Date

4-7-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Mollie Boyd

Keywords

fibromyalgia, traumatic stress, complex trauma, abuse, chronic pain, PTSD, CPTSD, FMS, Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Disciplines

Counseling | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of 21 study participants who had comorbid Fibromyalgia Syndrome and PTSD/CPTSD, and had experienced traumatic stress before their fibromyalgia diagnoses, hoping to increase the understanding of this central phenomenon. An ontological theoretical framework guided this research approach to explore and describe the study participants’ subjective realities while describing their perceptions of their situations. Fibromyalgia Syndrome is a chronic pain condition with characteristics like widespread debilitating musculoskeletal pain, stiffness, tenderness, muscle atrophy, chronic fatigue, rashes, sensitivities, gastrointestinal issues like irritable bowel syndrome, cognitive difficulties, stigmatization, unacknowledged disability, and occupational limitations that usually have ambiguous etiologies and treatment strategies. This study examined the course of development of fibromyalgia syndrome for individuals who had experienced traumas like childhood abuse or neglect, interpersonal or relational trauma, or multiple traumatic experiences during their lifetimes, and who had symptoms or diagnoses of posttraumatic or complex posttraumatic stress disorder. Another influential theoretical framework that guided this study was Critical Disability Theory that drove focus toward the physical and mental impairments and social constructs that this population endures in society. Fibromyalgia is frequently distressing to sufferers who desire self-sufficiency but struggle with an unacknowledged and stigmatized disability without having adequate support systems. Data collection strategies included 60-minute, virtual, one-on-one audio/visual recorded interviews with verbatim transcription.

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