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What if You Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Part One

If you are diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, first be aware that you are not alone. At the present time more than one million people suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. It is believed that less than 20 percent of those who suffer from this disease have been diagnosed, and some researchers say it is more like ten percent.

You need to try to be as calm as possible and then to seek ways to manage the disease. Rest assured that with effort, CFS can be treated and managed to the best of your ability. CFS can be treated by way of a combination of three things which include coping strategies, symptomatic treatments and activity management.

Be aware that once you have been diagnosed with CFS you may have to make alterations in your lifestyle such as the foods you eat; your exercise routine; your sleep patterns; the daily activities you are involved in and so on. You will need to learn to adjust your needs according to how you feel on any given day. Some CFS patients may find it necessary to enlist the help of a counselor, a sleep therapist, a dietitian and a physical therapist or occupational therapist.

No two CFS sufferers experience the disease the exact same way, as it can be more severe for some people than others. Some individuals who suffer from CFS manage to live active, productive lives while others find that their disease constantly disrupts and causes problems with their family and home life, work or school life and in their social activities. Many people find that CFS limits them and due to this they experience feelings of anger, anxiety, denial, guilt, depression and often excessive financial pressure due to missed days of work.

The best ways to deal with having CFS are to find ways to cope with the emotions you are experiencing and then to make the necessary changes in your day-to-day life. Doing these two things also helps to improve the prognosis of your disease. There are a number of different therapies that help a patient of CFS to develop the coping skills necessary to overcome the obstacles of this disease. These therapies include counseling to improve your level of emotional and mental health, muscle relaxation techniques, deep breathing, massage therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and movement therapies such as yoga, and tai chi.

Depression is sometimes linked in with chronic fatigue syndrome although it is not a type of depression. However people who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome often do develop depression because of the constraints of the disease. This is also common with other forms of chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and cancer. When depression sets in, it must be dealt with. Prescription medication can often be of help, especially with those who are depressed and often counseling is also recommended to speed up the recovery period.

It is important to be aware of the fact that a chronic illness can also take its toll on family members and therefore counseling for the family of a CFS patient as well as family education is often times a wise idea. Speak with the doctor to find support groups in your area.