There's no question that fibromyalgia is painful. But many
experts also believe there's an emotional component to this
disorder that can increase the discomfort and fatigue.
Distressed people, like those living with fibromyalgia, are more
sensitive to pain. This can actually lead to a vicious cycle:
Pain causes distress, and distress reinforces the disease that
causes the pain. In turn, finding ways to boost your emotional
health may help ease your physical pain, too.  "When people are
depressed in the present, it's a predictor of more pain in the
future," says John Fry, PhD, a psychologist in Newport Beach,
Calif., and board member of the National Fibromyalgia
Association. "Anxiety in the present also is a predictor of more
pain in the future. If a person focuses on pain being delivered
to them, it actually increases the nerve conductance of the
pain. So having other interests is very important. "  There are
a number of self-help activities and strategies that
fibromyalgia patients can use to distract thems