Sly Saint
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
based in Harley st "Psymplicity is London’s top boutique therapy, psychology and psychiatry clinic"
part way thro they then switch to MELiving With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Tips From Top Therapists
As a non-curable condition, a CFS diagnosis can be extremely challenging to come to terms with. That being said, there are some treatment options available, and there are also a number of tips and tricks that can help you to better manage your CFS diagnosis and live your life to the best of your potential.
In this article, we’re going to explore chronic fatigue syndrome in more detail and explain some top tips from our expert therapists that can help you with living with CFS.
Symptoms of ME vary greatly between people, and you might even experience a fluctuation of symptoms within a day. Due to the nature of CFS, it can be hard to diagnose the condition because it has the same symptoms as many other chronic illnesses and conditions. Based on this, a diagnosis is made via a process of elimination, along with blood and urine tests.
If your GP or medical practitioner determines that your individual symptoms are lasting longer than they would expect, a chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis may be given. This can be devastating, particularly for those who lead active lifestyles. It’s thought that nearly half of people with chronic fatigue syndrome develop depression.
Treatments to improve living with chronic fatigue syndrome
As mentioned, there isn’t yet a cure for chronic fatigue syndrome, but there are some treatments that can provide effective relief. These include:
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – Many people with CFS may develop a fear or avoidance of exercise because of the impact it has on their health and wellbeing afterwards; however, this avoidance is unhealthy as it can cause more issues. CBT can help to address this unhealthy thought pattern if present and help to strengthen the relationship between a person with CFS and exercise
Many people find that their symptoms improve for a while and then flare up again, but on the whole, those who undergo treatment for their ME tend to find it’s more manageable and their symptoms improve over time.
We’ve put together some of the main tips a lot of people with ME find useful.
https://psymplicity.com/living-with-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-tips-from-top-therapists/Exercise is important for everyone and goes a long way to promoting good health, but for people with chronic fatigue syndrome, exercise can be difficult. This is because physical activity leads to prolonged exhaustion for many people with ME, and this can have a detrimental effect on your overall health and wellbeing.
When exhausted, people with chronic fatigue syndrome might be unable to do everyday tasks – even getting out of bed can be a struggle. This is due to something called post-exertional malaise (PEM). With this in mind, going to the gym and doing a mixture of exercises or trying to keep up with others physically isn’t the best course of action for someone with ME.
Instead, a personalised exercise plan should be developed. You can work with your GP or a physical therapist to develop one that is unique to you and your capabilities. With the right support, you can devise a structured exercise plan that allows you to correctly pace yourself and rest adequately in line with your attainable level of exertion.
Implementing a personalised exercise plan will allow you to be physically active, but in a way that isn’t detrimental to your wellbeing or that will mean you’re unable to do a lot afterwards. By staying within your personal boundaries, you can effectively pace yourself without the knock-on effect.