“Historically in the literature CBT [Cognitive Behavioral Therapy] was inappropriately touted as a cure for patients with ME/CFS if they changed their “belief system”. ME/CFS is a physical illness and not a psychological illness, therefore CBT cannot cure ME/ CFS. What CBT can do is to help patients cope with being chronically ill and manage their emotional reactions better so that they do not waste valuable energy on worrying or feeling guilty about things that they cannot control. We like to think of CBT as “emotional energy conservation”.” CfsChronic Fatigue SyndromeMyalgic EncephalomyelitisCognitive Behavioral TherapyM E CfsM ECognitive Behavior TherapyCbtPace Trial Author:Alison C. Bested
“This is an example of pacing when shopping. Break shopping into multiple steps: 1) rest at home before driving the car to the store, 2) drive to the store, 3) rest, lying down in the car after driving to the store, 4) shop for 30 min in the store, 5) rest lying down in the car before going home, 6) drive home and 7) rest at home.” CfsChronic Fatigue SyndromeMyalgic EncephalomyelitisPacingM E CfsM ESpoon TheorySpoonie Author:Alison C. Bested
“Malaise” is a general body discomfort or weakness, often marking the onset of an of infection/flu-like illness or other disease. Fatigue and flu-like symptoms are linked to activation of the immune system and research scientists are in the process of unraveling these mechanisms in ME/CFS.” CfsChronic Fatigue SyndromeMyalgic EncephalomyelitisMalaiseM E CfsM EPost Exertional Malaise Author:Alison C. Bested
“To differentiate between symptoms of depression and anxiety secondary to ME/CFS and psychiatric disorders, ask the patient what they will do the next time they have a “good day”. A patient with ME/CFS will have a long list of ideas whereas a patient with major depressive disor- der will say they can not think of anything they enjoy any more. Patients with an anxiety disorder will have a list of reasons why they won’t be able to do or enjoy the activities.” CfsChronic Fatigue SyndromeMyalgic EncephalomyelitisM E CfsM E Author:Alison C. Bested
“ME/CFS is a complex condition that affects every organ system in the body. There is evidence of inflammation at the cellular and biochemical levels: in the muscles, brain and spinal cord in patients with ME/CFS. The name for this illness has had a huge impact on the medical, scientific and patient communities – how it is viewed and how patients are treated by the medical community (160).” CfsChronic Fatigue SyndromeMyalgic EncephalomyelitisM E CfsM EChronic Illness Stigma Author:Alison C. Bested