Fibromyalgia can be difficult to understand — both for the people living with it and for those around them.

The condition can cause widespread pain, overwhelming fatigue, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, and a variety of other symptoms that may come and go.

Because there is no single blood test or scan that confirms fibromyalgia, some people spend months or even years trying to understand what is happening to their bodies.

You may also have heard fibromyalgia described online as “the disease of unexpressed emotions.”

But is that actually true?

Here are eight common symptoms associated with fibromyalgia — followed by what medical research currently tells us about the connection between fibromyalgia, stress, and emotions.

1. Widespread Pain

Widespread pain is one of the main features of fibromyalgia.

People often describe the sensation as aching, burning, throbbing, or tenderness affecting different areas of the body.

The pain may occur on both sides of the body and can affect areas above and below the waist.

For some people, it remains relatively constant. For others, the location and intensity can change from day to day.

Importantly, fibromyalgia pain is real even when routine imaging or laboratory tests don’t reveal an obvious injury.

2. Persistent Fatigue