Mental Health and Wellbeing

“On paper, I am better: I no longer have cancer… But off paper, I feel far from being a healthy 26-year-old woman,” said Suleika Jaouad in a New York Times article Lost in transition after cancer, documenting her battered and traumatised state after cancer treatment. Minakshi Ray, who battled breast cancer, responds to that article and offers her take on life after cancer.   That I have got a second chance to live is good enough reason for me to live life more…

The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is unknown, although there are many theories. In some cases, CFS seems to follow a viral illness, major physical or emotional trauma or exposure to toxins. Other theories point to the immune system, glands and hormones, and family history. Some believe it might be triggered by a combination of factors. Risk Factors: Tends to affect people in their 40s and 50s Women are more likely to be diagnosed with CFS Stress seems to be a risk factor

Fatigue with all of the following features:  New or specific onset  Persistent and/or recurrent   Reduction in activity level  Unexplained by any other conditions  Post-exertional depression and/or fatigue (seen after 24 hours and with slow recovery time) One or more of the following symptoms:  Muscle and/or joint pain at multiple places and without any inflammation  Sleep problems such as insomnia, hypersomnia, unrefreshing sleep, disturbed sleep-wake cycle  Painful…

Treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome focuses on symptom relief.  1. Medication choices may include:  Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen, which aim to relieve joint/ muscle pain, headaches and fevers.  Anti-convulsants, also called anti-seizure medicines such as gabapentin and pregabalin are used for pain and sleep problems. Narcotics such as tramadol, codeine or morphine, is sometimes prescribed for severe pain not relieved…

Diet guidelines Nutritionists advise on eating right as it increases energy levels, strengthens immunity and helps one feel better. Extreme diets should be avoided as they can worsen your symptoms. Eat a balanced diet that includes vegetables, grains, fruits, protein and dairy. Certain foods can trigger symptoms or make them worse. Such foods are: Fatty and fried foods Monosodium glutamate (MSG) Nutrasweet (aspartame) Cigarettes or tobacco products Things like alcohol, caffeine and sugary…

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome cannot be prevented but it can be managed and the symptoms can be treated. The best option is to eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly and meditate or do a fun activity to keep stress levels low.

The prognosis and clinical course of the disorder varies considerably. Some patients don’t recover for years due to poor recovery and high relapse rates. Lower recovery rates and higher relapse rates are associated with those who have had CFS for many years. Children can also be badly affected. Ones who have mild-to-moderate symptoms are more likely than adults to go into remission. If left untreated, CFS can lead to social loneliness, depression, deconditioning (weakness due to inactivity) and…

What causes depression The exact cause of depression is not known. Any person can develop depression but some people are more prone to it. Depression can be triggered by life events such as relationship problem, illness, redundancy, work stress. It may also be caused by certain disorders of the thyroid and pituitary glands and hormonal disorders. Evidence from genetics, neuroscience and clinical investigations demonstrates that depression is a disorder of brain. Modern brain imaging…

There's no single test to confirm a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. A variety of medical tests are done to rule out other health problems that have similar symptoms.  CFS and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) Some people believe that CFS and ME are two separate conditions while others believe that the two conditions are the same but symptoms are different. Myalgic means muscle aches or pains and Encephalomyelitis is inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.  When fatigue is the…

These are some common symptoms:  Persistent sadness or low mood Marked loss of interest in normal activities Disturbed sleep Change in appetite Tiredness or loss of energy Slowing of movements Poor concentration Feeling of worthlessness Recurrent thoughts of death Related reading: 5 Overlooked Signs of Depression