by Lorelei Cohen

Created on: August 31, 2008   Last Updated: September 18, 2008

Although any chronic illness is difficult to adjust to living with, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can be one of the more frustrating illness to adapt to. The majority of the time the underlying cause of the illness is unknown, so without a basic understanding of what is causing the illness, there often isn't an effective treatment plan that can be implemented to substantially reduce its symptoms. Add in to this the fact that severe fatigue isn't often an illness that can be easily understood by co-workers, family, or friends and a lot of physiological issues arise that needs to dealt with in addition to the physical ones.

The first step in dealing with any chronic illness is learning how to best live with it. Lifestyle change is an important part of adapting. The person afflicted with chronic fatigue must change their lifestyle to fit the new person that they have become rather than to continue trying to live as they had done previously. They are not the same person that they were previous to their illness and their body can no longer perform the functions that it used to. Continuing to push their body to try to do things that it is no longer capable of only increases the frustration and fatigue levels involved with the illness.

Where fatigue issues are concerned living life in bits and pieces works best. Participate in a little of this, and a little of that, but never too little or too much of any one activity at a time. Sitting for six hours will only cause you to feel more tired just as will trying to do housework or a job for a straight six hours. Where as an hour of sitting or an hour of work, will actually make you feel more refreshed, when they are put into your life in shorter time periods. For example your day might go something like this: Standing activities first in the morning i.e.: cooking breakfast, then a sit down rest period at the computer for awhile, stand again to do dishes or have a shower, do a fifteen to twenty minute period of light exercise, lie down for a twenty minute rest break. Get back up, go downtown to pick up a few groceries and walk around the store a little just for exercise, then home again to enjoy a relaxing cup of tea, or to lie down for a rest once again. Watch T.V. or visit with family or friends for remainder of evening.

Living life in bits and pieces brings back the quality of life a person with chronic fatigue needs to truly enjoy their life once again. They are able to accomplish a great deal more than they would otherwise

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