Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Mental Health Counselling for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in Wolverhampton and On-line

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) causes persistent fatigue (exhaustion) that affects everyday life and doesn’t seem to go away with adequate sleep or rest.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is also known as ME, which stands for myalgic encephalomyelitis. It is considered a serious condition that can cause long-term illness and disability, but the majority of people, in particular younger sufferers, will improve over time.

Who is Affected by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

It is estimated that around 250,000 people in the UK may have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and anyone can develop the condition, although it is reported to be more common in women than men.

It usually develops in people in the 20 to 40 age range although children can also be affected.

Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Although most cases of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are classified as mild or moderate, one in four people can develop more severe symptoms.

• Mild CFS – you’re generally able to care for yourself, but may need occasional days off work to rest
• Moderate CFS – you may find moving difficult, have disturbed sleep patterns and may need to sleep in the afternoon
• Severe CFS – you may have difficulty concentrating on anything other than very basic tasks and feel like you have a significantly reduced mobility

Other common symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may include:

• Muscular pain, joint pain and severe headaches
• Poor short-term memory and concentration
• Stomach pains and other problems similar to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• A sore throat
• A sensitivity or intolerance to bright light or loud noises
• Dizziness

What Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Although the actual cause seems to be unknown, there are various theories including:

• Viral or bacterial infection
• Immune system problems
• Hormone Imbalance
• Psychological causes

As with all other conditions, we recommend that you first consult your GP about your CFS before you make an appointment to come into see us. It is important to rule out any of the biological causes before embarking on a psychological solution.

Transform Your Thinking & Overcome Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

If you’re committed to overcoming your CFS problems then we highly recommend following either our Advanced Tranceformental CBT programme with Paul, or Joan.

Tranceformental CBT is available as Online Therapy if required

The Tranceformental programme is a highly successful & pragmatic psychological training course, run over 10 sessions, that will teach you everything you need to know to understand your problem, identify how unhelpful thinking and limiting beliefs might be reinforcing the issue, and then show you how to make any changes to your unhelpful thinking styles or maladaptive safety behaviours that you may have developed as part of your coping strategies.

Our Tranceformental CBT programme is an evidence-based, research supported approach used by mental health practitioners around the World.

Alternative Therapy Options for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Although our preferred form of mental health counselling for CFS is Tranceformental CBT we also offer alternatives psychotherapies for those who might prefer a different approach.

These include:

• Psychodynamic therapy which focuses more on emotional problems and relies on the Therapeutic Relationship.
• General Counselling which is less structured and provides a safe and non-judgmental environment to discuss issues.