Chronic Fatigue and Chronic Depression are absolutely systemic in our society today. Recent studies done by the AMA and CMA purport one in four people in North America are suffering from some form of chronic fatigue or depression and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s expected eight out of ten of us will experience similar afflictions in our lifetime. But numbers like these don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t speak to the cause and only tell half the story.<\/p>\n
\nby: Paul Shearstone
\nIn June of this year, my new book entitled, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Until You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve Walked the Path\u00e2\u20ac\u009d hit the bookstores. In it, I chronicle my own real life battle and recovery from CFS [Chronic Fatigue Syndrome]. I am pleased to say that from the responses I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve received, the book has touched many people in a positive way, both those suffering from the disease, as well as caregivers, looking for new ways to aid the afflicted.
\nIn conversations about CFS, the one question I am asked the most is, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s causing My [their] chronic depression and fatigue?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Followed by, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Is it just stress?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
\nI\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll admit I am not a doctor and have no medical training, however, I have done a fair bit of research over the last decade and I am a real CFS Survivor. That said, it is my belief there are three fundamental \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcCamps\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 if you will, that can cause depression or fatigue and it is absolutely essential to determine what camp you are in to expedite speedy recovery.
\nCamp #1: CFIDS [Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome]
\nCFIDS is the new acronym for most immune dysfunctional disorders which covers a broad base of causes and outcomes. More specifically, the factors that can bring on CFS are viral. In my case I was diagnosed with the Epstein-Barr Virus [EBV]. Another common virus known to cause CFS is the ME Virus [Myalgic Encephalomyelitis]. An outcome associated with CFS sufferers is Fibromyalgia; an excruciatingly painful disease that effects all the muscles and joints in the body.
\nI could go on but the important point to understand is that most of what causes \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcReal\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is most often viral. These viruses attack the immune system causing acute un-wellness, fatigue and depression. Stress is another immune-weakening phenomenon and is often a major cause for CFS. On the other hand, motivators like post viral infection \u00e2\u20ac\u201c as it was in my case \u00e2\u20ac\u201c is known to be much of the cause because of the damaging consequences it can affect to an otherwise healthy immune system. One outcome is Depression and Fatigue.
\nCamp #2: Mood Disorders
\nMood disorders are perhaps easier for most people to understand. Not the diseases themselves but rather the fact that there are commonly known diseases like: By-Polar, Manic-Depression and Schizophrenia, to name but three. We all know they can cause behavioral \u00e2\u20ac\u201c often unpredictable -changes in those afflicted. Another outcome is Depression and Fatigue.
\nCamp #3: Substance Abuse
\nWhether it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s drugs or alcohol, [prescribed or otherwise], many people fall victim to their affects that over time, can clearly evolve into conditions of un-wellness.
\nStress-relief is often the reason for those who use drugs and alcohol on a regular basis and one need not be addicted to experience many of the health deteriorations that ultimately come about. Another outcome, of course, is Depression and Fatigue.
\nBy now you may be seeing a bit of an assertion I am making in this article which now compels me to make two important points:
\n1. Depression and Fatigue can be outcomes from many different motivators.
\n2. It is critical for sufferers to seek out immediate professional help in determining precisely what is causing their fatigue and depression.
\nI have seen too many people needlessly wither away with diseases like these, never getting the right help. Many of them try to hide their problem and shrink into the shadows because it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not a glamorous disease and for the most part, is still a little misunderstood \u00e2\u20ac\u201c even by many in the medical field.
\nMy advice is to find the right medical specialist who deals specifically with what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s causing your fatigue and depression. Understand that no doctor can be a specialist at everything and that the medicine, treatment and care for someone with Schizophrenia would be entirely different from what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s required to treat someone with substance abuse or a viral infection. The specialist would be just as different.
\nIt\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s also vitally important for those afflicted and caregivers alike to know that there is a short window of opportunity in getting diseases like these under control. That is to say, from my observation and experience, the longer one goes without proper diagnosis and treatment, the harder it is and less likely it is, recovery can be achieved.
\nChronic Depression and Fatigues is not something one chooses to have and treatments like \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Suck it up soldier!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or love deprivation do not work. Ignoring it works even less.
\nThe Bottom Line:
\nWhat\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s causing Your Depression and Fatigue could be many things. You need to align yourself with the right specialist, the right medication and the right treatment As Soon As Possible!
\nThe good news? You can recover from it and you can triumph over it! I am living proof.
\nAbout The Author
\nPaul Shearstone is President of The CFIDS Foundation of Canada Inc. He is an International Keynote Speaker, Author, Writer, Motivation, Corporate Ethics, Sales, Time & Stress Management Specialist.
\nPaul enlightens and challenges audiences as he informs motivates and entertains.
\nTo comment on this article or to book Paul for your next successful event we invite to contact Paul Shearstone directly @ 416-728-5556 or 1-866-855-4590 www.success150.com or paul@success150.com.
\nFor more information and how to order Paul\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s new book, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Until You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve Walked the Path\u00e2\u20ac\u009d please visit www.paulshearstone.ca
\n“Every day millions of people struggle valiantly with the pain of CFIDS and Depression… the very real physical pain and the excruciating psychic pain of the soul. Paul gives both voice and face to their pain. More importantly, he gives expression to their courage, resilience, and valour. By his account of his own remarkable journey, he gives hope to the millions of others who are still on theirs”.
\nKaren Liberman
\nExecutive Director
\nMood Disorders Association of Ontario
\npaul@paulshearstone.ca<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chronic Fatigue and Chronic Depression are absolutely systemic in our society today. Recent studies done by the AMA and CMA purport one in four people in North America are suffering from some form of chronic fatigue or depression and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s expected eight out of ten of us will experience similar afflictions in our lifetime. But numbers like these don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t speak to the cause and only tell half the story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n