How to Deal with Family and Friends Who Don't Understand Fibromyalgia
Education is key!
People will not change their attitudes and ideas unless properly educated. It can be frustrating to educate people on fibromyalgia, but taking the time and effort to explain it will make your life much easier later.
One of the best ways to make a point is by using plenty of concrete evidence. Which sounds more impactful?:
A. A lot of people have fibromyalgia.
B. More than 5 million people in the United States have fibromyalgia.
Obviously B sounds way better! Being able to show specific numbers not only sounds more convincing, but also helps to contextualize how real and widespread fibromyalgia syndrome is.
Another way that people respond to information is through visual aids. Finding charts and graphs to further represent your research will help your family get the full impact. You can also search YouTube or similar sites for videos about fibromyalgia. Often you can find videos with interviews from people who live with fibromyalgia. Hearing your sentiments echoed may help your family further understand. If you feel comfortable, post some videos to Facebook or other social media sites to let all of your social media followers understand fibromyalgia better.
