EFT Tapping Workshop is Monday

FAMily Living

Nov/Dec 2021

Please note this newsletter has been updated for December. We repeated a couple of articles in case you missed them. Happy Holidays Fibro Family!

Our Next Support Group Will Be:

Monday, December 13, 7 - 9 PM ET, on Zoom

Grab a comfy seat in your home and join us for a special workshop with guest speaker Lauren Fonvielle. Lauren is an accredited EFT Practitioner and Mindshift Coach. EFT is Emotional Freedom Technique and it's also known as tapping. It is an alternative and holistic practice for reducing physical pain and emotional distress. Lauren will share the science behind this practice and lead the group through a demonstration. Now is the perfect time to learn tapping as many of us are experiencing higher levels of stress during this holiday season.

If you would like to learn more about tapping click here to read an article for nurses with links to helpful videos.

Your first meeting is free. Membership is just $16 for the year. Memberships are available online.

To attend the Zoom meeting, simply register and you will receive an email link to the meeting. If you have any issues registering for the meeting or using Zoom, please contact Sharon. We will do our best to help you. We want to stay connected with you.

Did you know that you can join Zoom meetings just using the telephone? Your meeting confirmation will include a phone number and passcode you can use instead of a computer. Just look near the bottom of the confirmation email for the telephone information. Tip: If you experience computer issues during or before a meeting, keep this idea in mind.

President's Message - Updated 12/10/2021

Hello!

A huge thanks to our members who donated to our Year-End/Giving Tuesday fundraiser! We raised over $700 and some of these funds will likely be matched by Facebook. If you did not donate and want to help us help our community, you can still donate on Facebook through December 15 or through our website anytime. Our website also has an option to purchase your 2022 membership and make a $10 donation at the same time. We are working on plans for 2022 and it will include Michigan Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. Thanks to all of our members, donors, supporters, and speakers. Because of you, we celebrated 24 years of service in November! Here is a snapshot of what our organization has achieved:

We have held over 267 Support & Education Group meetings (including launching meetings on Zoom during Covid and enabling our members to go nationwide);

We have helped over 1,600 people at our Support & Education Group meetings alone;

We have reached out to more than 100,000+ people during our awareness day events;

We have hosted 15 patient conferences and 5 special events;

We have hosted two advocacy days in Lansing, Michigan, including one luncheon for legislators to learn about fibromyalgia;

We have received Proclamations and Tributes from the Michigan Legislature every year since 2001 recognizing Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in Michigan (minus recent years due to Covid);

We work with the media to increase public awareness;

We advocate in Lansing and nationally;

We provide support by phone and email to people struggling with the condition;

And, we provide continuous news on information affecting our community via newsletters, Facebook, Twitter, and support & education group meetings.

SAVE THE DATE: January 10 will be our annual Holiday Party. This year's event will be on Zoom again featuring fun games, prizes, and lots of laughs. Don't pack up your ugly sweater too fast -- wear it to our Zoom Party! More details and registration for the Holiday Party coming soon.

Check out our "My Favorite Things" column below to learn about some gifts that could provide some extra comfort and joy in the days ahead.

Wishing you less pain, more understanding, and a better tomorrow!

Sharon Waldrop, NBC-HWC

President & Founder, FAM

Help us improve lives by making a donation today!

Top Gifts Recommended by Your Fellow Spoonies

These are non-sponsored ideas. Just tips from your peers -

Buckwheat Hull Bed Pillow

Bed Buddy® Hot/Cold Pack Thermatherapy™ or similar products at Mother Earth Pillows

CBD oil

Weighted Blanket

Video streaming services or Audible for entertainment from the comfort of your home

Grubhub or UberEats Gift cards to have meals delivered

Cool Nights PJs to keep you cool & comfortable while you sleep.

Massage Gift Card - highly recommend Dustin Palmer in Huntington Woods, MI

Long handled shoe horn

Comfortable Shoes - Check out styles at Healthy Feet Store

Seat Cushion - Amazon has many

Keep Up Compassion for Other People's Chronic Illness

Chronic illnesses affect nearly 40% of Americans. It is guaranteed you know at least one person with a chronic illness. It can be difficult for people with fibromyalgia to share how they are doing and it can be difficult for friends and family to know what to do or say. This linked article by Susan Steen was very popular on our Facebook page. It explores ideas to bridge understanding.

VA Extends Presumptive Period for Persian Gulf War Veterans

Persian Gulf War Veterans who are experiencing any of the symptoms listed below and other unexplained medical issues are encouraged to file a compensation claim.

Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, functional gastrointestinal disorders. Also included are undiagnosed illnesses with symptoms that may include but are not limited to abnormal weight loss, cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, headache, menstrual disorders, neurological and psychological problems, skin conditions, respiratory disorders and sleep disturbances.

Learn more at VA.gov.

Coping With Fatigue Recap

At our last Support & Education Group we discussed the myriad of reasons we experience fatigue with fibromyalgia. We also started looking at some strategies to help cope with fibromyalgia. Click here for the handout from the meeting. We also discussed the Spoon Theory and how it can be a tool for both discussing your fibromyalgia with others and for helping you learn pacing. This recent article by the Cleveland Clinic explains more.

For Your Calendar