Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

**Although the rest of this blog is devoted to mental illness, it is important to note that CFS is more than just mental illness.**

CFS is still not very well understood, but is characterized by extreme fatigue that does not get better with rest, and is not the result of some other medical condition. Although a variety of symptoms are possible, the “official” symptoms are:

·         Fatigue

·         Loss of memory or concentration

·         Sore throat

·         Enlarged lymph nodes in your neck or armpits

·         Unexplained muscle pain

·         Pain that moves from one joint to another without swelling or redness

·         Headache of a new type, pattern or severity

·         Unrefreshing sleep

·         Extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after physical or mental exercise

Diagnosis of CFS can be a long process because the fatigue has to persist for at least six months, and all other possible health causes that cause fatigue have to be ruled out. There is no cure for CFS, only symptom relief. Medication, sleeping pills, counseling, or graded exercise therapy (small amount of exercise, followed by a resting period, that is increased as ability increases) may be used.

(http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/basics/definition/con-20022009)