5 things you should know about chronic fatigue syndrome

Put simply, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is extreme fatigue that cannot be explained by any underlying medical condition. The fatigue that someone with CFS experiences can get worse with physical or mental activity, but the fatigue doesn't necessarily improve with rest.

1. It's not simply about being tired

Living with CFS is not as simple as just resting whenever you feel tired. CFS can cloud your thinking, it can cause muscle pain, and can even cause nausea. You can compare it to living everyday of your life, but you have a flu that just gets worse. Resting doesn't do a lot to ease CFS as well since sometimes you can even wake up feeling like you haven't rested at all.

2. Looking good doesn't always mean that you feel good

Not everyone who suffers from CFS look like they just finished a marathon. Even a well-presented, smiling, and happy looking person can be struggling with CFS. It takes a lot for someone with CFS to go out and appear "normal", and it absolutely drains them.

3. Everyday is a battle

People suffering from CFS don't have a lot of energy that they can spare each day. For them, everyday is a constant battle with trying to find the right balance of activities in order to have a semblance of a normal life, as well as resting in order to not overexert themselves.

4. Treatment is expensive

CFS is pretty expensive, and not just in financial terms. Aside from the price of treatment, it also takes a toll on your life. You sometimes have to set aside some of your goals and dreams since CFS severely limits the things that you can do comfortably each day. It will also be hard for you to take care of your family, as most of the time you'll be lying in bed, trying to cope with your condition.

5. It's not something that you can handle alone

If you're suffering from CFS, don't think that you'll be able to handle it alone. You need people in your life that are willing to help you each and everyday with your condition. You need to surround yourself with positive and supportive people that will stick with you through thick and thin. CFS might make you physically tired, but it shouldn't stop you from making the most out of your life.

Source: Healthline