Coping With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is an equal opportunity condition. It can affect you no matter your gender, race, income level, or age. More than one million people in the U.S. live with CFS. For them, just getting out of bed in the morning can be a difficult task and an emotionally upsetting event can set off a chain reaction that leads to extreme exhaustion that lasts for days on end.

If you or someone close to you lives with CFS, you know how disruptive this condition is. It affects every facet of your life. It lowers your productivity at work, and it makes you feel less creative. It interferes with you exercise commitments, so you lose physical fitness. It disrupts your relationships, your sleep cycles, and your overall happiness.

While there isn't a cure for CFS—scientists aren't even sure what causes it—there are coping strategies that you can use prevent CFS from controlling your life.

First, keep track of the activities or events that trigger episodes of fatigue. Once you recognize the kinds of things that cause your CFS to worsen, you can take control, avoid those activities, and spend less time feeling exhausted.

Light exercise on your good days can help prevent episodes. It can also help you stay physically fit. Strenuous exercise, on the other hand, might make CFS worse. Talk with your doctor for help designing an exercise program that will give you the most benefit without exhausting you.

Sunlight can help stimulate your pineal gland. Getting some sun each day will help you feel better when you're awake and sleep better at night.

Finally, find ways to mentally relax. Whether you write in a journal, meditate, or practice yoga, finding a way to slow your mind down will help you relieve stress and that can prevent CFS episodes.

CFS doesn't have to control your life. Even though there's no cure, you can reduce the effect it has from day to day. That means more good days, and that's a very good thing.

Stay well,
Meghan Krohn