Difference Between Chronic Fatigue And Depression

Aim To Exercise More And Start Small If You Need To

Though depressive attitudes may make it harder to work out, implementing an exercise routine thats realistic and attainable in your everyday life can ease depression fatigue.

Exercise has the added benefit of improving your sleep, too.

Its OK to start small even just walking for 30 minutes a day will likely boost your energy and mood. Exercise is truly an organic and reliable way to help address your depression fatigue.

Demographic Intrapsychic Interpersonal And Health

Our nationally representative study supports the majority of findings of the previous research on depression and CFS from regional community samples and from clinical samples. In accordance with the previous literature on demographic characteristics associated with depression among those with CFS and among those with other chronic illnesses,, we found that being younger and/or female was associated with depression. Both socio-economic status, in generaland food insecurity, a measure of extreme poverty, was associated with an increased risk of depression. Marital status was associated with depression in the bivariate but not the logistic regression analyses. Unlike previous research on depression among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease, education level and immigrant status were not significantly related to depression. Although the association between immigrant status and CFS was not significant in this analysis, it would be helpful if other studies would investigate this under-researched topic with larger sample sizes.

Supportive And Symptomatic Treatment

Educating patients about CFS and validating their illness experience in addition to establishing a working alliance are the initial steps in the treatment., Direct the treatment toward the most problematic symptoms, as prioritized by the patient, and other illness-perpetuating factors. Encourage a well-balanced diet, and discuss with patients their nutritional habits. Advice about preventing over- and under-activity is essential. Start low and go slow is the correct advice for activities and exercise, the same as for using medications. Gear activities toward improving function in areas that are of greatest importance in achieving activities of daily living and remain open-minded about alternative therapies and discuss them with your patients when appropriate. Consider referring or asking for consults and discuss that with patients early in the treatment.

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Its Harder To Exercise When Youre Depressed

Exercise is a great source of energy, but feelings of depression might make it harder for you to want to work out on a regular basis. Depression can cause you to experience a lack of motivation in many aspects of life, and this can channel into a lack of desire to exercise.

But dont think that this lack of exercise is because of laziness. This couldnt be further from the truth!

Summoning the motivation to exercise is already hard enough. But feelings like reduced self-esteem and pessimism are specific depressive attitudes that research suggests may be interfering with your exercise.

Its completely understandable that you might not be working out as much as you used to or would like to. Recognizing that these thought patterns are a result of depression means youre better equipped to deal with the challenge of motivating yourself to exercise.

Have You Spoken To Your Regular Doctor

Adrenal Fatigue is a syndrome, meaning that it encompasses multiple systems and aspects of your health. This also makes it a very difficult condition to diagnose for a typical MD, whose training is typically focused on more acute conditions. In other words, MDs are great when you have an acute condition that sends you to hospital, but they’re not so helpful when faced with multiple symptoms and general complaints of feeling ‘tired and unwell’.

Did you know that MDs receive less than one day of nutrition training during their entire 4 years at medical school? A 2006 study found that the average MD received only 23.9 hours on this vitally important subject. Modern healthcare has drifted away from promoting things like nutrition, emotional wellness, and exercise, and has become almost exclusively focused on treating acute, life-threatening conditions. Again, that’s not so helpful if you are suffering from a condition like Adrenal Fatigue.

There are other reasons why doctors are unable to make a diagnosis of Adrenal Fatigue. The requisite lab tests are rarely covered by insurance, and are often difficult to interpret for an inexperienced doctor. It takes a skilled and experienced practitioner to determine what your ‘optimal’ ranges should be, rather than the wide ‘normal’ ranges suggested by the lab.

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Fatigue: Don’t Assume It’s Depression

Fatigue is a part of a wide spectrum of diagnoses ranging from being a symptom in depression, anxiety, seasonal affective disorder, and multiple other diagnoses to being a full syndromal disorder in CFS, yet CFS goes undiagnosed in 80% of cases and is often misdiagnosed as depression. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders doesn’t list CFS as a diagnosis although the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, does. In clinical practice, CFS presentations range from complicated cases associated with a psychotic state resulting in multiple murders in one case report to noncomplicated presentations with multiple psychiatric disorders, primarily depression. It is very important to understand the distinctive features between chronic fatigue and depressive disorder when evaluating a patient with a main complaint of fatigue. A full detailed history accompanied by questionnaire forms can be very helpful to differentiate CFS from major depressive disorder. There is still no specific test that can confidently differentiate between them. Multiple studies have tried to find distinctive factors and they are listed in .

The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome , or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis , is an ongoing disorder that causes constant fatigue that does not disappear with sleep or rest and may affect routine activities. The majority of the time, it affects the nervous and immune systems. Its also know as post-viral fatigue syndrome .

Patients with ME-CFS experience severe fatigue, which is caused by post-exertional malaise . The bodys ability to recover from even tiny amounts of energy causes an increase in symptoms. A feeling of being tired may be different than normal fatigue and can last for a few days after physical, mental, or emotional stress.

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What’s Included With The Adrenal Fatigue Solution

The program contains all the information you need to recover your energy levels, the natural way. Learn how to restore your vitality by following the right diet, managing your stress, and using the correct supplements. The program includes valuable tools and recipes that will guide you all the way through your recovery process.

Tips For Dealing With Depression And Fatigue

To better cope with depression and fatigue its important to:

Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University . He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine , and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.

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Are You Trying To Say I Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Because I Am Depressed

There is no definitive answer as yet to what exactly causes CFS, only speculations. Mental health challenges are not the only things thought to be a factor. Other proposed explanations for CFS include: genetics, viruses, hormone imbalances, and immune issues. Research is ongoing, and for most people CFS appears to be caused by a combination of the above.

The Definition Of Chronic Fatigue

Meanwhile, chronic fatigue is a more severe, drawn-out form of fatigue. This occurs when feelings of exhaustion or lack of energy go well over six months and do not go away even with rest. The exact cause of chronic fatigue is unknown, but many elements can lead to it, such as stress and sickness.

Sleep issues and chronic pain and depression usually contribute to chronic fatigue. Other factors, such as a lack of physical activity, an unhealthy diet, and certain medications can contribute to chronic fatigue symptoms. This condition can negatively impact regular functioning and even the quality of life for people.

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The Relationship Between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And Depression

Chronic fatigue syndrome is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis and is sometimes abbreviated as ME/CFS. The most recent term proposed is systemic exertional intolerance disease . It is characterized by unexplained extreme fatigue lasting for at least six months in duration that is not explained by any other underlying medical illness.

Other symptoms include:

• Sore throat
• Unexplained muscle/joint pain

Persistent fatigue, painful physical symptoms, sleep disturbances, poor concentration, psychomotor retardation, and decreased libido are characteristic features of both depression and chronic fatigue syndrome. As a result, individuals may be misdiagnosed with one or the other or both.

Low On Energy It May Not Be Depression

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

• Tips for More Energy

Depression is a common cause of fatigue, so you might be wondering whether your fatigue is a result of depression. But just because you’re tired all the time doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re depressed.

The fact is there are many underlying conditions that could be responsible for feeling tired all the time. From mood disorders to issues affecting your physical health like chronic fatigue syndrome, the following psychiatric and medical conditions are some of the most common ailments associated with fatigue.

But first, it’s important to note that many of these conditions share symptoms similar to depression, so we’ll start there. By understanding the distinctions between depression and other factors that cause fatigue, you can seek out the right treatment and start to feel like your energetic self again.

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A Psychologist Differentiates Depression And Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Dr. Kristina Downing-Orr, a clinical and research psychologist who developed chronic fatigue syndrome is well acquainted with both conditions. She reports that

• The exhaustion in ME/CFS is more constant, disabling and global than in depression and is exacerbated by exertion
• Apathy is common in depression but not in ME/CFS. Instead, the limitations imposed by ME/CFS leave most patients feeling frustrated, upset and impatient to get better.
• Depressed people dont want to get out of bed. People with ME/CFS want to get out of bed but often cant.
• When people with ME/CFS push themselves too much they feel worse and can experience a lengthy setback . When people with depression push themselves they usually feel better.
• Mental exertion can lead to a worsening of physical symptoms in ME/CFS but has no detrimental effects in depression
• Self esteem is not affected in ME/CFS but is in depression
• Suicidal thoughts, when present in depression tend to be pervasive. If suicidal thoughts occur in ME/CFS they tend to be temporary

How Likely Is It To Be In Perpetual Pain Have No Physical Energy To Even Think Much Less To Do Things And Not Become Depressed

Being chronically ill is depressing, especially when you have no effective palliative treatment, or when you dont even realize that youre physically sick and start to think that youre just a lazy and useless piece of dumb shit.

A lot of us get disregarded by doctors and told that were just depressed or anxious, prescribed an anti-depressant or anxiolytic, and sent home.

If youve been diagnosed with depression and your anti-depressants dont seem to work, PLEASE consider if the tiredness comes from depression or if its physical. Also consider it if the things most people do to fight exhaustion at best dont help you or at worst make it worse.

This is a video about chronic fatigue. To be clear, she talks about being diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME, but she recently found out that she has hEDS instead.

If you want to jump straight to where she describes what chronic fatigue is like, the difference between it and depression, as well as just being tired, go to 3:10 – 10:32.

Here a doctor describes the similarities and differences between depression and fatigue, though his specific focus is on patients with cancer:

Heres another much shorter video showing basic differences between tiredness and chronic fatigue:

And heres another video talking about fatigue in general and some possible causes:

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How Is Chronic Fatigue Diagnosed

There is no definite test or result that can prove or disprove a diagnosis of CFS. Instead, a diagnosis is made after other causes of fatigue have been ruled out and symptoms have been present for six months or longer.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence lists the following symptoms:

• muscle pain

• sleep problems

How To Prove To Your Doctor You’ve Got Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Me/cfs And Are Not Just Depressed

by Cort Johnson | Apr 26, 2014 | Depression, Diagnosis, Homepage |

Wrong diagnoses hurt. They lead doctors to prescribe treatments that dont work and may even be harmful and they keep doctors from prescribing treatments that do work. They waste patients money and, given the fact that the earlier a person is diagnosed with ME/CFS the better chance they have of improving their health, they contribute to poor health.

Many people with ME/CFS and FM are mistakenly diagnosed with depression first

The fact that only from 15-20% of people in the U.S. with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have been diagnosed with it suggests wrong diagnoses run rampant in this disorder. Of all the wrong diagnoses, being diagnosed with depression is surely the most common.

Who has not been diagnosed with depression at some point? I was diagnosed with depression by my primary care provider only to have the psychologist I was sent to tell me, I know what depression is and youre not depressed.

I was lucky.

Fortunately, Dr. Lenny Jason has come up with a way to convince your doctor that youre not simply depressed. But first, a little history.

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Prioritize Getting Good Sleep

Since depression may be causing you to have disordered sleeping habits, it can be helpful to develop better sleep habits.

Sleep hygiene pretty much just means good sleeping habits. Here are some ways of implementing sleep hygiene:

• Be consistent with sleep and wake times. Try going to bed at roughly the same time each night and getting up at the same time each morning. This way, your body becomes accustomed to a certain routine that optimizes healthy sleeping.
• Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, relaxing, and at a comfortable temperature. You can experiment with different room temperatures or try out a white noise machine. With patience, you might discover the best room environment to promote sleep.
• Remove TVs, computers, and smartphones from the bedroom. This may seem like an impossible task sometimes, but avoiding harsh blue light will help you fall asleep faster.

Psychotherapeutic Interventions For Cfs

Whether or not depression is a cause or symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome, evidence shows that mental health interventions benefit those who suffer from CFS and are now recommended by the NHS as an integral part of treatment here in the UK.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is used to help manage the negative thinking and overwhelming frustration that may accompany a chronic health condition such as CFS and is one of the most recommended interventions.

Mindfulness training is now showing exciting results for helping sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome. In conjunction with CBT or other kind of psychotherapy mindfulness can help reduce fatigue and life disruption .

Even more exciting, mindfulness based cognitive therapy has now been shown to help in cases where CBT fails.

A study carried out by the University of Bath in conjunction with the NHS Foundation trust found that for those who were still experiencing excessive fatigue after undergoing CBT therapy for their CFS, mindfulness based cognitive therapy made a big difference. Participants reported lower levels of tiredness that were still ongoing at a 6- month follow up. They also found that their moods were better, they had more positive thoughts about their fatigue and emotions, and were experiencing greater levels of self-compassion that the control group who did not try mindfulness.

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If I Was Cured Tomorrow

The Forgotten Plague Facebook page had a âIf I was cured tomorrowâ¦â campaign encouraging ME/CFS patients to upload their dreams to highlight this difference from depression.

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Diagnosing Depression And Fatigue

To make a depression diagnosis, your doctor will ask you about your medical history and give you a questionnaire that assesses depression. They may use other methods, such as blood tests or X-rays, to make sure another disorder isnt causing your symptoms.

Before diagnosing you with chronic fatigue syndrome, your doctor will run several tests to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms. These may include restless leg syndrome, diabetes, or depression.

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Hhs/iom New Criteria Study 2015

On 15 August the US Department of Health and Human Services issued a notice of intent to award a contract to the Institutes of Medicine for a Study on Diagnostic Criteria for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with the purpose of : ârecommending clinical diagnostic criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome â. The award of contract was halted due concern over âpotential sole source requisitionâ although subsequently joint funding was agreed between The Office on Womenâs Health and the HHS. The IOM commenced work on the project in the Autumn of 2013 with its first public hearing listed for 27 January 2014.

The completed report recommends a name change to Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease , a new diagnostic criteria, and some testing. It was published with a lengthy literature review, and various materials, all of which are available at the National Academies of Science website.