ME (mental Health issue)?

No!!! ME/CFS is not a mental health issue.... there is a lot of evidence now which shows a strong ling to infections like Glandular fever and prolonged lung illnesses ie Pleurisy pneumonia  types. Work is showing that the Mitochondria appear to be the main or only site of infection and it appears to be a genetic inclusion (Epstein barr like)  and damage to the whole energy (Krebbs cycle) process. Please do not make this worse for the friend by telling them to that it is a mental health issues, it isn't. The infections are shown to have real inflammation effects and a shift in metabolism away from sugars for the Krebbs cycle to either Protein or Fat as being the primary and much less efficient source of energy. if you imagine your daily life like a battery your day will see you empty your battery by 1/2 to 2/3rds typically, your friend will empty theirs ... you will recover yours your friend will perhaps at best recover by half... after a couple of days they are running on empty...   

NOOO! ME is definitely a physical issue. Just because you can’t see any physical symptoms DOES NOT mean it’s mental. I have high EBV antibodies and that’s when I’m extreme fatigue started. Is it depressing to go from super healthy to bedridden? YES it is. But depression is secondary to becoming ill. Please me more empathetic towards your friend. They’re going through super tough time already.... nothing worse than having a friend doubt you. It’s just not nice. Put yourselves in their shoes. Think about all the sudden falling ill with something that leaves you completely wiped out and then having people doubt you. No one becomes that depresssed from one day to the other. Again, be more empathetic. 

Hi I agree with the others, it is physical. I have cfs apparently and my mental health is fine. My body is physically exhausted it’s just trying to find the reason that gets you down.  

No! It's not a mental it's physical. Mental health problems often come with CFS because of the debilitating fatigue and many other symptoms that go with this illness that make life a daily battle. I know that when people doubt me it affects my mental health. As a CFS sufferer you have to constant battle with doctors and your symptoms. The people you really don't want to have to battle are with those close to you. It can be a very lonely place to be when you are doubted. MS was an illness that was thought to be a mental illness until the CT scanner was invented and evidence was found that there was evidence of brain changes on the scans. CFS is at the bottom of the research pile, it's easy to discount what you can't see. Would you doubt someone with diabetes or MS just because you can't see it? No you probably wouldn't because of the evidence but the point is there hasn't always been evidence. This is real. Our non specific, unexplainable symptoms are real. One day there will be evidence for this and I'm hoping it will be in my life time. As others have said, please be compassionate, your friend will be going through a difficult time. CFS stole my very much happy life from me, my independence, my confidence and my self esteem. What you are left with does effect your mental health. It is hard to understand something you haven't experienced yourself but please don't give up on your friend. They probably need you more than you know. If you have Netflix or can watch it on another source I recommend you watch a documentary about CFS called Unrest. It may give you an insight into what people go through with this illness.

Hi Jjason,

Maybe you're friend has both mental health issues and cfs/me. One doesn't exlude you from the other just like any other condition.

Beverley

What you wrote is terribly disrespectful both to your friend and to those of us on this forum who are suffering terribly from this PHYSICAL illness. 

Well that's insulting and shaming! And a big part of the dysfunctional uneducated mindset we fight daily. Thanks for reminding us.