Managing Life with Fibromyalgia: Why Emotional Support Matters

If you’re living with fibromyalgia, or know someone who is, you’ll understand just how challenging this condition can be. From unpredictable flare-ups to constant fatigue, fibromyalgia can feel overwhelming—especially when it seems like no one really understands what you're going through.

But there is support. In this blog, we’ll explore what fibromyalgia is, and how counselling and solution-focused hypnotherapy at Kelly Porch Counselling and Hypnotherapy (KPCH) can help you manage the condition and regain a sense of control.

My Story

In 2010, I began experiencing unexplained pain, extreme exhaustion and stomach issues. I was having a lot of time off work, having lots of blood tests and GP appointments with no cause identified.

Fast forward to February 2011 and I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia by my GP in a 10-minute appointment and just sent on my way with no other information or support. This subsequently resulted in a lot more time off work, struggling to cope with a diagnosis that hadn't been explained to me, as well as the emotional impact.

Fortunately, I had already started my counselling training at this point and I feel that this is what got me through that initial diagnosis stage due to the mandatory personal therapy aspects of the training.

I vowed to use my training to help others diagnosed with health conditions or struggling with chronic pain and chronic health conditions once qualified.

Fast forward to today (2025) – I am a qualified Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, Solution-Focussed Hypnotherapist, Clinical Supervisor and Trainer (running two business – my private practice and a training centre where I train others to become counsellors). I am a chronic health/chronic pain specialist (to note I am not medically trained and so this is undertaken in conjunction with any medical treatment the client is having). I continue to undertake the journey of living with a chronic health condition and its impacts.

What Is Fibromyalgia?

For those who aren’t familiar with fibromyalgia or want to learn more about it - is a long-term health condition that has some/all of the following symptoms (to note this is not a full list of all of the symptoms): -

• Widespread pain and tenderness

• Fatigue and low energy

• Poor sleep

• Cognitive difficulties (often called “fibro fog”)

• Sensitivity to light, sound (misophonia), temperature, and touch

• Low mood or anxiety

• Digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome

It’s thought to be related to how the nervous system processes pain, essentially turning up the “volume” on pain signals. While the exact cause isn’t fully understood, it’s often triggered or worsened by stress, trauma, infections, or other illnesses.

Fibromyalgia affects each person differently, which can make it difficult to diagnose—and even harder for others to understand. This can leave many people feeling isolated, frustrated, or dismissed.

The Emotional Impact of Fibromyalgia

Beyond the physical symptoms, fibromyalgia can deeply affect your emotional wellbeing. You may find yourself feeling: -

• Constantly exhausted, even after sleep

• Disconnected from your body and your old routines

• Misunderstood by friends, family, or healthcare providers

• Anxious about flare-ups or how to manage your life long-term

This emotional stress can worsen symptoms - creating a vicious cycle where pain leads to stress, which leads to more pain.

That’s where the emotional and psychological support at Kelly Porch Counselling and Hypnotherapy (KPCH) can be helpful.

How Can Counselling Help?

Counselling with me offers a space where you can talk freely to someone who 'gets it' without fear of being judged or dismissed. I won’t tell you to “push through” or “get on with it”—instead, you will be met with empathy, validation, and practical tools to help manage the impact fibromyalgia has on your life.

Some of the ways counselling with me can support you include:

• Understanding Your Emotions: Explore how fibromyalgia affects your mood, confidence, and relationships

• Reducing Stress: Learn strategies to calm your nervous system and reduce flare-up triggers

• Expressing Yourself: Talk openly about your frustration, grief, or fear—things you may not always feel comfortable sharing with loved ones

• Breaking Unhelpful Patterns: Identify negative thought loops like guilt or self-blame, and replace them with more compassionate, realistic perspectives

What Is Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy and how can it help?

Solution-focused hypnotherapy (SFH) is a gentle, future-oriented approach that combines talk therapy with guided hypnosis. The goal is not to dwell on the past—but to help you focus on small, achievable changes that move you forward.

During sessions, you’ll be guided into a deeply relaxed state, where the mind becomes more open to positive suggestions and calm thinking. It’s a natural state that feels peaceful and empowering.

For fibromyalgia, SFH can help by:

• Improving Sleep: Teaching the brain to wind down and rest more effectively

• Calming the Pain Response: Lowering stress can actually reduce the brain’s sensitivity to pain

• Focusing on Strengths: Encouraging you to notice what’s going well and build on that, rather than only focusing on what’s wrong

• Creating Hope: Helping you visualise a life that feels more manageable and meaningful—one step at a time

  

  
  

How Counselling and Solution-Focussed Hypnotherapy Work Together

Counselling and SFH can complement each other beautifully. While counselling gives you space to process emotions and challenges, SFH helps gently rewire the way your brain responds to stress and pain.

Together, they create a supportive, empowering approach to managing fibromyalgia—working with both mind and body to improve your quality of life.

You Are Not Alone

Living with fibromyalgia is incredibly hard and can feel life-changing - but support is available. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been managing symptoms for years, know that your experiences are valid, and that healing doesn’t always mean “fixing” everything—it can mean finding balance, peace, and empowerment in the life you live today.

If you’re curious about having counselling or solution-focused hypnotherapy with me then please reach out. You deserve support that sees the whole you—not just your symptoms.

What services does KPCH offer?

• 1-2-1 (60 minute) in-person/online counselling or solution-focussed hypnotherapy sessions

• Group (60 minute) in-person/online solution-focussed hypnotherapy sessions (maximum of 6 people – 6 sessions in each round of hypnotherapy)

Empowering Birth: How Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Supports Women

Bringing new life into the world is a remarkable journey, one that embodies both joy and challenges for expectant mothers. Amidst the physical changes and emotional rollercoaster, many women seek supportive techniques to enhance their birthing experience. Hypnobirthing using solution-focussed hypnotherapy emerges as a gentle yet powerful ally in this transformative process, offering holistic benefits that cater specifically to the individual needs of mothers-to-be.

Understanding Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy

Solution-focused hypnotherapy (SFH) revolves around the principle of focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems. It harnesses the power of positive thinking and relaxation techniques to help individuals achieve their goals effectively. For pregnant women, SFH becomes a tool not just for managing stress and anxiety but also for fostering a positive mindset towards childbirth.

Managing Anxiety and Stress

Anxiety and stress are common companions during pregnancy, especially as the due date approaches. SFH equips women with practical strategies to alleviate these feelings. By inducing a state of deep relaxation through hypnosis, SFH reduces cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and promotes a sense of calm. This relaxation response is not only beneficial for the mother but also contributes to a healthier environment for the developing baby.

Enhancing Confidence and Control

One of the key advantages of SFH lies in its ability to empower women by enhancing their sense of control over the birthing process. Through teaching expectant mother's to utilise self-hypnosis, guided visualization and positive affirmations, expectant mothers can experience a smooth and comfortable birth experience. This mental preparation builds confidence, reduces fear of the unknown, and instills a belief in the body's natural ability to give birth.

Facilitating Natural Pain Management

Pain management is a significant concern for many women during childbirth. SFH teaches techniques such as self-hypnosis and deep breathing exercises that can effectively reduce the perception of pain. By altering the way the brain processes pain signals, SFH offers a natural complement to medical pain relief methods, potentially reducing the need for pharmacological interventions.

Strengthening Bonding and Postpartum Wellbeing

The benefits of SFH extend beyond the birthing process and delivery. By promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety during pregnancy, SFH contributes to a healthier emotional environment for both mother and baby. Postpartum, SFH techniques can aid in managing stress, enhancing sleep quality, and supporting the transition into motherhood, thereby fostering a strong bond between mother and child from the outset.

The Role of Birthing Partners

Birthing partners play a crucial role in supporting expectant mothers throughout the birthing process and delivery, and SFH can empower them as well. By learning hypnosis

techniques, breathing exercises, and visualization methods, birthing partners can provide emotional and physical reassurance, fostering a calm and supportive atmosphere. Their involvement not only strengthens the mother’s confidence but also enhances the overall birthing experience by promoting teamwork and shared empowerment. A well-prepared birthing partner can be an invaluable source of comfort, reinforcing positive affirmations and helping to maintain a relaxed state throughout the birth process.

In conclusion, solution-focused hypnotherapy stands as a versatile and empowering approach for women preparing for childbirth. By combining relaxation techniques with self hypnosis, positive visualization and goal-oriented strategies, SFH not only supports a smoother birthing experience but also enhances overall maternal wellbeing. As more women embrace holistic approaches to pregnancy and childbirth, SFH emerges as a valuable tool in the toolkit of modern maternity care, promoting empowerment, confidence, and a positive outlook on the miraculous journey of bringing new life into the world.

The Brain’s Superpower: Using Neuroplasticity to Improve Mental Health

Many people think that our brains are rigid and fixed but this isn't the case as our brains are not set in stone. Our brains are constantly evolving, rewiring, and adapting in response to our experiences, thoughts, and behaviors. This remarkable ability is known as neuroplasticity, and understanding it can be a game-changer for improving your mental health.

What is Neuroplasticity?

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to form and reorganize the connections between neurons in the brain where nerve signals are transmitted, especially in response to learning, experience, or injury. In simpler terms, our brains have the ability to change and adapt throughout our lives.

This means that negative thought patterns, emotional struggles, and even traumatic experiences do not have to define us.

How Neuroplasticity Affects Mental Health

Understanding neuroplasticity offers hope for those dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic pain, chronic health, phobias, breaking old and creating new habits and so on. Since the brain can create new neural pathways, individuals can replace negative habits with positive ones, break cycles of rumination, and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Some key ways neuroplasticity plays a role in mental health include:

• Breaking Negative Thought Patterns: Repetitive negative thinking can reinforce unhealthy neural pathways. By intentionally shifting focus to positive thoughts, new pathways form, making optimism more natural over time.

• Rewiring Responses to Stress: Chronic stress strengthens pathways related to fear and anxiety. Mindfulness, meditation, and therapy such as the solution-focussed hypnotherapy offered here at Kelly Porch Counselling and Hypnotherapy, can create new, calmer responses to stressors.

• Healing from Trauma: Traumatic experiences can leave lasting imprints on the brain. However, therapy like solution-focussed hypnotherapy can leverage neuroplasticity to help individuals process and reframe traumatic memories.

Practical Ways to Harness Neuroplasticity for Better Mental Health

The good news is that we can actively shape our brain’s neural pathways through making small steps using consistent, intentional actions:

• Solution-Focussed Hypnotherapy: Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) and neuroplasticity are closely linked, as SFH helps rewires the brain by focusing on positive solutions rather than problems. By using talking therapy and trance, SFH encourages the brain to form new neural pathways associated with calmness, confidence, and resilience. This aligns with neuroplasticity by allowing individuals to break free from negative thought patterns, reduce anxiety, and reinforce healthier mental habits. Over time, SFH supports long-term cognitive and emotional change by strengthening positive neural networks in the brain.

• Learn New Skills: Acquiring new knowledge or skills (such as learning a language or playing an instrument) promotes brain flexibility and cognitive resilience. .

• Exercise Regularly: Physical activity increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This is a protein that plays a crucial role in the health and function of the brain and therefore supports neural growth and adaptation.

• Adopt Healthy Sleep Habits: Quality sleep enhances memory consolidation and neural repair, optimizing neuroplasticity.

• Maintain Social Connections: Engaging in positive social interactions strengthens neural circuits associated with emotional well-being.

  
  

  In conclusion, understanding neuroplasticity empowers us to take control of our mental health. By consciously engaging in activities that promote positive brain rewiring, we can overcome mental health challenges and create lasting change. While this can take time, the ability to shape our own brains provides a powerful and hopeful perspective on mental well-being.