Celebrities with Fibromyalgia: Sinead O’Connor
In the last decade, we have noted more and more celebrities coming forward to share their experiences of Fibromyalgia. These stories not only provide comfort and treatment suggestions to those suffering with fibromyalgia, but also act as advocacy. The more vocal celebrities are about their struggle with Fibro, the more awareness of the condition is raised.
Sinead O’Connor is an Irish singer and songwriter. Her career has spanned decades, beginning in the 1980s and continuing to this day. However, in the early 2000s, Sinead was forced to take a hiatus. It was at this time that she announced her struggles with fibromyalgia, and how it had begun to dramatically affect her music career.
During her period of retirement, O’Connor explicitly stated that the stress and pain caused to her from fibromyalgia was too much to manage, alongside a music career. For many struggling with fibromyalgia, this is a common story. Although one may have been able to manage their career and their family life before their fibromyalgia, once the condition begins to affect your life dramatically, it is impossible to balance these things. Ofen, one has to give.
In an interview, during this period of hiatus, she stated that “fibromyalgia is not curable, but is is manageable”. For her, the elements of brain fog and tiredness were the most distressing symptoms. Worsened by stress, it was important for her to find a balance between her career and home life.
When speaking out about her experience with fibro, O’Connor was open about the changes that many fibromyalgia sufferers have to go through. “You have to reasses what you do, and maybe find another less stressful job”. Although most of us cannot relate to being an international singer, this statement rings true for many with fibro. With a sudden influx of tiredness or severe pain, many elements of life need to be reevaluated. It can be a period of mourning, having to let go of things once loved, and find new leases on life to take their place.
Sinead’s story has a positive outcome. After two years of hiatus she was able to restart her career, finding a new balance between work and homelife. Sometimes, taking a break and ‘resetting’ is necessary. This break might not have to be permanent! Taking some time, if you can, to scan the things in your life and make the changes you need to for your health might take weeks, years, or decades. Each individual is different, just as each expression of fibro is.
This article is a continuation of our blog series: Celebrities with Fibromyalgia. You can click to read our last post on Morgan Freeman.