Perceptions of Fibromyalgia sufferers

2012: Forty-one percent of the general public feel that people with fibromyalgia are courageous. These two Surveys Reveal Striking Differences Between Public Perceptions and Private Realities of People With Fibromyalgia. National findings suggest better understanding and support may empower people to seek help early for fibromyalgia symptoms. 

In a unique approach that compares the attitudes of people living with fibromyalgia with those of the general public, the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) in partnership with Forest Laboratories Inc. released results from two national surveys, revealing substantial differences between public perceptions and the private realities of fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition that affects up to 12 million Americans.

The survey shows that people with fibromyalgia inaccurately believe the public views them negatively. Forty-one percent of the general public believes people with fibromyalgia are courageous, while only 17 percent of people who have the condition believe society actually views them this way.

“Imagine, for some people living with fibromyalgia, having to deal with a persistent pain condition while feeling isolated from society,” says Penney Cowan, founder and executive director of ACPA and someone who has lived with fibromyalgia. “These survey results show that some people with fibromyalgia have misperceptions about how society views them, and our hope is that they learn about these findings and feel empowered to speak openly about their experiences with this condition.”

The surveys had other interesting findings according to the fibromyalgia patients participating:

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