Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) describes a sense of exhaustion and post-exertion malaise, even when you have gotten enough rest and sleep. The disease is characterized by six months of incapacitating fatigue experienced as profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina, and problems with concentration and short-term memory. The cause is unknown, but it is a...
I was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder a few years back. As I research CFS I find many similarities. For example both conditions have unknown origin, possible genetic predisposition and both are hypothesized to be triggered by stress. Also both are seen as possible expressions of PTSD.
So many people struck with CFS seem to have come down with it in particularly busy periods of life, so many seem to have significant trauma in their pasts or are just naturally 'high strung' or 'driven' (ie stress junkies)
I buy into what I have read about the Cortisol cascade in the body and how that can result in the symptoms associated with CFS. I do believe that STRESS KILLS.
I wonder if CFS may just be one of the mechanisms through which long term exposure to stress damages so many pathways that it results in real physical failure in the body.
If there is any merit to any of this, then a dedicated focus on stress management may lead to real relief for many of us.
Please share your perspectives.. how many of you have a stress connection, how many of you don't?
So many people struck with CFS seem to have come down with it in particularly busy periods of life, so many seem to have significant trauma in their pasts or are just naturally 'high strung' or 'driven' (ie stress junkies)
I buy into what I have read about the Cortisol cascade in the body and how that can result in the symptoms associated with CFS. I do believe that STRESS KILLS.
I wonder if CFS may just be one of the mechanisms through which long term exposure to stress damages so many pathways that it results in real physical failure in the body.
If there is any merit to any of this, then a dedicated focus on stress management may lead to real relief for many of us.
Please share your perspectives.. how many of you have a stress connection, how many of you don't?
For example, my grandmother had terrible RA and lupus but was never dx. She was dx through me, in a way because I became a walking version of her at age 35.
Mine was brought to the surface by some very stressful months when I added to my stress by not getting enough rest and allowing my tank to go way way below E physically.
Now stress shows up in many ways physically, sometimes as a delayed reaction.
It makes CFS hugely worse, sometimes I have stomach acid troubles, sometimes it is hair loss, acne, RA flares, lupus flares, aches and pains, you name it basically.
So, now I am a reformed type A and doing much better. When my body speaks to me now, about overdoing it, I listen right away. : )
I too struggle with PTSD and chronic anxiety as is common amongst many people with cfs. And when you think about it, just the presence of these two anxiety disorders is distressing in and of itself. I got sick with cfs almost 30 years ago after coming down with a flu-like illness that never went away, following a very stressful year in grad school.
Many years ago I learned about Hans Seyle, MD a distinguished Austrian endocrinologist who is considered by many as the first to demonstrate the existence of biological stress and actually the first to coin the term stress. To quote him: stress plays a role in every disease, and that failure to cope with or adapt to stressors can produce diseases of adaptation or illnesses. Hence how we cope with stress is so critical. I feel like Ive spent most of my life in a constant fight or flight state both mind and body and finally, whatever it is that causes this chronic fatigue syndrome came alive, whether its a genetic disease, defective mitochondria, retrovirus etc. It also fits with the link to autonomic dysfunction seen in patients with cfs.
I love this stuff and find it fascinating. My only concern is that Ive seen it twisted around and used as a way to blame the individual for getting sick. Thats not what its about. Thanks for bringing up the topic!
I got this illness during a time when I was a single mother making $8 an hour in a wire coating factory, and in a mentally abusive relationship with an extremely controlling man. I got herpangina and that was it, I've never been the same. There were panic attacks, bouts of mono, the usual fatigue...it was like my body forgot how to handle the stresses it had been handling and gave up. I blamed myself for being weak for years. Now I'm just grateful for each day even with the pain and changes because I've learned/am learning to find some peace and good in each day.
I'm still type A to a point, have to work constantly on not controlling my entire life. Each day is a new chance to learn to be peaceful....
I am a very passive, pleaser type person who has been controlled for many years. Sometimes I wonder if I had stood up for myself years ago if I would be sick today. I blame myself in so many ways but yet deep down I know that I did the best I could at the time.
Like Simonsaysit says though, I really worry that the perception will be that we are to blame for our illness. That is just so wrong.
I am trying so hard to find peace in my situation. Some days I do better than others.
Anyway, after sitting on the sofa for so long with cfs, I learned how to be still, meditate, enjoy the smallest of things, and appreciate the goodness of life. Learned we have to take care of ourselves on many levels (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual), and I'm getting better at doing it. Had to get out of living in my head all the time and being worried about the future. That simply does not work for me and never did, and it makes me sicker when I do it. Just took me a long time to realize it. Biggest area of growth involves trusting the process of life. I'm able to see more of my conditioned patterns that aren't beneficial to me and dropping them. Feel more free.
I do believe we can heal from this. I don't believe this has to be our permanent state, and that with enough awareness to make changes in our life, that will free up some of the trapped energy that we experience in our bodies. I think we have to be very gentle and compassionate with ourselves during this process and that we have to learn to trust our intuition with making choices. Every time I have a set-back, I don't beat myself up as badly and feel like a failure for days on end like I used to do. I just do whatever I have to do to make myself feel better. Meditation/prayer usually works for me and helps my head to clear so that I can do the next best thing for myself.
All I can say is that cfs is teaching me a new way to live, and I never could have done it before when I was always so worried about the future or ruminating about the past or running around at 90 miles an hour on my time off. I look at this as a wake up call to living a more authentic life in many ways! Happy Easter to everyone!