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The experience of emotion in people with Fibromyalgia: A thematic analysis

Jones, Lynne

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Authors

Lynne Jones



Abstract

Emotion is widely recognised as one of the central factors which influence the experience and management of pain (International Association for the Study of Pain, 2020). There is a substantial research base on how emotion may exacerbate or ameliorate pain, with evidence that the impact of chronic pain can lead to an increased risk of attempted and completed suicide. Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain condition which affects more women than men, and includes a diverse and unpredictable constellation of symptoms. This study qualitatively explored the experience of emotion in ten women with a diagnosis of FMS, using semi-structured interviews within a critical realist framework. Reflexive thematic analysis of the data produced two overarching themes; 1) ‘FMS as an adversary’ which had four themes; ‘The emotional impact of being at war’; ‘FMS attacks my vulnerabilities’; ‘Grieving the losses inflicted by FMS’ and ‘‘‘Just got to fight it, got to” - mitigating the damage’ and 2) ‘The shame of FMS’ with two themes; ‘Suffering is a secret’ and ‘Features of a shameful condition’.
Participants perceived their condition as an external attacker which placed them in a perpetual threat position. FMS exploited their vulnerabilities due to trauma and interacting difficulties with emotion, causing emotional distress and inflicting global feelings of shame and grief for some. The results indicate how the affective impact of FMS due to trauma, shame as a threat-based emotion, psychological distress including grief, and difficulties with emotion can all be connected. These conclusions indicate that the diagnostic process and psychological interventions for FMS may benefit from a trauma-informed approach and sensitivity to adverse affective experience. Suggestions for further research endeavours are made.

Citation

Jones, L. The experience of emotion in people with Fibromyalgia: A thematic analysis. (Thesis). University of the West of England. Retrieved from https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7045706

Thesis Type Thesis
Deposit Date Jan 31, 2021
Publicly Available Date Aug 16, 2021
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7045706
Additional Information Department of Psychology
Award Date Aug 16, 2021

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