"Fibromyalgia involves abnormal pain processing; the brain struggles to turn off pain signals. Many brain pathways involved in fibromyalgia are also involved in addiction. Addiction occurs through a cycle of central sensitization, inadequate relief, and the psychological burden of the condition."
"Fibromyalgia is not malingering or hypochondriasis, and it is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, nonrestorative sleep, debilitating fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction. Unlike the pain of an injury or arthritis, FM pain is a whole-body, often unrelenting condition that increases the risks for SUDs."
"People with fibromyalgia (FM), like people with substance use disorders (SUDs), report suffering stigma during healthcare consultations, including feeling invalidated, discouraged, and judged by clinicians. Physician uncertainty and diagnostic discomfort may confirm patient perceptions of being misunderstood."
Fibromyalgia affects 3-6% of Americans, predominantly women, involving widespread musculoskeletal pain, nonrestorative sleep, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction. The condition results from altered central nervous system function rather than tissue damage. While 84% of physicians recognize fibromyalgia as a clinical condition, many struggle with diagnosis and treatment due to overlapping symptoms with other disorders. Patients frequently experience stigma and feel invalidated by healthcare providers. The chronic, unrelenting nature of fibromyalgia pain, combined with inadequate medication relief, creates conditions for self-medication with alcohol or cannabis. Fibromyalgia and substance use disorders share similar brain pathways and central sensitization mechanisms, explaining the high co-occurrence rate of approximately 40% among chronic pain patients.
Read at Psychology Today
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