Can You Die From Fibromyalgia?

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“Can you die from fibromyalgia?” It’s a question that a lot of fibro sufferers have probably asked when they were first diagnosed. And fibromyalgia is a painful, chronic disease that can make you feel sometimes like you might die. But in reality, can you die from fibromyalgia?

Can you die from fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is not itself life-threatening. That can be hard to believe given how bad it makes you feel. But the truth is that the symptoms of fibromyalgia, like muscle pain and fatigue, aren’t going to kill you.

The real danger from fibromyalgia is the fact that it is so often associated in sufferers with serious depression. The constant pain and fatigue, along with the sense that you aren’t getting support from friends or doctors, can make one feel like life isn’t worth living.

That’s part of why the rate of suicide among fibromyalgia sufferers is higher than among the average population. And while no one dies from their fibromyalgia directly, plenty of people with fibromyalgia have taken their own life.

So can you die from fibromyalgia? In a sense, yes.

How to cope with depression from fibromyalgia

The most important thing to remember when dealing with depression is that suicide is never a good choice. People with depression or chronic pain often feel like suicide will put an end to their pain, but the reality is that suicide doesn’t get rid of pain, it just gives it to the people who care about you.

And the truth is that while fibromyalgia isn’t curable, there are ways to better manage your pain. And new treatments and therapies are being invented every day. It’s entirely possible that you will one day find a treatment that works for your fibromyalgia. But only if you’re still alive.

Remember that it’s important to find someone to talk to about your feelings. And there are lots of professionals who can offer you effective help for chronic depression.

But if someone you love has fibromyalgia, be on the lookout for signs that they are forming suicidal thoughts. Talk of suicide is the most obvious sign. But if they begin reaching out to other people who they haven’t talked to in a long time (to say goodbye) or if they make arrangements for their deaths or if they begin engaging in reckless behavior like drinking or drugs, then there is a chance they are suicidal.

In that situation, make sure that you talk to them about their feelings. And get them help if they need it. Someone who is suicidal will be unlikely to seek help on their own. Many people with serious depression feel that there is no point.

Just remember that fibromyalgia is a manageable disease. And that the real danger is a fibromyalgia sufferer taking their own life. So be vigilant and proactive about managing depression as you would any other fibromyalgia symptom.