A Lanarkshire mum has told of how her experience of living with fibromyalgia and health anxiety has motivated her to help other people.
Emma Hamilton admits she hit "rock bottom" last year after being diagnosed with the condition which happened not long before her dad passed away.
The 36-year-old from Hamilton spent a lot of time worrying about her health before eventually making the decision to focus that energy on helping other people.
Fibromyalgia is a long-term illness that causes increased pain all over the body and extreme fatigue.
However, despite now having restrictions in her day-to-day activities, Emma knew she could still offer up her free time to help volunteer for different causes, including Cancer Research.
But it was when she came across a lot of stories regarding young people being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) that she decided to raise money into research for the incurable illness.
Later this month, and on the week which mark's a year since her dad's death, Emma will take on the 5km Supernova Kelpies challenge.
She will be joined by her son JJ Hamilton, eight, and daughter Kelice Evans, 13, who are right behind their mum in her charitable efforts.
Speaking on her motivation behind it all, Emma told Lanarkshire Live : "Since being diagnosed with fibromyalgia and then losing my father, my mental health wasn't great.
"My friend supported me through a term at uni as she wouldn't let me give up, even though I wanted to.
"I decided that instead of wasting my energy thinking about horrible worrying situations and feeling low, I wanted to put that negative energy away and found that fundraising and volunteering allowed me to use positive energy.
"MND has no cure at the moment or active treatments which is why I feel so passionate about raising awareness and fundraising so that we can all help towards finding a cure or treatment.
"Fibromyalgia has changed my life in so many ways but I am determined to reach the finish line and support such a great cause."
Emma's health began to deteriorate when she suffered tonsillitis back in 2020. She continued to feel poorly and as the months went on she was in and out of hospital for a number of tests.
This heightened the effects of the Hamilton mum's health anxiety as she didn't know what was wrong with her.
She now wants to raise awareness of this issue too, as she tells of how thinking positively and caring for others has really helped her.
Emma explained: "I was diagnosed during lockdown and it got me quite down because I can’t do the things I was once able to do. I need to rest more often, my life has changed in so many ways.
“After losing my dad, I hit rock bottom for a bit but then I picked myself back up to keep busy.
“I found that keeping busy helps. I was in and out of the doctors with really bad anxiety and scary thoughts running through my head. I just thought that instead of wasting all my energy on negative things, why not make it positive.
“It gives you something more positive to look forward to and you may also be contributing to maybe one day being options for people who get diagnosed with these conditions, instead of being told it’s a death sentence."
Emma is now in third year at university studying community education.
She added: "I was really scared. It turned out to be fibromyalgia and really bad anxiety. Sometimes I try to fight it and end up in bed not being able to move, it’s really chronic fatigue.
"But I just started focusing on what my dad would’ve wanted, he would’ve wanted me and the kids to do good, pass Uni, and get a good job.
“I saw a lot of stories of young people getting diagnosed with MND and it made me want to do something for a good cause.
“The fundraising event will be on the same week my dad passed away, so it should take my mind off it too.
“Health anxiety is awful. But I decided instead of worrying about all these bad things, why don’t I try and raise money for them and help people."
You can donate to Emma's fundraiser for MND Scotland here.
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