Since a lot of us also have Fibromyalgia, which may be a subset of CFS/ME, the folloing URL has a lot of good information.There are quite a few tabs that have even more information. I was surprised that the authos wrote that FM is not a mental health condition.
I sent quotes from the site to a few members in my family who think I only have depression. They're coming around the longer I am ill. I guess that in a way is good and bad news.
This site makes me more hopeful that there will be day (when,when when?) the same thing can be said about me/cfs.
http://www.fmcpaware.org/aboutfibromyalgia
Barb C.:>)
To the mods. I was not sure where to post this information. Move as needed. Thanks!!
I sent quotes from the site to a few members in my family who think I only have depression. They're coming around the longer I am ill. I guess that in a way is good and bad news.
This site makes me more hopeful that there will be day (when,when when?) the same thing can be said about me/cfs.
I have seen over 5,000 fibromyalgia patients over the past 20 years; most want to be reassured that their symptoms are the product of a "real disease" rather than figments of a fertile imagination--commonly ascribed to the psychological diagnosis such as somatization, hypochondriasis, or depression. The good news is that contemporary research is hot on the track of unraveling the changes that occur within the nervous system of fibromyalgia patients. The basic message is that fibromyalgia cannot be considered a primarily psychological disorder, but as in many chronic conditions, psychological factors may play a role in who becomes disabled and may even up-regulate the central nervous system changes that are the root cause of the problem.
(my bold)About 20 percent of FM patients have a co-existing depression or anxiety state that needs to be appropriately treated with therapeutic doses of anti-depressants or anti-anxiety drugs often in conjunction with the help of a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. Basically, patients who have a concomitant psychiatric problem have a double burden to bear. They will find it easier to cope with their FM if the psychiatric condition is appropriately treated. It is important to understand that fibromyalgia itself is not a psychogenic pain problem, and that treatment of any underlying psychological problems does not cure FM.
http://www.fmcpaware.org/aboutfibromyalgia
Barb C.:>)
To the mods. I was not sure where to post this information. Move as needed. Thanks!!