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Forgiveness and Health pp 123–137Cite as

The Role of Forgiveness in Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia

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Abstract

Chronic widespread pain and fibromyalgia are prevalent disorders with multiple symptoms. There is growing evidence that these disorders are stress related syndromes where distress is transformed into pain through sympathetic system rigidity. Patients are challenged with restrictions in social and leisure activities, household and outdoor activities as well in working capacity and they report that their ability to interact with their family and friends as well as with health professionals is impaired. All of these affected domains are potential sources for interpersonal and intrapersonal stress resulting from negative emotions such as anger, shame, and guilt. In this respect forgiveness of others and of oneself are unique coping methods involving affective, behavioral, motivational and cognitive components that offer a potential remedy to clear the harmful effects of the aforementioned emotions in patients with chronic pain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Munich, 80336, Munich, Germany

    Martin Offenbächer

  2. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Jessie Dezutter

  3. Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Juan del Rosal 10, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Miguel A. Vallejo

  4. Department of Psychology, Luther College, Decorah, IA, USA

    Loren L. Toussaint

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  1. Martin Offenbächer
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  2. Jessie Dezutter
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  3. Miguel A. Vallejo
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  4. Loren L. Toussaint
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Correspondence to Martin Offenbächer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, USA

    Loren Toussaint

  2. Dept of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

    Everett Worthington

  3. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    David R. Williams

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Offenbächer, M., Dezutter, J., Vallejo, M.A., Toussaint, L.L. (2015). The Role of Forgiveness in Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia. In: Toussaint, L., Worthington, E., Williams, D. (eds) Forgiveness and Health. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9993-5_9

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