Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

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.

Psychological Therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Tranceform Psychology can offer a range of different psychological therapy solutions for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which you can read about below.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

If you’re determined to overcome your chronic fatigue syndrome then we highly recommend following our Tranceformental CBT 10 session programme.

The Tranceformental programme is a highly successful & pragmatic mental health counselling 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.

The programme is also available as an online self-help CBT programme.

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

Teach Yourself CBT and Overcome Your Problems for only £149!

Our online CBT course has been designed to teach you the fundamental tools and techniques of clinically proven Cognitive Behavioural Therapy without having to see a therapist.

Structured over TEN, in-depth modules, this self-managed course will teach you everything you need to know to change the way you think about and experience your mental health problems without having to visit a therapist.

Click Self-Help CBT to find out more.

Alternative Therapies for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Although our preferred form of mental health counselling for CFS is Tranceformental CBT we also offer alternative 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 to bring about change. Available with Paul.

General Counselling which is less structured but still provides a safe and non-judgmental environment to discuss issues which is therapeutic in its own right.

Hypnotherapy is an alternative form of therapy that can be applied to a very wide range of problems and is available with Joan.

Free Initial Consultations for CFS

We offer all prospective clients a FREE initial consultation to discuss your chronic fatigue prior to commencing any treatment plans.

The consultation is free and lasts around 50 minutes.

During this consultation we will discuss the various therapy options that are available to you and make a considered recommendation based on your individual personal circumstances.

Initial consultations are also available as part of our online therapy service.

At Tranceform Psychology we recognise the importance of the therapeutic relationship in helping people to bring about effective change, so its important to be able to ‘meet’ to discuss any therapy treatments BEFORE proceeding.

Our policy is to help people make a fully balanced & considered decision about undertaking work with us, including both the financial and personal implications.