CFS — Chronic fatigue Syndrome. It wasnt believed as real until relatively recently because the symptoms cannnot be seen (no big red marks etc). My father tried all sorts of trial medications for it and has become a sort of expert on the disease.

He explains it as having the flu every day of your life. You feel terrible, and you feel worse traveling, working out, getting emotional.

I have another friend who has it and she explains it this was: having CFS is like waking up every day with 12 spoons. Every activity you do costs a spoon and once you run out, youre done for the day. Example: Getting out of bed costs 1 spoon. Brushing your teeth costs 1. Showering costs 2. Getting dressed costs 2. Walking down the stairs costs 5. Eating breakfast costs 1. Now youre in bed until tomorrow.

The worst part about the disease is that because you cant see whats going on internally, many people dont believe it exists.

Parents done believe in psychiatry because of the nature of their professions. Its kind of a common thing — surgeons dont believe in psychiatry because its not an exact science with tangible proof (which is kind of ironic given my explanation of cfs).

I think seeing me and my sister suffer through anxiety and depression have helped to change their perspectives a bit.