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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, like all chronic illnesses, poses a host of

stresses that patients have to suffer from. Among the most common are the

loss of life roles, ongoing medical expenses, loss of job or source of

income, confusing symptoms, and constant medical check-ups with healthcare

professionals who sometimes do not fully understand the condition.

With these stresses, it is very important for patients to know how to cope.

Coping is integral to the management of the disorder and to some extent

recovery from the syndrome. Presented below are some coping techniques that

may not only help you deal with the disorder better but can also free you

from some of the discomforts it could give.

Establish a positive understanding of the disease. It is not only important

to know the nature of the fatigue and its accompanying symptoms but it is

also vital that the patient knows how to positively deal with them.

Establishing a positive concept regarding CFS is known to help patients

respond to the symptoms better and facilitate self-regulatory techniques

much more effectively. This is the crux of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a

psychological therapy that brings about relief from symptoms by way of

establishing a good outlook with respect to the condition.

Avoid excessive resting – It is natural to rest whenever one feels

extremely fatigued. However, the reverse is often the more effective

technique. Stop the urge of resting as this could debilitate your condition

further. Instead, try to incorporate minor activities into your daily life

which may include low levels of activities at first.

Then, progress to higher intensity activities, according to what level your

body can afford. Do not overexert yourself though as this can also have

damaging effects. When in doubt, consult your health care professional, he

can recommend therapy options like graded exercise therapy.

Manage your daily activities – Limit your activities according to a

well-defined plan. Most patients limit their activities according to the

particular activities they can perform in a day. This is counter-productive

and should not be done at all costs. The key is to have a consistent

pattern of activities that progresses according to the levels of difficulty

and required physical exertion. Try to attain a balance between stress,

physical exertion and rest.

Don’t focus on the symptoms – It is not uncommon for people to nurse the

symptoms of their disease. Despite the fact that this is not helpful,

patients still persist with this attitude. Among people who suffer from

chronic fatigue syndrome, nursing their pains and aches only lead to higher

sensitivities to both as well as to disengagement. Disengagement is an

attitude of surrendering in the face of inconvenient experiences

(stressors) when they seem too overwhelming.

Hence, disengagement is a poor coping mechanism. Patients of CFS are

advised not to give too much emphasis on the pains instead, they are

recommended to live with them and conquer the urge of giving up.

Avoid the pitfalls of coping – Most patients fail not because the treatment

and therapy they have undergone are not effective but because they try to

rush back to their lives prior to the onset of the condition. It is

important to understand that chronic fatigue syndrome is a disorder that

cannot be remedied immediately.

It takes time and patience to progress from one stage of the disorder to

another. Most patients who try to achieve immediate relief from symptoms

often find themselves rebounding to square one, that is to the stage where

the syndrome is most severe.