Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease in which immunity is reduced and the cardiovascular, nervous, hormonal, and other systems are impaired.
In the modern world, we often hear “I’m burned out” and “I’m tired.” Behind these seemingly ordinary words, there is a big underlying cause, that is, we see only the tip of the iceberg in the form of chronic fatigue or lack of energy. But the problem lies much deeper.
Why does this happen? Let’s get to the bottom of it. How is chronic fatigue syndrome connected with anxiety disorders, fears, and mental tension? What is the reason for the development of the disease? The body and psyche require energy, which appears from several sources. Conventionally, it can be divided into two types — physical energy and psychological energy.
Physical Energy
Physical energy is the state of our health. There are neglected cases when serious treatment is necessary. But most often, it doesn’t come to that. It isn’t so difficult to replenish physical energy. For this, it’s important to sleep soundly for 7-8 hours and keep the muscles in tone with at least elementary exercise in the morning. The sleep of an anxious person is intermittent, as they are often thrown out of it. Because of this, there is a lack of sleep, which accumulates and leads to chronic fatigue syndrome. If a person doesn’t sleep enough and wakes up too early, can’t fall asleep, and needs to go to work in the morning, they are in a broken state and don’t get enough sleep. Sleepiness is one of the symptoms of the disease. Surely you know the state when you do everything automatically. The brain takes a long time to engage in work processes; you don’t understand what is happening. This indicates that your body lacks sleep! In order for us to have enough physical energy, there must be a full night’s rest.
Also, physical energy is restored with the help of food. In this way, we replenish the amount of nutrients. This helps us move on and do something. If you miss a meal and feel terrible hunger, then there is nowhere to take energy.
If the work involves physical labor, a person can be physically “exhausted.” And we are faced with such a symptom as a lack of energy. Fatigue from vigorous activity is relieved by simple rest.
Getting rid of physical fatigue is possible with sleep and doing nothing. You can watch a movie, take a walk in the park, switch attention, and change the picture. Moreover, walks satisfy the need for solitude, and every person should have time to be alone with themselves. And if you walk surrounded by trees, the effect is amplified. Emotions subside, and the head becomes “cleaner” because negative thoughts go away.
Psychological Energy
A symptom such as a lack of psychological energy indicates that once again our needs are not being met.
For example, a woman needs to relax with her friends, play a few rounds at the Gates of Olympus slots, get quality sleep, and do some creative work when she is babysitting a newborn baby 24/7. A baby requires a lot of attention and energy. On the one hand, it’s a great joy to cuddle your children and take care of them. And on the other hand, it’s important to remember that you still have yourself. And you need care just as much. You need walks. You need a change of scenery. Caring for a baby can often turn into Groundhog Day. Except it doesn’t benefit anyone. Neither the woman herself, nor her beloved one, nor the baby. Babies feel the state of their mom. If a woman is tired, burned out, and doesn’t want anything, it’s time to bring herself back to life. Ask close people to stay with the children.
Also, the level of psychological energy decreases when a person doesn’t get a visible result from their activities. Their motivation falls, and the desire to do something disappears. Moral exhaustion is observed. Approximately the same happens with people who experience anxiety and panic attacks. They spend their energy on worries, fears, and attempts to overcome such states. If you imagine a person as a vessel with a hole in it and fill it with water, that is, fill it with energy, it will leak out one day.
Signs of Chronic Fatigue
When a person experiences panic attacks, constant fear, and inner tension, they spend their energy to keep everything under control, monitor every symptom, defeat attacks, and monitor their health. They are afraid of death, even though it’s impossible to die from panic attacks. But that person doesn’t know that. They are frightened by what is happening and don’t know how to treat it. Constant internal tension, anticipation of a panic attack, and intrusive thoughts cause a huge drain on energy.
There comes a state in which there is no energy in the body; there is such a sign as drowsiness, especially in panic attacks and anxiety. The person doesn’t want to eat, has no appetite, and there is apathy: “I cannot do anything. I don’t want to do anything. I don’t know how to treat it.” The reason is an automatic stress adaptation and survival reaction. At this point, cortisol and norepinephrine are released into the bloodstream. The sympathetic part of the nervous system is turned on to survive. A person feels quite uncomfortable. All the body’s strength has gone into extinguishing the hormones. The person is “emptied,” and their internal battery is dead. Willpower won’t help here.
Such a state is the cause of chronic fatigue. The person cannot cope with the lack of energy and tension.
How to Treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
To remove chronic fatigue, the first thing to do is to understand that your needs aren’t being met. This is the starting point for treatment.
If you’re having Groundhog Day and bored with life, a change of scenery can help you cope. Go to another country or a neighboring city. Go somewhere with a tent or book a hotel. Or maybe a whole house away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Everyone likes something different. The main thing here is a change of scenery. From any travel, even a short trip somewhere for 1-2 days, a person comes back a little different. New neural connections are formed. This triggers a number of other processes in the head. There is a complete reboot with pleasant consequences: new ideas are born, creativity is turned on, the taste of life returns, and the symptom that was bothering you disappears.
The second way to cure chronic fatigue is to be in nature, walk, and communicate with water, earth, and air. Swimming, lying on the grass, warming your hands by the fire, and running in a clear field help shift attention and fill you with energy.
The third way of treating yourself is to just be alone with yourself. Do nothing at all; organize so-called lazy days. Watch a movie, stop rushing around, and stop fussing. You have you. This is enough to feel alive and happy; you don’t need a special reason for this. When a person’s priority is “I must do something and solve a sea of work tasks,” internal tension builds up.
Prevention of Chronic Fatigue
The main point to understand is that if something goes wrong, you observe a state in which you do everything through force, overstepping yourself; this isn’t the norm. No matter how much work you have or how early you get up, if your health is deteriorating, you won’t be able to do what you need to do. You just won’t have the energy. “I get up early in the morning because I have to run to work.” Then go to bed early and adjust your sleep patterns to your work schedule. Responsible work isn’t a reason to destroy your health. On the contrary, it’s important to take care of yourself and your condition in advance.
When you don’t hear yourself, don’t hurry to treat serious ailments, and don’t satisfy the body’s need for quality rest, there is only one question: “Why do you live? For what?”. It’s commonly believed that something in this life is beyond our control. But in fact, any person can bring their system of life to balance. Adjust work, relationships, and recreation so that it’s comfortable for them. Choose the treatment that suits your needs.
Chronic fatigue syndrome or accumulated fatigue will put you out of action. So, it’s better not to postpone treatment for later. You will either just get sick or shut down for a week, two weeks, or so. To prevent chronic fatigue syndrome from catching up with you, keep a balance of work, responsibility, and rest.