If you constantly feel a certain type of fatigue and don't know why, your body may be trying desperately to fight against something, but there's no hope of recovery.
This isn't the kind of fatigue that can be cured by spending the weekend sleeping or taking a full week on a beach vacation. This is a debilitating type of fatigue deep in the muscles that can make it feel impossible to even get out of bed on some days.
Feeling lethargic and exhausted to the core may be caused by a condition known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
What is chronic fatigue syndrome?
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a label intended to describe a complex syndrome that causes extreme fatigue and exhaustion with long-term disability.
Most people with ME/CFS also exhibit one or more additional symptoms, such as muscle pain, joint pain, disrupted sleep patterns, difficulty concentrating, and/or headaches. In severe cases, all of these can occur.
What causes ME/CFS and how can it be diagnosed?
As with most syndromes, there are no blood tests to make a definitive diagnosis, and the cause is currently unknown.
There are pressure point tests that you can take to assess your pain and will give you a rough measurement. If a certain number of pain points respond, you can assume that you have ME/CFS.
The European medical community understands that the cause is painful swelling of the brain and spinal cord (this is basically what the Latin word myalgic encephalomyelitis means). However, this also does not identify the cause, just another way to explain the set of symptoms.
Chronic fatigue syndrome tends to be the go-to diagnosis if you're suffering from chronic debilitating pain or extreme fatigue, but everything else is tested and nothing is found. Many doctors seem to think of this as an umbrella diagnosis that covers a variety of diseases and problems that cause the same set of symptoms. There is considerable variation in the type and severity of symptoms that cause a constant and overwhelming feeling of fatigue.
Basically, this syndrome can only be diagnosed by excluding all other known possibilities.
So when does feeling constantly tired cross the line of being described as overworked, overstressed, or bordering on burnout?
Here are 9 symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue to look out for if you're extremely tired and always wondering, “Why am I so tired all the time?” to introduce.
Here are 9 small signs of chronic fatigue syndrome:
1. It is completely different from everyday fatigue (such as after a week of work).
- It doesn't get much relief even if you rest.
- It is not due to fatigue after excessive exercise.
- Muscle weakness is not the cause.
- What happens to people with depression is not a loss of motivation or joy.
Photo: Cotton Bro Studio/Pexels
Although it is none of these, it is possible to develop any of them as a result of CFS/ME.
2. Sudden onset
I feel like I'm coming down with the flu, but it never goes away. In some cases, the disease progresses slowly, but sudden onset is a big red flag. This is one of the big reasons why many people believe there is a viral component.
3. Dull, aching pain in muscles and joints
Dull, aching pain in your muscles and joints that doesn't go away and doesn't respond to anything you do is another sign of chronic fatigue syndrome. It may develop into a chronic headache that is not a migraine. The pain is often thought to be myofascial, but because of frequent movement, it does not seem to be related to muscle use.
4. Feeling tired after activities
This means that you manage to do something, but the next day you can barely move. It may take several days to return to a stable condition. All symptoms worsen with exercise.
5. I'm mentally tired
Not only are my muscles tired, but I also feel like my brain isn't being activated. Many people report that it is different from brain fog or anxiety. It seems like my brain is too tired to work.
6. Decrease in thinking ability
Decreased concentration, decreased short-term memory, decreased attention span, decreased memory for recent events, difficulty planning and organizing thoughts, difficulty finding the right words to say, and You may feel disoriented as a result. These skills often present a picture that is very different from the patient's presymptomatic functional ability.
7. I can't sleep even though I'm tired.
When I'm lying in bed, I wake up in pain. It's like I don't have the energy to sleep. When I fall asleep, I feel like I will never wake up. Many people suffer from disrupted sleep patterns. Sleep issues are a result, not a cause, of her CFS/ME.
8. Recurrent sore throat
This is often accompanied by tenderness of nearby lymph glands. Sore throats seem to occur periodically, not just because you caught another bug.
9. Heart pounding or palpitations
Your heartbeat may become irregular. But tests don't show anything, and doctors can't explain it.
If you are tired to the point of exhaustion and six or more of the indicators listed above apply to you, you need help.
It's not just about being overworked or needing time off.
Find a functional medicine doctor or naturopathic doctor who can run tests to rule out everything else, then seek treatment with a holistic therapist.
While knowing your illness is helpful in some ways, a diagnosis alone won't make you feel better. However, don't fall into the trap of thinking that this can't be cured.
You're not just tired. There is proper care out there to help you.
linda east house I am a stress management coach, energy medicine expert, radionics master, bestselling author, and founder of Easthouse Natural Health.
