What is chronic fatigue syndrome?
chronic fatigue; It is a psychological problem that manifests itself with symptoms such as people constantly feeling tired despite adequate rest, decreased work efficiency, reluctance and alienation from social life, and unhappiness.
chronic fatigue; It is a psychological problem that manifests itself with symptoms such as people constantly feeling tired despite adequate rest, decreased work efficiency, reluctance and alienation from social life, and unhappiness. In some patients, it can only be seen in the form of mild fatigue and low energy, but in more advanced levels, it can reach the dimensions that the person cannot even do his daily activities and needs some kind of care. Chronic fatigue syndrome is generally seen in senior executives who have a busy work schedule, work in jobs that require high level of responsibility, have a stressful business life, and employees who work long and tiring shifts. The syndrome can be described as a psychological problem, but it has mental and physical effects as well as its psychological dimension. Emotional exhaustion and feeling as if they do not have the energy to perform any activity in patients bring along problems such as nausea, muscle aches, lack of concentration, and forgetfulness. Therefore, while it affects the quality of life negatively, it also creates negative effects on school success, work efficiency and social life.
What causes chronic fatigue syndrome?
Although chronic fatigue syndrome is a very common problem, its exact cause has not been determined yet. This disease usually affects individuals between the ages of 30-50 and its incidence is much higher in women than in men. The majority of individuals with the syndrome have muscle and joint pain, constant fatigue and lack of energy for at least 6 months. Although the exact cause is unknown, there are some reasons that increase the risk of developing the disease. The most important of these is stress. Chronic fatigue can occur in people who are constantly under stress, have a very busy work life and cannot spare enough time for themselves, with psychological problems and the resulting negative impact on physical health. At the same time, reasons such as lack of sleep pattern, sleep in a bright environment at night or a decrease in sleep quality due to reasons such as constantly waking up are among the factors that may play a role in the development of the syndrome. Contrary to popular belief, patients cannot overcome the feeling of constant fatigue no matter how much they rest. For this reason, patients whose constant feeling of fatigue persists for more than 6 months should definitely apply to health institutions to receive psychological and physiological support.
What are the symptoms of chronic fatigue?
The symptoms of chronic fatigue are similar to those caused by short-term stress and fatigue, so they can be confused with them. Not every individual who feels tired and exhausted has chronic fatigue syndrome. In order to diagnose the presence of this syndrome, patients must be checked by specialist physicians. The fact that the symptoms of the disease continue unabated for a long time and that the fatigue does not decrease with rest, and that this feeling of burnout also causes physiological problems such as abdominal pain and nausea in the patient strengthens the possibility of the presence of the disease. Common symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome include:
• Constant fatigue and sleepiness
• Muscle and joint pain
•Throat ache
•Stomach ache
• Energy loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Forgetfulness and decline in cognitive performance
• Disorders in sleep pattern and quality
• Weakening of the immune system
• Intestinal disorders
• Negative attitudes towards business and social life
• Persistent restlessness
• Depression
How is chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosed?
Chronic fatigue can be easily diagnosed as a result of examinations and diagnostic tests in patients who apply to health institutions with the above-mentioned symptoms. Since the symptoms of the disease are parallel to many psychological diseases, the patient's history should be taken in detail. At the same time, in order to fully understand whether the fatigue and similar symptoms in the person are caused by a different underlying disease, relevant blood tests and imaging techniques should be examined. Conditions such as not being diagnosed with a different disease that have a role in the formation of symptoms, chronic fatigue persisting for a long time and not decreasing despite rest should be evaluated together with an examination by a psychiatrist and psychologists, and the diagnosis should be made. Factors such as the severity of the disease, its effects on daily life and work life are also taken into account in how the treatment process will be planned in people who have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Multidisciplinary teams formed by psychiatrists, psychologists and specialists from other medical units, diagnosis and treatment methods are determined according to all these.
How is chronic fatigue treated?
There is no definitive treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome. The treatment plan is usually determined by the person and the severity of the problems experienced by the patient. The most effective methods of coping with the syndrome are measures such as exercising regularly, improving the ability of patients to combat stress and solving problems, and relieving intense work tempo. If the disease does not seriously affect daily life and the person can perform daily activities, there may be no need for medication. However, the use of antidepressant drugs may be required in patients who experience the syndrome very severely, who are at risk of losing their job, or who are completely alienated from their social life, and who are in the process of depression. At the same time, when deemed necessary by the physician, drug treatments and behavioral psychological therapies and treatments can be applied to strengthen the immune system, reduce muscle and joint pain, and provide sleep patterns.
In the psychological treatment process, cognitive therapy can be applied by giving information to patients about changing negative emotions in a positive way, recognizing and combating stress factors. It is also very effective for individuals with the syndrome to spend more time on activities and hobbies they like to do, and to determine a regular exercise plan and adapt to it. In patients who feel tied to the bed all day due to the constant feeling of fatigue, gradually reducing the time allocated to rest, trying to do the work that does not have energy and does not give pleasure to be done by breaking it into small pieces are important steps that can be taken in order to eliminate negative feelings. At the same time, in order to eliminate the negativities in business life, patients should rearrange their work environment, engage in behaviors to strengthen their social relations at work, and try to take measures to reduce their workload.