Advocacy
CARE & Make Fibromyalgia Visible
May 12 National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day 2014
How to Get Involved!
F
rom coast to coast and around
the globe, fibromyalgia affects
everyone. Every day, regardless
of race, age, religion or economic
status, fibromyalgia impacts the
lives of approximately 10 million
Americans (two to four percent
of the population, mostly
women). Fibromyalgia (FM) is
a life-altering medical condition with widespread pain,
stiffness, fatigue and many
other symptoms that disrupt a
person’s thinking, daily functioning, emotions, and relationships. Early diagnosis and
symptom treatment can reduce
the disability that occurs for
many.
of people affected by fibromyalgia,
a chronic pain illness. But we can’t
do this alone.Together with compassionate and courageous support
group leaders and advocates in
local communities, we can reach
out to the families, individuals, coworkers and businesses to come to-
S
P
rogress on fibromyalgia
awareness and acceptance
has occurred since 1990 when
the American College of Rheumatology accepted diagnostic
criteria for FM. However, the
stigmatization (to regard with
great disapproval) from the
general public, friends, and family still occurs. Repeated studies
have shown that education is key
to improving how FM