What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and how does it affect people?
Around a quarter of a million people in the United Kingdom suffer from chronic fatigue (CF), which is also sometimes known as ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) or SEID (systemic exertion intolerance disease).
It causes people to feel tired or exhausted all the time, particularly after being active, and the symptoms do not usually improve, or only improve a little, with rest.
There are differing degrees of chronic fatigue. Some people will have to take regular breaks or time off from work, but will still be able to complete day-to-day activities. For others, the symptoms can be much more severe, reducing mobility and making day-to-day tasks difficult to complete. Severe CF can also affect sleep and concentration, and may cause physical pain, low mood and intolerance to noise or light.
There are a number of ideas about what causes CF, but the exact cause remains unknown. Suggestions include: hormonal imbalance, stress and emotional trauma or problems with an immune system response following an infection and depression.
Chronic fatigue and your mood
Having CF can leave people feeling de-motivated, helpless and low in mood. This can affect the way people think about themselves, causing them to feel worthless, a burden, or just like giving up. People may withdraw from family and friends and do less and less of what they used to enjoy, which can result in a vicious cycle (see the diagram opposite).
It’s important to get support to help you manage CF. Your GP or practice nurse can offer you information about the condition and talk through treatments and support options that may be right for you.
For more information on CF and to find out how the Healthy Minds service can help you, please download the leaflet in the 'downloads' section on this page.