I'm right there with you KTmom. I've been labeled depressed for so long now that I'm starting to believe them! But honestly, I do feel somewhat better when taking an anti-depressant/anxiety med but I really believe it only helps me with the constant worry and ruminations that plague me because I never feel good.

It's funny because they say that having kids wears you down, I get that. But to the point where I can barely bring myself to get off the couch?! I've worked two jobs and gone to school full time and *still* had more energy than I do now and I'm not even working, plus we have a full-time housekeeper. So where is the exhaustion coming from if not from CFS/Fibro? I've ruled out all else so they automatically label me depressed. Well, I guess anyone would be if they felt their life wasn't where it should be, ya know?!

Sorry, rambling!

Hi, I know CFS is such a complex illness, far greater than I will ever know, but with my own experience and recovery, I have realised that CFS is quite a mental issue, even though the symptoms are very physical.

My doctor discovered my delta and slow theta brainwaves were too high, so with something called biofeedback therapy, we trained them down. Also, my nor epinephrine levels (fight for flight syndrome) was too high, resulting in exhuastion from minimal activity. This was trained down also, and im on the road to recovery.

I have now realised stress was the underlying cause of my CFS. I do believe CFS is very much a pshycological illness.

pokiok, I totally agree with you. I know I was always so active. In grad school I worked, went to school full time, volunteered in a youth group and interned. I also took dance class several times a week-never so tired and in pain. Even with my kids-they are in school and I had to leave my job and I still can't function normally. I believe also some antidepressants work for other things-like migraines, fibro because it helps with pain. It has not worked for me but does help in some cases but does not mean you are depressed. CFS warrior, i am really glad the Biofeedback helped you and I do understand some people have depression and anxiety in addition to CFS. I mean no disrespect to you at all, but CFS/ME is not a psychological illness. I am a psychologist and have diagnosed others with clinical depression. I am definitley not depressed and many people I know with this disease are not as well. On the days that I can get up, take a walk and attempt to do things around the house-I have an extremely happy mood-the problem is that the next day (because I pushed myself so hard) I crash-feel achy all over, very dizzy, can't keep anything down, with a migraine. i just can't help but get irritated when I go to a new doc and that is the first thing they ask me or they just assume-only because they have not educated themselves about the disease. I just think this is holding back research for the disease and it makes me upset. CBT therapy does very little for the people I knwo and love who have this disease and doc really need to look more into medical solutions. Again, I really hope you do not take offense to what I am saying. I think it is wonderful that you have gotten some relief and figured out some of your triggers adn I agree this is a very complex disease with many triggers. I just don't believe it is psychological in nature. I wish you both the best. Many hugs and well days ahead!!

As you know "depression" is varied and there are mood disorders (anxiety, etc.) that also tend to get lumped together and labeled as depression. I think most doctors want to help in some way and writing a prescription is a form of help in their minds. I know it was the first thing a doctor tried when I told him I was tired after my fourth child. I told him I was not depressed but tired and we went in circles for 20 minutes in his office. That was years before I started dealing with CFS.

When I went to a doctor for CFS symptoms I again encountered the anti-depressant solution. It was presented as a solution to sleep problems and body ache, etc. (I don't take pharmaceuticals.)

People can have depression and not have a chronic illness, but it has been my experience that most people with chronic illness deal with depression in some form or another at one time or another. It may not be clinical depression, but it is nasty stuff nevertheless.

I know it's frustrating when doctors AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME someone is depressed when they feel pain, and that the pain is caused by a psychological disorder of some kind. That is medically ridiculous. Pain and mental states are connected, but cause and effect is hard to prove with an assumption.

Yep, same deal here. So incredibly frustrating to have doctors who know nothing about the illness (but are sure it doesn't really exist) who are so sure it's depression, and they're the first genius to ever figure that out. Lol.