Dear Louise:

1. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a medical condition characterized by long term fatigue… “the cause is not understood…Evidence suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy and a gradual increase in activity suited to individual capacity can be beneficial in some case” (Wikipedia)

2. Fibromyalgia (FM) us a medical condition characterized by chronic widespread pain and a heightened pain response to pressure. Other symptoms include tiredness to a degree that normal activities are affected, sleep problems and troubles with memory… Fibromyalgia is frequently associated with depression, anxiety.. “The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown… The treatment of fibromyalgia can be difficult. Recommendations often include getting enough sleep, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet. Cognitive behavioral therapy may also be helpful. (Wiki)

3. POTD: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome- a condition in which a change from lying to standing causes an abnormally large increase in heart rate. Symptoms may also include lightheadedness, trouble thinking, blurry vision or weakness. Other commonly associated conditions include irritable bowel syndrome… fibromyalgia. “The cause of POTD is poorly understood… Treatment may include … cognitive behavioral therapy… About 90% improve with treatment. (Wiki)

My input: the note on each of this condition regarding causes, “not understood/ poorly understood/unknown”, lead me to think that the cause or causes are strongly tied to anxiety. Anxiety is very powerful and leads to many symptoms and many combinations of symptoms, responsible, I think, to most psychiatric diagnoses and many other diagnoses.

All symptoms and all diagnoses are physical, whether detectible by existing medical tests or not. Anxiety in itself is physical. All that we experience is physical as nothing can be experienced without our physical brain/body.

When anxiety is not the cause, it is a consequence and still, has to be dealt with. In any which case, attending to, managing and healing anxiety as much as possible is helpful.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is mentioned as helpful to few or many of the people suffering from these conditions, leading me again, to think that anxiety is indeed a strong element in these conditions, be it as a cause and/ or a consequence.

Overall, there are things you can do, in regard to the “courage to change the things we can” part of the Serenity Prayer. There is hope. I am sure you tried or still are practicing healthy  nutrition, exercise, and maybe you tried psychotherapy as well. Maybe there are new approaches you can try to the same things you already tried: nutrition, exercise, therapy and other treatments.

Just because any one thing did not work before, or did not work adequately before, does not mean it will never work. And any improvement is better than none.

anita