Freedom from Fibromyalgia : The 5-Week Program Proven to Conquer Pain (Paperback)

~ (Author), (Author) "Come travel with us through the depths and over the peaks of one of the most mystifying sets of symptoms known to modern medicine: those..." (more)
Key Phrases: fibromyalgia set, fibromyalgia victims, fibro fog, Relationship Planner, Anger List, Assignment Scheduler (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Physician Selfridge and self-help author Peterson are former fibromyalgia (FMS) patients who credit their recovery to a program based on the work of Dr. John Sarno (The MindBody Prescription). The authors believe "rogue" brain chemicals are the culprits behind the all-over body pain of FMS. Since there are no pills to combat these chemicals, the authors have developed a five-week, self-directed recovery program based upon mind-body principles. The book is divided into three parts: "Understanding Fibromyalgia," "Tools To Battle Fibromyalgia," and "The Five-Week Plan To Battle Fibromyalgia." The structured program the authors have developed focuses on meditation, journal writing, and self-talk aimed at creating a psychological awareness of the emotions, thoughts, and feelings that produce pain in the body. The chapter on meditation is too brief, but the authors suggest additional resources to supplement their information. The writing style is positive and easy to understand, the charts and worksheets are helpful, and the information is based upon sound principles of behavioral change. A "Notes" section serves as the book's references; a list of resources suggests books, web sites and Internet groups; and a list of tools for initiating the five-week program is provided. Recommended for all consumer collections. Lisa McCormick, Health Sciences Lib., Jewish Hosp., Cincinnati
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

?Fibromyalgia is a mind-body disorder that will spread in epidemic fashion if it is not recognized as such. Dr. Selfridge and Mr. Peterson are pioneers and humanitarians, and I salute them for their courage and their devotion to the needs of people who suffer from fibromyalgia.?
-- From the foreword by John Sarno, M.D. -- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; 1 edition (May 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812933753
• ISBN-13: 978-0812933758
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #199,972 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #31 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Disorders & Diseases > Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Promising; certainly worth a try, August 8, 2001

By	Dennis Littrell (SoCal) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Something's going on here/ But what it is ain't exactly clear --Bob Dylan

These lyrics from a few years back pretty much sum up the medical position on fibromyalgia. Selfridge, who is a medical doctor, and Franklynn, who is a professional writer, don't make it any clearer, but they have the considerable merit (especially from the point of view of the fibromyalgia sufferer) of having suffered from the disease themselves. Selfridge advertises herself as "90 percent cured" (p. 23) while Franklynn "feels at least 90 percent improved" (p. 26).

Although Selfridge rightly disparages the term "psychosomatic" (p. 40), it is clear that she believes that the proximate cause of fibromyalgia is the effect negative emotions have on the body, particularly the emotions of anger and rage. She believes that the "mind, brain, and body conspire to generate...real physical symptoms" (p. 60). Here's the way the authors lay it out on pages 58-60: "For sensitive people" having grown up "amidst tensions too overwhelming" for their "sensitive nervous system[s]," having been shoved "relentlessly toward the impossible goal of being perfect[,]...a significant loss--of a loved one, a job, status, or income--or a significant emotional shakeup, such as a car accident" can be the event that "may stimulate the production of chemicals that create fibromyalgia symptoms." In short (p. 61), "Fibromyalgia sufferers are more sensitive to stress than the general population." Are they right? Nobody knows for sure. Fibromyalgia, like some other chronic diseases that plague our society--the many kinds of arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome, etc.--may be the result of some as yet unidentified factor of modern life. Most likely they are the result of a combination of factors, creating a mind-body syndrome of illness. Until such time as medical science figures it out, we have to go on living. Can we live without pain? (I use the editorial "we" not because I personally suffer from fibromyalgia, but because someone I love does, and I identify strongly with her suffering.) The authors say we can, and they lay out a five week program. Does it work?

I would say that it indeed will work in many cases, not only for sufferers of fibromyalgia, but for sufferers of many other chronic diseases of unclear etiology, perhaps some of those mentioned above. The reason is simple: their prescription includes things as meditation, regular exercise ("becoming a couch potato can aggravate fibromyalgia" p. 232), a positive attitude toward yourself and your place in the world and so on--things we all should be doing as matter of course. I would add that a belief in a power beyond the body and beyond the "ego-I" created by the bioculture would help. Note that, most significantly for fibromyalgia sufferers, it is the management of anger that the authors prescribe. Anger comes from frustration. We are not getting what we want, which is to be loved and appreciated. We want and need to be admired for our good qualities and given some slack for our not-so-good qualities. If it is true, as the authors state, that "Close to 90 percent of known fibromyalgia sufferers are women" (p. 20), we might very well ask why? An answer could be that women especially suffer from a poor self image because of the media propaganda of our society that has devalued those women who are not slim, young, rich, famous, and beautiful. The secret is not to change the society, which is impossible. It is to change our attitude toward society's delusions. As in yoga, it is a process of renunciation: we need to renounce (and really believe it) society's mistaken judgment. We also need to understand "you can't always get what you want" and recognize the negative effect unfulfilled desire can have on ourselves. When I was young and relatively handsome, the girls used to listen to every word I said. Now that I am old and gray, they don't find me so intelligent anymore. What happened to me? Nothing. (I may even have gotten smarter.) What is the cure? Not to care. To understand who and where I am, and to be content with that--indeed to revel in it. The authors include a short chapter on Resources with places to write, Web sites, and books to read including two by Deepak Chopra and three by John E. Sarno, whose The Mindbody Prescription (1998) was obviously part of the inspiration for this book.

Incidentally, the reason that the authors and most authorities now reject the term "psychosomatic" is that it has picked up the unfortunate and incorrect sense of "a mental illness" or "an illness caused by mental problems." This is not what the word means; the usage is corrupt; alas, nothing can be done about that. A new word is needed, or better yet, a new understanding, such as presented in this book, that mind affects body; body affects mind, and that an imbalance can lead to illness.

48 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It really works, May 23, 2001

By	Harriet Kronman (Hedgesville, WV United States) - See all my reviews

I almost tossed this in the circular file - the writing is at grade school level and often sounds like an infomercial - promising everything "at no cost". However, in spite of the amaturish writing, it made a lot of sense and was well referenced. But the really good news is that it delivers. As a long time sufferer of fibromyalgia - I followed the program outlined and within 3 weeks, I amazed myself - waking up pain free and with energy I forgot existed. I am ordering this book for two of my friends who also have had fibromyalgia - and instead of crying on our shoulders and sharing sad tales of new pains - I hope to soon be able to rejoice with them about our new freedom from pain. Thank you, Dr. Selfridge and Mr. Peterson.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sounds too good to be true but it works!, May 6, 2004

By A Customer

My mother sent me this book, and being a scientist, I was very sceptical. However, I had nothing to lose and decided to follow the program. That was three years ago and I rarely have any clinical signs now. It has convinced me of the health connection between the mind and the body. I hope you have the same success I did.