Fibromyalgia affects approximately 4% of adults. This mainly affects women. Not enough is known about this debilitating disease. Approximately 3 to 6 million Americans, ages 20 to 50, are diagnosed with fibromyalgia (Murray, Daniels, Murray, 2006). The diagnosis is becoming more and more common, with doctors sometimes not knowing how to treat the patient because a precise cause has not yet been found. Many people with fibromyalgia know that additional stress affects their pain levels. Many also report experiencing intense stress during their lives. And many know the added stress of being diagnosed and the difficulty of finding a caregiver who recognizes that this is a real illness with real causes and symptoms that require real treatment. The more we learn about this disease, the more doctors will be able to learn and help these fibromyalgia sufferers. Fibromyalgia (FM) is an incurable illness characterized by severe pain, extreme lethargy, sleep problems, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, disability and mood swings. disorders such as depression, anxiety and mood swings (Murray et al., 2006). FM is thought to be a rheumatologic disorder, but some evidence suggests that it may be a psychological disorder or have a psychological component (Murray, Daniels, Murray, 2006). Research focuses on psychological and biochemical/hereditary components (Murray, Daniels, Murray, 2006). Some ideas have been put forward, but no firm etiological explanation has yet been found (Murray, et al., 2006). Many people with FM report experiencing severe psychological trauma during their lives at some point (Lumley, Cohen, Stout, Neely, Sander, Burger, 2008). Domestic violence is a much discussed issue today...... middle of article ......65Murray, TR, Daniels, M., & Murray, CE (2006). Differentiation of self, perceived stress, and symptom severity in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Families, Systems and Health, 24(2), 147-159. doi:10.1037/1091-7527.24.2.147National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Office of Public Policy. (2007). Facts about domestic violence. Retrieved from website: http://www.ncadv.org/files/DomesticViolenceFactSheet(National).pdfThe 5 forms of domestic violence. (nd). Retrieved from http://www.woodbridgedvrt.org/pages/fiveforms.htmlVan Houdenhove, B., Egle, U. and Luyten, P. (2005). The role of life stress in fibromyalgia. Current Rheumatology Reports, 7(5), 365-370. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11926-005-0021-zVan Houdenhove, B. and Luyten, PP (2006). Stress, depression and fibromyalgia. Acta Neurologica Belgica, 106(4), 149-156.