If you are living with chronic fatigue syndrome, then you know that it can affect every aspect of your life. From work to recreation to relationships, you need to know how to cope with this life-altering condition in order to thrive despite your illness. We are going to look at nine of the most important things for you to know if you are presently living with chronic fatigue syndrome. 

#1 Some Days Will Be Better Than Others 

If you’ve had chronic fatigue for some time, you probably already realize this. However, for those who have received a diagnosis recently, you may not have the condition under control yet. That may make it seem like you mostly have bad days with some okay ones scattered about. Don’t give in to despair. With some lifestyle adjustments, you may be able to increase the number of good days you have and how much you can accomplish on the bad days.

#2 Don’t Overdo It!  

This is really lesson number one for patients with chronic fatigue. You get so frustrated on the days you can’t accomplish much that on an elusive good day you go all out. That’s a sure way to end up back in bed again. Yes, you should do more on your good days. However, there is no shame in conserving energy so that you can have several good days in a row. Think of how much more you will accomplish doing a few things each day during a good week as opposed to trying to fit everything into one good day, knowing that the exertion is going to lead to a rough week.

#3 Remember That Not All Overexertion Is Physical 

You may think that because you feel tired, you will just accomplish as much as you can mentally. However, mental overexertion can have the same effect as physical overexertion for a chronic fatigue syndrome patient. Try to find hobbies that relieve stress without requiring a lot of physical or emotional exertion. This may help you to keep the next flare-up at bay longer.

#4 Learn to Be Okay with Your Limits 

At first, a lot of people are going to question why you can’t do what your usual activities. You may even begin to look at yourself with a critical eye. Resting due to an illness is not laziness. The sooner you accept that you can’t do everything you once did, the sooner you will be okay with yourself. Then you can say no without the guilt, even if your family member, friend, boss, etc. doesn’t fully understand. 

#5 Set Priorities on Your To-Do List

Prioritizing can help you to have a greater sense of accomplishment in knowing you’ve completed all the absolutely critical things on your list. If you can get to some of the other items as well, then you have had a really good week and can feel proud of what you have done. 

#6 Make the Changes that Improve Your Health 

If diet and exercise make you feel better – do it! If alcohol and cigarettes make you feel worse – quit! You can’t control whether or not you have chronic fatigue syndrome, but you can manage your lifestyle. Make the changes you need to make and enjoy any benefits you get from your healthy lifestyle. 

#7 Make the Judgement Call for Yourself 

Don’t let someone else determine when you can power through, and when you can’t. If a loved one is getting married, you may decide to power through and go, knowing full well that you will pay for it in the week to come. But don’t feel bad about missing a less important event if it means you will be able to there for your family or to complete that work project that your career is depending on. 

#8 Don’t Let Pride Keep You from Getting the Help You Need 

It can be humbling to ask someone to help you do something that you are used to doing for yourself. Setting aside pride to ask for the help you need is one of the bravest things you can do. Plus, when someone offers support that you didn’t ask for, don’t automatically say no. Getting help with something you planned to do yourself may conserve energy for another item on the to-do list that you weren’t sure you would get to.

#9 Learn More About Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care 

If you have never heard of this specific form of chiropractic before, we encourage you to do so. In case studies, several patients with chronic health ailments such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia were able to improve their quality of life significantly. What sets upper cervical chiropractic apart? 

• Focused – The focus is on the top two bones in the neck. By facilitating blood flow to the head, protecting the brainstem, and balancing the skull, these two bones are in a critical location for impacting the central nervous system.  
• Precise – Diagnostic imaging is used to pinpoint misalignments down to hundredths of a degree. When it comes to the top bones in the neck, fractions of a millimeter matter. 
• Gentle – Because adjustments are so focused and precise, corrections are incredibly low force. There is none of the popping or twisting of the neck that you may associate with chiropractic care. 

To learn more about upper cervical chiropractic and how it may be of benefit to you, contact a practitioner in your area today. This may be just the natural alternative that you’ve been searching for.

to schedule a consultation today.