There are millions of people around the world that are diagnosed with fibromyalgia every single year. But many of us do not realize that it often goes way beyond our loved ones; there are actually a number of celebrities that are diagnosed with this painful disease every single year.
In this article, we’re going to focus on Michael James Hastings, an actor known for his role on the series “The West Wing,” and who also suffers from fibromyalgia.
Who is Michael James Hastings?
As mentioned above, Michael James Hastings is an actor that is well known for a number of different roles in various shows, especially The West Wing. He was born in Alabama, and he wasn’t planning on being an actor at all. Instead, he went to school for a total of 7 years, with plans to work in the field of education.
He holds a B.A. in Theology and a Master’s Degree in Education, and has worked in a number of different educational fields and church positions – including missionary work in Africa.
Hastings had a successful school teaching career for ten years when he realized that, due to his fibromyalgia, he no longer had the energy be effective. He decided to move to Los Angeles and pursue a part-time acting career in order to make a living. He started working with the Screen Actors’ Guild at that point, and was involved in local theater and such until he given roles in a few movies.
Obviously, his biggest hit was The West Wing, where he played a Navy Captain. He has actually used this role to help raise awareness, just as he used his fibromyalgia as part of the role he was playing.
Hastings was very healthy through his 20’s, but in his 30’s, he started to notice that his energy was going down and he started dealing with severe muscle pain all over his body. After a couple of years of therapy, doctor’s bills, and misunderstandings from the science community, it was finally determined that Hastings had fibromyalgia. He ended up getting treatment over a number of years, and has been able to manage his pain relatively effectively.
Since then, Hastings has worked incredibly hard in order to give more recognition to the problems that are related to fibromyalgia. He is a strong advocate for those who are fighting the disease, and he has worked to help raise millions of dollars for organizations that work toward cures and treatments for fibromyalgia.
He has also gone around the country to help raise awareness and to meet with other people who have been working on treatment plans and potential cures. Michael James Hastings has, perhaps, been one of the greatest advocates for the fibromyalgia community.
How Does Michael James Hastings Deal with his Fibromyalgia?
So, of course, all of this begs the question, what does he do in order to make life more comfortable for himself? Obviously, Hastings has had to make some changes to his life in order to accommodate the disease, but what sorts of treatments has he tried, and what changes has he made in his life in order to help him be able to cope better?
One of the main things that Hastings has attributed his healing to is his faith. Throughout the time that he has worked with the disorder, he has maintained his faith in God and has maintained a commitment to healing and living the life that he wants to live. That, of course, has overflowed into other areas. His faith has helped him to reduce the amount of stress that he feels and deals with on a regular basis.
It also gives him connections with other people who can offer moral support and give him assistance in times of need. Of course, as with many people of faith, he has also attributed his devotion to prayer and the church as part of what helped as well, and, even though that cannot necessarily be proven, it definitely helps with optimism and a better state of mind. This, in turn, makes it easier for him to fight off mental illnesses like anxiety and depression, both of which are incredibly common in those that have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
Most of the treatment that Michael James Hastings goes through is of the natural, therapeutic type. He takes a special assortment of vitamins that have been shown to help reduce the pain and inflammation that is associated with fibromyalgia. These include Acetyl l-carnitine, Calcium d-glucarate, a daily infusion powder consisting of a number of minerals, glutathione, L-carnitine, NADH, Revitalizing sleep formula and a high iodine and potassium supplement.
These vitamins and supplements all work together to help loosen muscles, encourage muscle development, and make it so that it’s a little more comfortable to move around. That being said, he also works alongside doctors and other professionals that help him to determine the best course of action for his treatment plan. He is also careful of his diet, avoiding sugary and fatty foods.
Another thing that Hastings often tries to do is maintain his flexibility. This can be difficult at times, because the pain can be overwhelming and it can almost be impossible to move around. But, he continues with his stretching exercises, at least a little bit daily, so that he can keep his mobility up and so that he can control his weight, thus making it easier to care for himself and easier for him to move around.
Fibromyalgia can be debilitating if we do not get the appropriate treatment for our symptoms and for the disease. We should follow the example of Michael James Hastings and seek out help and assistance from organizations and individuals that can help us with our prognosis and the issues that come up as a result of it.
If you are concerned about fibromyalgia and are curious as to whether or not you may be suffering from the disease as well, contact your specialist to make an appointment. They can help you determine the best course of treatment for your symptoms.