experienced a significant trauma before their symptoms began. This doesn’t mean fibromyalgia is “all in the mind”; far from it. What it does show is how deeply connected our psychology, emotional world and body really are.

When we carry unresolved emotions or painful memories, our nervous system can become stuck in a kind of survival mode. Over time, this heightened state of alert can contribute to widespread pain and sensitivity. This helps explain why so many people with fibromyalgia also live with anxiety, depression, or symptoms of post traumatic stress.

How Therapy Can Support Healing

The message of hope is that working gently with emotions can make a real difference. Therapy doesnt take fibromyalgia away, but it can reduce symptoms and give you back a sense of control Here are some approaches that research has shown to be helpful:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps you notice unhelpful thought patterns and develop kinder, more balanced ways of coping. Studies show that CBT can improve sleep, reduce fatigue, and ease the impact of pain. It works best as part of a wider plan that also includes self-care and physical approaches.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

DBT is a therapy that focuses on four key skills: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation and healthy communication. Originally developed for people who struggled with very intense emotions, It is now showing real promise for chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia.

A recent study found that people with long term pain who took part in a DBT programme not only managed their emotions better but also reported significantly reduced pain levels.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy uses deep relaxation and guided imagery to help calm the nervous system and reframe the way the brain processes pain. Research has found that hypnotherapy can improve pain, sleep and overall quality of life in people with fibromyalgia; sometimes even more effectively than traditional relaxation techniques. It can be particularly powerful when combined with CBT.

Expressive Writing and Emotional Release

Even something as simple as writing down your feelings can help. In one study, people with fibromyalgia who regularly wrote about their emotions experienced better health outcomes. Giving emotions a safe outlet, whether through journaling, therapy or creative expression, allows the body to let go of tension it may have been holding for years.

Why letting go matters

When emotions are bottled up, the body often carries them as tension. Over time, this can show up as physical pain, exhaustion or sensitivity. therapy offers a safe space to gently release what’s been held inside, whether that’s grief, anger or unspoken memories. So your body no longer has to carry the burden alone. Finding healthier ways to process and integrate the past by addressing both emotional and physical pain together leads to a discovery of more resilience, more balance and of course even more relief from fibromyalgia symptoms.

There is no one size fits all solution. But there is hope. Scientific research contine to show that therapies which support both the ind ad the body like CBT, DBT, hypnotherapy and emotional expression can bring real benefits.

Most importantly, therapy provides compassion, understanding and practical tools for living. By tending to your emotional wellbeing as well as your physical health, you can move towards a life with less pain and more peace. Take the first step and drop me a message.