In the midst of severe pain and fatigue, you may want little to do with the outside world, preferring instead to hide inside your house. While a little rest can be good for you, it can be easy to overdo it. Staying isolated on a regular basis isn't good for your health. That's why you need friendships that nourish your spirit.

But when you have fibromyalgia — or any chronic condition, for that matter — you need to be more selective about the friends you see. Friends that sabotage your feelings and make light of your pain will only cause stress, which is certainly something you don't need. You need to surround yourself with friends who are willing to listen to your concerns and feelings, and who will give you encouragement and hope when you need it. You need friends who will offer advice when you need it, but who will stay silent when you don't.

At the same time, steer clear of people who minimize your condition or who make you feel you must put on a cheerful front, no matter how bad you really feel. Avoid people who are uncomfortable discussing your condition or who give you too much pity. These people are more likely to make you feel bad about yourself.

The goal is to be selective about how you spend your social time, especially since it's now become more limited and precious. Devote your time and energy to being with people who offer you the support and encouragement you need, people whose very presence brings you true joy. Avoid those who sap your energy and who make you feel bad. Cecilia says she had to let several of her friends go when they had no tolerance for her suffering.

Ever since she learned she had fibromyalgia, Cecilia has figured out that she needs positive energy in her life to make her feel good. For Cecilia, that has meant saying goodbye to some former friends who didn't understand what she was going through with fibromyalgia and accused her of complaining all the time. But Cecilia has found new friendships through a yoga class she takes, where everyone knows she has fibromyalgia and accepts her.