Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, bipolar disorder, eating disorders

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Mental Health Information:

This page contains detailed information about:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
bi-polar affective disorder
eating disorders

These can all be treated by our specialists. Please feel free to print out a copy for your personal use.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is an emerging illness characterised by debilitating fatigue (experienced as exhaustion and extremely poor stamina), neurological problems, and a variety of flu-like symptoms.

The core symptoms include excessive fatigue, general pain, mental fogginess, and often gastro-intestinal problems. Many other symptoms will also be present, however they will typically be different among different patients. These include: fatigue following stressful activities; headaches; sore throat; sleep disorder; abnormal temperature and others.

The degree of severity can differ widely among patients, and will also vary over time for the same patient. Severity can vary between getting unusually fatigued following stressful events, to being totally bedridden and completely disabled. The symptoms will tend to wax and wane over time. This variation, in addition to the fact that the cause of the disease is not yet known, makes this illness difficult to diagnose.

In order to receive a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, a patient must satisfy two criteria:

Have severe chronic fatigue of six months or longer duration with other known medical conditions excluded by clinical diagnosis, and

Concurrently have four or more of the following symptoms: substantial impairment in short-term memory or concentration, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, muscle pain, multi-joint pain without swelling or redness, headaches of a new type, pattern or severity; unrefreshing sleep, and post-exertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours.

The symptoms must have persisted or recurred during six or more consecutive months of illness and must not have predated the fatigue.

Some current research continues to investigate possible viral causes. Additionally, co-factors (such as genetic predisposition, stress, environment, gender, age, and prior illness) appear to play an important role in the development and course of the illness.

What support is available?

The illness varies greatly in its duration. A few recover after a year or two. More often, those who recover are more likely to do so from 3 to 6 years after onset. Others may recover after a decade or more. Yet for some, the illness seems to simply persist. CFS often occurs in cycles. It can be frustrating to obtain some relief, but then not know whether you have recovered or if you are merely between cycles. Current treatments are concerned with reducing stressful and fatiguing events, this together with the use of drug treatments can ensure that ME suffers, return to normal (or at least feel better) in the shortest time possible.

Bipolar Disorder (MANIC DEPRESSION)

Bi polar affective disorder (means sharing 2 poles - high and low) . A person experiencing bi-polar disorder can swing between deep depression and excessive happiness (mania). These intense mood swings and consequent changes in thinking and behaviour affect around 1% of the UK population.

The cause is not known. Any person can develop manic depression, however, studies indicate that highly creative, sensitive people, people tending to be perfectionists and high achievers, have a higher incidence of bipolar affective disorder. Although biological factors seem to play a major role in producing the illness, a person's personality make up and or stresses in the environment may also play a part in bringing on an acute episode.

Environmental factors such as death, separation and divorce may trigger the disorder. The illness manifests itself with the individual experiencing episodes of mania or elation followed by low mood or depression. The number of manic and depressive episodes varies greatly from person to person and most individuals experience "normal" periods between their manic and depressive episodes.

Manic depression can send a person plunging from a high state, where one may believe one has superhuman energy and abilities, into a pit of despair, where it may seem as if the only way out is suicide. In fact, however, there are very effective treatments available. The symptoms of depression and mania are described separately:

Depressive state:

The chief symptom is a sad, despairing mood, which may be accompanied by some or all of the following, depending on the severity of the illness:

-lack of energy

-sleep problems (sleep too much or too little)

-loss of interest in work, family and friends

-change in eating habits

-preoccupation with failures and inadequacies

-loss of self-esteem

-feelings of guilt

-excessive concern about physical complaints

-decreased sexual drive

-crying easily, suicidal thoughts

Manic State:

A person feels total "euphoria" and strength. However, in the early stages of the illness, the person may appear to be more sociable, active, talkative, self-confident, perceptive, and creative than usual. As his/her mood elevates, he or she may experience some or all of the following:

-increased stength and energy, decreased sleep

-extreme irritability

-rapid, unpredictable emotional changes

-racing thoughts, flight of ideas

-increased interest in activities, overspending

-grandiosity, inflated self-esteem

-increased sexual drive

-poor judgement

What support is available?

There is no real cure for manic depression at present, but through the use of monitored medication programs it is possible to smooth out and reduce the frequency of the highs and the lows, and in some cases episodes may be altogether prevented. Some factors that determine the type of treatment care the nature of the symptoms and also the number of previous episodes, severity and duration of the illness and previous response to treatments. Counselling and therapy can be helpful.

Eating Disorders:

It is not surprising that eating disorders are on the increase because of the value society places on being thin. Women are given the message at a very young age that in order to be happy and successful, they must be thin.

Thousands of teenage girls are starving themselves this very minute trying to attain what the fashion industry considers to be the "ideal" figure. The average model weighs 23% less than the average woman. Maintaining a weight that is 15% below your expected body weight fits the criteria for anorexia, so most models, according to medical standards, fit into the category of being anorexic.

Children raised in a dysfunctional family are at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder. In a home where physical or sexual abuse is taking place, the child may turn to an eating disorder to gain a sense of control. If they can't control what is happening to their bodies during the abuse, they can control their food intake or their weight. Self imposed starvation may also be their way of trying to disappear so they no longer have to suffer through the abuse.

Children who are compulsive eaters are usually using food to help them deal with feelings of anger, sadness, hurt, loneliness, abandonment, fear and pain. If children are not allowed to express their emotions, they may become emotional eaters.

Eating disorders are not a sign that a person has a problem with food, rather eating disorders are actually only the symptoms of underlying problems in that person's life.

ANOREXIA:

This is characterized by a significant weight loss resulting from excessive dieting. Anorexics consider themselves to be fat, no matter what their actual weight is. . In their attempts to become even thinner, the anorexic will avoid food and taking in calories at all costs. An estimated 10 to 20% will eventually die from complications related to it.

Anorexics usually strive for perfection. They set very high standards for themselves and feel they always have to prove their competence. They usually always put the needs of others ahead of their own. A person with anorexia may also feel the only control they have in their lives is in the area of food and weight. If they can't control what is happening around them, they can control their weight. Sometimes focusing on calories and losing weight is their way of blocking out feelings and emotions. Anorexics usually have low self-esteem and sometimes feel they don't deserve to eat. They usually deny that anything is wrong.

What support is available?

They usually resist any attempts to help them because the idea of therapy is seen only as a way to force them to eat. Once they admit they have a problem and are willing to seek help, they can be treated effectively through a combination of psychological, nutritional and medical care.

BULIMIA

Bulimia is characterized by a cycle of binge eating followed by purging to try and rid the body of unwanted calories. A binge is different for all individuals. For one person a binge may range from 1,000 to 10,000 calories, for another, one cookie may be considered a binge. Purging methods usually involve vomiting and laxative abuse. Other forms of purging can involve excessive exercise, fasting, use of diuretics, diet pills and enemas (see below).

Bulimics are usually people that do not feel secure about their own self worth. They usually strive for the approval of others. They tend to do whatever they can to please others, while hiding their own feelings. Food becomes their only source of comfort. Bulimia also serves as a function for blocking or letting out feelings. Unlike anorexics, bulimics do realise they have a problem and are more likely to seek help.

What support is available?

Like all eating disorders, bulimia can be overcome through proper treatment and as bulimics tend to seek treatment themselves, it is generally effective . Treatments include counselling, proper nutitional management and drug therapies.

COMPULSIVE EATING DISORDER

This disorder is much like bulimia except the individuals do not use any form of purging (vomiting, laxatives, fasting, etc.) following a binge. It is characterised by uncontrollable eating and consequent weight gain. Compulsive overeaters use food as a way to cope with stress, emotional conflicts and daily problems. The food can block out feelings and emotions. Compulsive overeaters usually feel out of control and are aware their eating patterns are abnormal.

Compulsive overeating usually starts in early childhood when eating patterns are formed. Most people who become compulsive eaters are people who never learned the proper way to deal with stressful situations and used food instead as a way of coping. Fat can also serve as a protective function for them, especially in people that have been victims of sexual abuse. They sometimes feel that being overweight will keep others at a distance and make them less attractive. Unlike anorexia and bulimia, there is a high proportion of male overeaters.

The more weight that is gained, the harder they try to diet and dieting is usually what leads to the next binge, which can be followed by feelings of powerlessness, guilt, shame and failure. Dieting and bingeing can go on forever if the emotional reasons for the bingeing is not dealt with.

What support is available?

Like all eating disorders, compulsive eating disorder is a serious problem but can be overcome through proper treatment. Treatments include counselling, proper nutitional management and drug therapies.

EATING DISORDER SUBSTANCE ABUSE:

Ipecac Syrup

Many people with eating disorders abuse a syrup called Ipecac to help induce vomiting. Ipecac should only be used in cases of accidental poisoning. Repeated use can cause the heart muscle to weaken.

Laxatives

Stimulant laxatives such as Ex-Lax and Correctol are the most common laxatives used by someone with an eating disorder. Laxatives have little or no effect on reducing weight because by the time they work, the calories have already been absorbed, but there is some fluid loss. Laxative abuse can cause bloody diarrhea, electrolyte imbalances and dehydration and can lead to permanent damage to the bowels, severe medical complications and even death.

Diuretics

These are much like laxatives in the sense that they give the person a feeling of weight loss. When taken, a person will only lose vital fluids and electrolytes. Within a day or two the body will react and start to retain water, which is usually what causes a person to use them repeatedly. Abuse of diuretics usually leads to dehydration which can cause kidney damage.

Diet Pills

such as Acutrim and Dexatrim contain a combination of phenylpropanolamine and caffeine. Phenylpropanolamine is a stimulant and affects the central nervous system. It can produce symptoms such as increased heart rate, dizziness, high blood pressure, nausea, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, dry mouth and diarrhea. Taking them long term can put you at risk of developing Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, a rare but generally fatal lung disease.