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The SCARS Institute Magazine about Scam Victims-Survivors, Scams, Fraud & Cybercrime

Fibromyalgia & Psychological Trauma Link – Medical Health Alert

Author:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Connection Between Psychological Trauma And Fibromyalgia Is A Complex

The connection between psychological trauma and fibromyalgia is a complex and multifaceted one, with growing research suggesting a significant link between the two!

Here’s what is known about the link Between Fibromyalgia and Psychological Trauma

Evidence for the Fibromyalgia and Psychological Trauma Connection

Prevalence: Studies show significantly higher rates of various types of psychological trauma, including childhood abuse, emotional neglect, relationship scams and other crimes, and PTSD, in individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia compared to the general population.
Shared biological mechanisms: Both psychological trauma and fibromyalgia involve alterations in stress response systems, inflammation, and pain processing pathways. Trauma can lead to chronic stress, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and increased inflammatory markers, all of which are also implicated in fibromyalgia.
Neuroimaging studies: Research suggests altered brain activity in regions involved in pain perception and emotional regulation in both psychological trauma and fibromyalgia patients.
Treatment response: Some studies suggest that psychological trauma-focused therapies may improve fibromyalgia symptoms, further highlighting the potential connection.

Possible Explanations for the Fibromyalgia and Psychological Trauma Link:

Neurological sensitization: Psychological trauma can lead to increased sensitivity in pain pathways, making individuals more susceptible to pain from various sources, including chronic widespread pain like fibromyalgia.
Altered pain processing: Psychological trauma can alter how the brain processes pain signals, leading to heightened sensitivity and chronic pain perception.
Dysregulated stress response: Chronic stress from Psychological trauma can disrupt the HPA axis and lead to increased inflammation, contributing to fibromyalgia symptoms.
Genetic vulnerability: Some individuals may have a genetic predisposition for both psychological trauma and fibromyalgia, increasing the risk of developing both conditions.

It’s important to note that the connection between psychological trauma and fibromyalgia is not a simple cause-and-effect relationship. Other factors like genetics, physical health conditions, and lifestyle choices likely play a role in the development of fibromyalgia. Be sure to speak with your medical professional about this topic if you are concerned.

Implications for Treatment of Psychological Trauma and Fibromyalgia

Understanding the connection between trauma and fibromyalgia can inform a more holistic approach to treatment.

This may involve:

Trauma-focused therapy: Addressing underlying psychological trauma can help individuals manage symptoms and improve overall well-being.
Stress management techniques: Techniques like mindfulness and relaxation can help regulate the stress response and potentially reduce pain.
Multimodal treatment: Combining pain management strategies like medication and physical therapy with psychological trauma therapies can provide a comprehensive approach to fibromyalgia.

If You are Living with Fibromyalgia and have experienced Psychological Trauma

It’s important to seek professional help.

A healthcare provider can assess your individual needs and recommend appropriate treatment options. Remember, you are not alone, and there are effective ways to manage both conditions and improve your quality of life.

SCARS Resources:

For New Victims of Relationship Scams newvictim.AgainstScams.org
Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
Global Cyber Alliance ACT Cybersecurity Tool Website: Actionable Cybersecurity Tools (ACT) (globalcyberalliance.org)
Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
Donate to SCARS and help us help others at donate.AgainstScams.org
Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: International Suicide Hotlines – OpenCounseling : OpenCounseling
Campaign To End Scam Victim Blaming – 2024 (scamsnow.com)

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The Trickster Hare/Rabbit – Cherokee Fable About Scammers – 2025

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Chasing Happiness: A Scam Victim’s Lesson in Contentment – A SCARS Institute Book – 2025

Socialization in Cultural Identity and Scam Victimization – 2025

When Scam Victims Fall Back into the Scam and Under the Scammers’ Control – 2025

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Published On: December 14th, 2023Last Updated: December 14th, 2023Categories: Tim McGuinness PhD, • FEATURED ARTICLE, • SCAM VICTIM HEALTH, 2023, ARTICLETags: Fibromyalgia, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, Psychological Trauma, Recovery Psychology, Scam Victims, Victim Trauma0 CommentsTotal Views: 525Daily Views: 1558 words2.8 min read

WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT LATEST SITE COMMENTS

See Comments for this Article at the Bottom of the Page

on Rebuilding Trust: The Scam Victim’s Journey from Victimhood to Empowerment – 2024: “Trusting is still very much a work in progress for me, both in myself and my judgment of others who…” Jun 12, 23:30
on Words & Text Manipulation – The Secret Manipulation Technique Even Scammers Don’t Know About But Use – 2025: “This was triggering for me. It completely explains how my scam played out, with each step, including the final message.…” Jun 9, 23:18
on Toxic Self-Narratives That Feeds Depression in Scam Victims 2023: “Very informative article on negative self talk. I ran into this subject back in February. I had called the company…” Jun 9, 19:29
on Learning And The Challenges That A Scam Victim Faces From Trauma And Related Cognitive Effects – 2024: “For months after the scam ended I couldn’t process and/or retain much of anything I read. When I first joined…” Jun 9, 16:20
on Maitri – Loving Kindness in Buddhist Philosophy Applied to Scam Victims – 2025: “I loved this article. I will take any and all suggestions on how to be kinder to myself so I…” Jun 9, 15:36
on Scam Victim Remorse – 2025: “Very well said” Jun 9, 00:27
on Scam Victim Remorse – 2025: “This is a very complicated issue. I haven’t arrived at the place of self-trust yet. I’m learning more every day…” Jun 8, 23:44
on The Butterfly Effect And Scam Victims – 2024: “As a victim who doesn’t have a lot of recovery and healing time under their belt (8 months), I hadn’t…” Jun 6, 21:19
on Faith And Why It Matters In Scam Victim Recovery – 2024: “This article validates all that I felt in the first few months after the scam ended. I had zero faith…” Jun 6, 20:31
on Reclaiming Your Worth: A Scam Survivor’s Guide to Navigating Your Worthiness After a Scam – 2023: “I feel that I’m in the place of rediscovering my worthiness these last few days. I have days when I’m…” Jun 4, 21:20
on Motivation & Scam Victims – 2024: “This article further drives home that although the initial mistake was mine (answering a dm from a stranger), the entirety…” Jun 4, 21:02
on Scam Victims Editing Their Stories To Promote Recovery From Scams 2024: “Throughout my studies in this survivor school I’ve learned that I owned and used the courage to break contact with…” Jun 4, 16:37
on Depression: People Often Cannot Recognize That They Have It – 2024: “I experience some symptoms of depression, this article thoughtfully points out that there could be symptoms I’m missing. I am…” Jun 4, 15:58
on Scam Victim’s Sacred Beliefs & Their Brain: “This article enabled me to better understand how the criminals were able to get me to break long held truths…” Jun 3, 16:31
on The Scout Mindset And Scam Victims: “Anyone who’s reading this article is developing scout-mindset tendencies by seeking knowledge and understanding of scammer tactics and how and…” Jun 1, 22:54
on Understanding Psychological Trauma: Insights For Scam Victims From Carl Jung – 2024: “An interesting article with another view toward fraud, survivors and learning about our vulnerability.” Jun 1, 16:37
on Alfred Adler Approach To Psychology To Scam Victims And How They Were Affected – 2024: “This was very interesting. I now understand why it has been so important for my therapist to talk about my…” Jun 1, 16:21
on Salience-Driven Attentional Capture and Sustained Elaboration – That Aha-Moment Scam Victims Experience – 2025: “The last chat made it clear to me: I was cheated. Shock.From then on, all my thoughts were directed to…” May 30, 08:25
on Scam Victims: Applying Boundaries When Compassion Is Required Instead – 2023: “Finally telling my family the truth lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. It was probably the most difficult conversations…” May 29, 15:12
on Thoughts About Boundaries: “As someone who grew up in a house with no boundaries, I’m not surprised I was easily manipulated and controlled.…” May 28, 21:05

Important Information for New Scam Victims

Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
SCARS Institute now offers a free recovery program at www.SCARSeducation.org
Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery

If you are looking for local trauma counselors, please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org

If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

Statement About Victim Blaming

Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and not to blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and help victims avoid scams in the future. At times, this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims; we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.

These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens, and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.

Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org

SCARS INSTITUTE RESOURCES:

If You Have Been Victimized By A Scam Or Cybercrime

♦ If you are a victim of scams, go to www.ScamVictimsSupport.org for real knowledge and help

♦ Enroll in SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org

♦ To report criminals, visit https://reporting.AgainstScams.org – we will NEVER give your data to money recovery companies like some do!

♦ Follow us and find our podcasts, webinars, and helpful videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RomancescamsNowcom

♦ Learn about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org

♦ Dig deeper into the reality of scams, fraud, and cybercrime at www.ScamsNOW.com and www.RomanceScamsNOW.com

♦ Scam Survivor’s Stories: www.ScamSurvivorStories.org

♦ For Scam Victim Advocates visit www.ScamVictimsAdvocates.org

♦ See more scammer photos on www.ScammerPhotos.com

You can also find the SCARS Institute on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and TruthSocial

Psychology Disclaimer:

All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only

The information provided in this and other SCARS articles are intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.

Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.

While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.

Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.

If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.

Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here

If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair, please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.