I’ve had this diagnosis since 1985 and had 3 small children. There is a YouTube video that I shared with my husband and family. It is a cartoon. It’s called: Fibromyalgia: Explaining it to your loved ones. It is 5 minutes 53 seconds. It is by Jennifer Charette. I’ll add a picture of what it looks like. This has been the most helpful tool in trying to let another understand.

My husband had a hard time understanding. And still has moments. And has doubts about how I explain things. So I took him with me to the doctor and she explained things to him. He got to ask her questions. And had a better understanding. I don't know if that helps.

These responses are exactly why I've decided I don't want to get married. I'm closing in on 30 and I feel defeated in my current relationship. I have felt defeated in both prior long-term relationships. my current relationship and feeling completely misunderstood so much of the time, feeling and actually being blamed for things that I cannot do for not doing right or not doing well enough, yelled at and made me feel humiliated because of fibro fog... I'm just trying to get by and it shows me more and more each day that this isn't an illness you can really commit to somebody with and live a comfortable steady life. I just don't want to give up but I feel at the same time I am accepting the truth reality... What really my life is is becoming and will become, you know? I'm only going to get worse deteriorate more because no medications work for me, I mean literally nothing I have tried it all. It's funny too I've just had this question or posts pop up for me today of all days when my partner and I have been fighting all afternoon and evening about listening and not listening and misunderstanding and whether or not we're happy in the relationship and is this person trying is this person listening... Relationships are hard, but when you add in a chronic illness like fibro and a severity of the level that I suffer from and it sounds like you ladies do as well, it's almost like a long-term relationship or the idea of it is laughable to us at least to me. What I see would I know what I experienced, I'm just scared and if this is what you all are experiencing it confirms that to me. I just don't want to become so pessimistic and so down that I just say or feel like there is no point to continue on because every step is going to be taken alone and although this beautiful community is here, I take every step alone and I know most of you do too as well. I just don't know how much longer I want to do that and how much longer I can and I'm capable of doing that emotionally. Not to mention the physical struggles and there is no way in hell any stranger is going to be helping me change or picking me up out of my bed if I fall on those bad days. I hope the best for all of you ladies and your marriages. I'm saddened by any of you going through separations due to this illness because it is devastating. That's the best word I can think of: devastating. I may not be happy, others may not be, I do know that both sides fight for love and success in the relationship... Fight every single day Spoonies!
Love you warrior friends. Stay strong all of you ladies (and gentlemen.) We're survivors, suffers, so we're also badass.

I started to read this book out load to my husband while he was driving, it helped him to understand better that you need to not over foot and helpful hints to avoid situations that affect us. Funny he is a nurse like me but he still could not understand how I could use my ass at work and then had trouble walking home 5 blocks. But when I said S much as I love my job it’s going to kill me. He said no more, stay home and take are of yourself.

The best read for me is A Life Less Physical (alifelessphysical.com). So many great articles on Fibro. If you dig deep enough into it you can find an article about explaining your Fibro to loved ones. GREAT website!