The Psychological Component of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Being sick is hard and having an illness that many doctors still don't believe in is even harder. If a doctor can't figure out what is wrong with you, they assume your symptoms are all in your head. You are automatically labeled emotional or depressed.

With all physical illnesses, such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, diabetes, cancer and heart disease, there is a psychological component. In order to fully treat any illness the physical and psychological components must be treated as well.

Because of how many CFS patients have been treated by the medical community (being told their illness isn't real), most are afraid to acknowledge to physicians their emotional issues. They feel that this will confirm the doctor's belief that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is an emotional condition. The fact is we all have emotional issues and baggage regardless of our physical health status.

With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other diseases, once the physical illness is acknowledged and treated often the emotional issues improve.

Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., who is the author of "From Fatigued to Fantastic" and is Director of the Annapolis Research Center for Effective FMS/CFS Therapies, has found through research that a large percentage of CFS patients exhibit Type-A behaviors that were driven as children due to low self-esteem that continued into adulthood. We would find ourselves continually seeking approval and trying to be all things to everyone.

It is unfortunate, but for many of us with CFS developing this illness is the only way we stop continually pushing ourselves. Our body doesn't give us a choice.

A lot of psychological growth can happen after someone develops CFS because they have to learn who they are all over again, as many of us have defined ourselves through work and activity.

The majority of CFS patients feel depressed because they are sick. There are only a small percentage of CFS patients who have depression as a cause of their fatigue. Usually the depression felt by CFS patients is frustration.

Another difference between CFS and depression is that patients with CFS have the desire and drive to do things but are frustrated because they can't. Someone who is fatigued because of depression has few interests, if any, and a lack of desire. The stress of having CFS can also cause depression.

It is important for CFS patients to seek counseling to learn how to deal with the physical changes to their bodies. With CFS, we are literally forced to put our own needs first and due to our nature for always wanting to care for others, this is another reason counseling can be beneficial.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a very real and physical illness. But there is the psychological aspect of over-achieving and low self-esteem that are triggers. Add to these never resting despite our bodies' warnings, an infection or trauma as another trigger, hormonal deficiencies and a genetic predisposition and CFS takes over.

Antidepressants are often prescribed to CFS patients but more so for energy than depression. The most commonly prescribed antidepressants are Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft and Effexor.