4 ms·

>Since some comments made the comparison to psychological factors, CFS is not an imbalance of neuro-transmitters in the brain, which it is the case for all psyc

>Since some comments made the comparison to psychological factors, CFS is not an imbalance of neuro-transmitters in the brain, which it is the case for all psychological illnesses. My own CFS certainly did have an imbalance in neurotransmitters when it was severe, and other severe patients also seem to have this (e.g. Whitney Dafoe talks about feelings of what sounds like anxiety and depression when he has his CFS attacks). I can't think of what else could cause this other than an imbalance in neurotransmitters (or something similar). I think the problem is just the general misunderstanding (both from patients and doctors) about how the brain actually reacts to chronic stress. Even if you love what you're doing, if you push yourself too hard your body will eventually break. An example: https://cfsunravelled.com/bedbound-with-mecfs-fibromyalgia-overnight/ https://cfsunravelled.com/bedbound-with-mecfs-fibromyalgia-o... Another example is overtraining: if you push your body too hard physically (e.g. by running marathons every day), you can end up with a CFS-like illness with depression, extreme fatigue, immune dysfunction, etc.: https://www.outsideonline.com/1986361/running-empty https://www.outsideonline.com/1986361/running-empty The brain doesn't have a neat distinction between physical and psychological like we do. There seems to be a part of the brain which integrates physical and psychological stresses, which then causes depression and fatigue if it appears that the long-term stress is not beneficial: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2012.00082 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2012.00082 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.86.3.499 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.86.3.499 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2005.04.006 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2005.04.006 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.133.1.25 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.133.1.25 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresrev.2008.07.001 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresrev.2008.07.001

wellboy 9y ago
Yes, depression as a consequence of losing everything in your life an being bedbound while no one can help you does make sense. However, this is only after CFS strikes, it is not the cause for CFS. There needs to be a clear distinction that CFS does not have psychological cause and the current research points that way as well.
- cpncrunch 9y ago
  >However, this is only after CFS strikes, it is not the cause for CFS. In my own case (as with Whitney), the anxiety/depression was definitely not a psychological consequence of having an illness, it was a fundamental part of the illness itself, and would appear with no warning along with the other symptoms (not after them). I can't speak for anyone else, that was just my experience, and it seems to mirror Whitney's illness. (Although mine never became as severe as his). However depression is not a "cause" for CFS (or anything else), it is just another symptom. >There needs to be a clear distinction that CFS does not have psychological cause and the current research points that way as well. I think you have a very simplistic notion of what "psychological" means. Read my parent comment again...
  - manmal 9y ago
    Indeed, there are a lot of ways mitochondrial dysfunction could lead to depression on a physical level - thyroid function suppression, HPA axis disorder (leading again to thyroid suppression), various electrolyte imbalances caused by decreased intestinal uptake (eg magnesium deficiency can cause "untreatable" depression), microbiome shifts due to decreased peristalsis leading to decreased serotonin levels...
    - cpncrunch 9y ago
      True, but it seems unlikely that CFS could be caused by the mitochondria or intestinal update suddenly screwing up overnight. A neuropsychiatric disorder caused by chronic stress seems more plausible, with both the fatigue and depression being generated in the brain itself.
      - manmal 9y ago
        Many people describe that their CFS started right after coming down with a virus, so a malfunctioning immune system seems a cofactor. Impaired T cells have been hypothesized..
        9y ago

wellboy 9y ago

Yes, depression as a consequence of losing everything in your life an being bedbound while no one can help you does make sense. However, this is only after CFS strikes, it is not the cause for CFS. There needs to be a clear distinction that CFS does not have psychological cause and the current research points that way as well.

cpncrunch 9y ago
>However, this is only after CFS strikes, it is not the cause for CFS. In my own case (as with Whitney), the anxiety/depression was definitely not a psychological consequence of having an illness, it was a fundamental part of the illness itself, and would appear with no warning along with the other symptoms (not after them). I can't speak for anyone else, that was just my experience, and it seems to mirror Whitney's illness. (Although mine never became as severe as his). However depression is not a "cause" for CFS (or anything else), it is just another symptom. >There needs to be a clear distinction that CFS does not have psychological cause and the current research points that way as well. I think you have a very simplistic notion of what "psychological" means. Read my parent comment again...
- manmal 9y ago
  Indeed, there are a lot of ways mitochondrial dysfunction could lead to depression on a physical level - thyroid function suppression, HPA axis disorder (leading again to thyroid suppression), various electrolyte imbalances caused by decreased intestinal uptake (eg magnesium deficiency can cause "untreatable" depression), microbiome shifts due to decreased peristalsis leading to decreased serotonin levels...
  - cpncrunch 9y ago
    True, but it seems unlikely that CFS could be caused by the mitochondria or intestinal update suddenly screwing up overnight. A neuropsychiatric disorder caused by chronic stress seems more plausible, with both the fatigue and depression being generated in the brain itself.
    - manmal 9y ago
      Many people describe that their CFS started right after coming down with a virus, so a malfunctioning immune system seems a cofactor. Impaired T cells have been hypothesized..
      - 9y ago