Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And Depression Are Not The Same Thing!

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a very misunderstood illness and this is perhaps why there are so many myths about it. Perhaps the most common myth about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is that it is effectively a mental condition, and another name for depression.

But these two conditions are very different!

And when you label a condition incorrectly it can cause no end of problems when trying to diagnose and treat it. So it's extremely important to make the distinction between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and depression - because they are completely different illnesses.

For one, depression can be a symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but there are many Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers out there who do not suffer from depression at all.

Second, research has shown that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers have an abnormality in their 'deep sleep' brainwave patterns. In contrast, depression sufferers do not have this abnormality.

In addition, depression sufferers tend to feel tired all the time, whereas Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers' exhaustion increases notably after mental or physical exertion.

There are also symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome that are not shared by depression sufferers. Nasty flu-like symptoms, headaches, reversal of sleeping patterns, painful muscles and joints, Restless Legs Syndrome, and an increase in colds and viruses all are just a few symptoms that can play a part in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

These are just a few of the differences between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and depression!

Another myth about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is that all Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers need to do is to 'pull themselves together' - and they'd be cured...

... if only it were that simple!

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is actually a bio-physical condition and was (finally) accepted as such by the UK government in 2001. But no cure has yet been found.

Unfortunately there are still many people out there (including some medical professionals) who still think that the condition is 'all in the sufferer's head'.

It is because of this misunderstanding that the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome community has fought so hard against Chronic Fatigue Syndrome being wrongly labelled as a mental illness. And it is perhaps because of this battle that depression amongst Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers has often sadly been overlooked...

Yet for many, depression can be a very real symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. If you suffer from depression as a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferer, then it's vital that you take it very seriously and that you try to address it as soon as possible.

If you don't deal with your depression, you are unlikely to be able to recover from any chronic illness...

...and recovering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is no exception.

It is possible to recover from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. So if you do experience depression as a symptom of your Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, make it a priority to deal with it. Only that way can you get yourself on the road to recovery.

===========================================================

** Reprinting of the article above is welcome! **

The article above may be freely reproduced provided that: (1) you include the following resource box; and (2) you only mail to a 100% opt-in list.

Here's the resource box to use if reprinting the article above:

------

Claire Williams is editor of sleepydust.net and has suffered from Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since 1995.

She created 'sleepydust.net' to help Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia sufferers to deal with the condition - from handling their money worries, to recovering from their illness....

http://www.sleepydust.net

To subscribe to the newsletter in which this article was published, please go to:

http://www.sleepydust.net/ezine

------

===========================================================

Latest News


Treasurys rally on economic weakness
CNNMoney.com - Dec 1, 2008
At nearly a year in duration, the current recession is one of the longest downturns since the Great Depression. Adding to the grim picture: a pair of ...
Government bond yields hit fresh lows BusinessWeek
all 84 news articles

Six Sigma Training Gains Popularity as Depression Looms
MarketWatch - 6 hours ago
Setter adds, "Many leading companies are well aware of these issues, but not every company failed during The Great Depression. If a consumer has less money ...

Depression Leads to Internal Body Fat in 70-Somethings, Study Suggests
Wall Street Journal - Dec 1, 2008
People with depression were twice as likely as others to gain visceral fat -- the kind that surrounds internal organs and often shows up as belly fat. ...

ABC News

Bernanke says crisis 'no comparison' to Great Depression
AFP - Dec 1, 2008
"Well, you hear a lot of loose talk, but let me just ... say, as a scholar of the Great Depression -- and I've written books about the Depression and been ...
Financial Meltdown Could Require Use of Depression-Era Rule American Institute for Economic Research
No comparison between current crisis and 1930s: Bernanke Economic Times
Bush Recounts an ‘Uh-Oh Moment’ Wall Street Journal Blogs
Austin American-Statesman - Reuters
all 970 news articles

WCBD

Now ward off depression
Economic Times, India - 1 hour ago
... using both monetary and fiscal levers to kick-start faltering economies. The big question is will it ensure the recession does not become a depression.
Video: Money Minute: Recession, Paulson, Oil AssociatedPress
The Longest Recession Since … New York Times
US entered recession December 2007, panel says Washington Post
BankInfoSecurity.com - USA Today
all 992 news articles

New Online Tool May Help Predict Depression
Inventorspot - 8 hours ago
Researchers at University College London (UCL) have developed an online tool that may help predict the risk of someone suffering from depression in the ...
New Online Test For Depression Science Daily (press release)
Former Judge, London Law Professor Hugh Laddie Dies at 62 Bloomberg
all 13 news articles

Depression linked to low bone density
Cincinnati.com, OH - Dec 1, 2008
By Peggy O’Farrell • pofarrell@enquirer.com • December 1, 2008 Depression and anxiety in their teen years could put girls at risk for brittle bones later in ...
Alcoholism Eats At Young Men's Bones Boston Channel.com
all 46 news articles

Nearly 5% of US population suffers from persistent depression or ...
UC Los Angeles, CA - 2 hours ago
Though effective treatments are available for individuals suffering from chronic depression and anxiety, very little is known about how often these ...
Kids IQs linked to mental disorders abc7.com
all 2 news articles

Sean Snaith: Could be worst recession since Great Depression
Tampabay.com, FL - 6 hours ago
"It's no Great Depression,'' Snaith said, "but it certainly has the chance to be the worst recession since then.'' • Expect four consecutive quarters of ...

Don’s seeking to lift the burden of depression
Great Lakes Advocate, Australia - 3 hours ago
WHILE fighting his own battle with depression Don Craig soon realised the need for a local support group for all sufferers. “It doesn’t discriminate – men, ...

Resources