| How does ME/CFS start? | | | | temporary relief, but again the symptoms come |
| There are numerous ways of developing Fatigue | | | | back. It's common for people to lose trust in their |
| conditions, including Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome | | | | body and energy levels. This can help to further |
| (PVFS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Myalgic | | | | entrench the stress - symptom - stress cycle. |
| Encephalomyelitis (ME) along with Fibromyalgia | | | | Stress response over the long-term |
| (FM). Some common causes include - viruses, | | | | The system becomes depleted when subjected |
| bacterial infections, operations, vaccinations, etc. | | | | to the stress response over the long-term. The |
| The cause can also be connected to a stressful | | | | chemistry designed to help us out of danger |
| incident or period in a persons life. The common | | | | becomes toxic. The immune system becomes |
| factor is that the person's system is under stress. | | | | depleted and most other bodily systems are |
| What is happening when we are under stress? | | | | disrupted. Adrenalin levels can become depleted |
| As a result of entering this state we produce a | | | | after prolonged activation. The dysregulation of |
| cocktail of chemicals - including cortisol, adrenalin | | | | stress chemistry is responsible for more fatigue |
| and noradrenalin. This powerful group of chemicals | | | | and physical symptoms. |
| is also produced during the fight or flight response | | | | Is it all in the mind? |
| - this is the natural process that is triggered in | | | | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is certainly not all in the |
| reaction to a threat - either real or perceived. | | | | mind. It's a physical and debilitating illness affecting |
| Physiological changes take place during fight or | | | | most bodily systems. However, purely physical |
| flight | | | | approaches to recovery, or those that focus on |
| A number of changes take place, due to | | | | specific symptoms rarely work. We need to |
| activation of the sympathetic nervous system. | | | | recognize that the mechanisms that trigger these |
| Additional fuel is directed to the major muscles | | | | physiological responses are very much a part of |
| groups by increasing blood pressure and heart | | | | the mind. Until these patterns are addressed, full |
| rate. Thyroid and blood sugar levels are affected. | | | | recovery over the long term is unlikely. |
| Increased energy is needed for emergency | | | | Breaking the cycle |
| systems which causes nonessential functions | | | | Given the right tools it is possible to break free of |
| including digestion and immune system to shut | | | | these cycles relatively quickly. Recovery time, |
| down. | | | | fortunately, is not relative to the duration of the |
| What's the connection between the stress | | | | illness. What's needed is an insight into the |
| response and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? | | | | damaging unconscious cycles, along with an |
| The system is already under stress from the | | | | understanding of the mind - body connection. New |
| initial virus, bug, trauma, vaccination etc. If the | | | | physical and cognitive strategies can then be |
| person was run down at the time or there were | | | | introduced in order to influence the health in a |
| other stressors present, this could prolong the | | | | positive way. |
| recovery period. A slow recovery is then a cause | | | | Health is buoyant! |
| for concern, which results in more stress. This | | | | People with fatigue conditions typically feel flawed |
| depletes an already challenged immune system, | | | | or broken in some way. This is not the case, |
| slowing the process of recovery further. | | | | although the physical symptoms can be so severe |
| Sufferers Search for Help | | | | that it feels as if it is so. Our health is incredibly |
| Sufferers are typically tested for other ailments | | | | buoyant, we just need to discover what is in the |
| by their doctors. After receiving the negative test | | | | way. Once we redress the balance we create the |
| results, the symptoms persist. People often turn | | | | opportunity for energy to return and symptoms |
| to alternative approaches. Some people get | | | | to naturally resolve. |