Yes, work stress and emotional distress cause flare ups. This may not help you if you are not on Gabapentin. It is prescibed to me for Fibro. Well minor mood shifts run in my family (depression related). My PCP said try taking another pill when days are bad, and to spread out my pills throughout the day. It helps me, but for situational stress I would say see if you can wait it out before taking a pill. If you are NOT on psychiatric drugs that boost/regulate seratonin, the you can try 5-HTP for a quick seratonin boost. Its sold as a supplement since it is a precursor to seratonin in the body. The gut sythesizes it into seratonin and it evetually goes to the brain. I would stay away from brands that add stuff like calcium or anything else as it may not work. My fiancee prefers it with calcium. What is great about it is that 5-HTP is you don’t have to wait for it to build up in your body and zero withdrawal. Its use as needed, but as with my fiancee she takes it every day since she literally has seratonin deficiency. I would recommend just trying one pill from a small bottle to see your reaction if you decide to try it. My fiancee has to take 3 to 4 pills daily. I only take it as needed when I am positive my body is low on seratonin and I am experiencing depression which is rare for me. If you hate medications or prospect of taking a supplement, then the best thing is to find a distraction: watch comedies, do an activity that deters your mind from what is getting you upset, any activity that distracts your mind from depression or body from pain.

Yes I had a major flare up when I lost my mum 5 yrs ago worst one yet! Grief caused me the biggest and worst flare ups of my life

Yes I do

Heidi when you get your flare up from this how do you cope ??