Talking To Others About Your Fibromyalgia
With Special Guest: Kimberli Wicks
Have you ever wondered what you should tell others about your fibromyalgia? Do you find yourself going back and forth between saying, “I’m fine” and telling them how you really feel? If so, this episode is for you!
We all intuitively understand that there are some people we can share more with than others. In this episode, Tami interviews Kimberli Wicks, a professional counselor who has lived for years with her own chronic illness. Kimberli outlines a simple way of categorizing the people in your life which will help you know how much to share about your diagnosis.
Tami and Kimberli also include several suggestions on ways you can build a support network, how to test the waters with how much to tell new people in your life, and ways to ensure you don’t overburden the people you love.
Key Points
- It can be hard to figure out who belongs in your intimate, smallest circle, who can really handle all of your story versus who goes in the outside, almost-no-details circle.
- Most of the pain in sharing our stories comes from putting people in the wrong category.
- Some people just don’t have the emotional bandwidth to be able to carry our story or hold it in an honoring way.
- It’s important to allow yourself to be open to being surprised by who supports you… and who doesn’t.
- When you find a counselor or a coach that really gets you and wants to understand your experience, it doesn’t matter that you’re paying for that because the care is still genuine.
- If you can have one person, even just one person, in your corner — that can change the entire game.
About Kimberli Wicks
Kimberli Wicks is a professional counselor, and a play therapist. She has a Master’s degree in Counseling from George Fox University and a Bachelor degree in Child and Adolescent Development from Oregon State University. She’s worked with children and teens for over 30 years. She also works with adults with attachment issues, high functioning autism, ADHD and anxiety disorders. She uses a client centered process to learn your goals and to help you find coping tools and avenues for emotional processing that leads you to a healthy life you’ll love. Connect with Kimberli at QuietWatersCounseling.net.
Links & Resources
Note: This episode’s show notes contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we will likely receive a small commission. Read about what we do and don’t promote here.
- Get free copies of Tami’s books here
- Schedule a consultation with Tami or one of her coaches through the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute
- For more information on how to discuss your fibromyalgia with your employers, check out Episode 14, 15, and 42 with Julie Hamilton (linked below)
- The Spoon Theory by Christine Miserandino is a great tool to help friends and family understand what it’s like living with a chronic illness.
- Ravyn’s Doll: How to Explain Fibromyalgia to Your Child (Affiliate link)
- Why Does Mommy Hurt? Helping Children Cope with the Challenges of Having a Caregiver with Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, or Autoimmune Disease (Affiliate link)
Other Episodes Mentioned
Listener Shoutout
“Thank you for this episode. I got diagnosed last week and I know my mind is the biggest weapon as I figure this out. This was very helpful. Appreciate it!“
~ Chris Hamilton, on Facebook
Episode Highlights
If you’ve enjoyed this podcast, consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you listen, to receive each episode as soon as it is available.
