Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) (ME)

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a complex disorder of the human body that most medical conditions find difficult to explain, especially as it results in extreme fatigue. Physical or mental activity can only degenerate the condition, which cannot be improved by advising rest. This condition is also another name that ascribes to drastically weak medical conditions that show not only unrelenting fatigue, but also some other symptoms of special nature. However, researchers have ruled out exertion as a prime reason for the onset of this disease. Once contracted, this disease can last at least for 6 months in adults and 3 months in adolescents. Some refer to CFS as ME or Myalgic encephalomyelitis, a post viral fatigue that cannot be attributed to other therapeutic circumstances. Myalgia refers to muscle pain and the word encephalomyelitis refers to brain and spinal cord inflammation.

Irrespective of several theories that are making the rounds, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’s actual causes are yet to be determined. The theories range from psychological stress to genuine viral infections or indeed as an amalgamation of several factors.

• Diagnoses

  This disease can be normally diagnosed by eliminating several possibilities by a series of medical tests aimed at ruling out other problems with identical symptoms. Symptom relief is the only guide in the treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Some of the symptoms related to CFS are, uneasy sleep, sore throat, unflinching and widespread muscle / joint pain, headache and post excretion malaise, not to speak of physical and mental exhaustion, muscle weakness, light, sound and smell sensitivity, digestive disturbances, and the like.

• Occurrence

  International Health organisations estimate that over 1 million US citizens and about 250, 000 residents of the UK have been affected by this disease that affects women more than men or children.

• Treatment

  Among the treatments recommended are cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy, which represents a controlled exercise plan.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

  Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, also addressed as CBT refers to kind of talking therapy which represents a psychological therapy, that brings about positive behavioural changes by employing gentle, persuasive therapy by attempting to change your very thinking process to surmount your personal problems, especially in patients diagnosed with Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), depressions, and the like.

  This method of treatment is distinct from others for its central focus on the client’s difficulties vis-à-vis the problems of everyday life, and the scope the treatment provides to the patient rationally to introspect their qualms and apprehensions, paving the way for imbibing the changes they desire

  CBT’s working mechanism helps to not only to break down the chain of the negative spiral in your behaviour arising from the linkage in your mind of factors like your emotions, physical feelings, thoughts and behaviour that make you feel trapped in the spiral, but also embracing daily practical solutions that improve your mind ‘s cycle and status for the better. This also helps with managing day-to- day issues posing difficulty and stress in the future.

  Another great characteristic of the CBT is its successful application in a relatively short period

  The psychological therapy for ME or the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), has been ideally described by “NICE” or the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, as not belonging to the classification of a psychological disorder, and they reiterate that there is no reason to believe that the symptoms of ME constitute an assemblage of symptoms  within the patient’s mind. The use of Cognitive behavioural therapy is intended only to suppress the symptom levels, anguish and helplessness that ensue from this condition.