The connection between chronic fatigue and mental health conditions is one that can be difficult to understand. This is because one can often lead to the other–especially when it comes to chronic fatigue and depression. When it comes to addressing and treating chronic fatigue, depression, or any combination of the two, it is critical to understand that neither condition exists in a vacuum; successfully treating either (or both) means taking a holistic approach to evaluating and prioritizing both your mental and physical health. Today, we’re going to discuss both chronic fatigue and depression: how they’re similar, how they’re different, and how you can take meaningful steps toward finding relief. Let’s get started.
Chronic Fatigue and Depression
What’s so difficult about distinguishing between chronic fatigue and depression, particularly in patients who are diagnosed with both, is that there’s no clear marker for when one affliction ends and the other begins. If you’re experiencing either or both of these conditions, the most important thing to understand first and foremost is that mental health plays a fundamental role in physical health, and vice-versa. The treatment of mental health conditions is as important as the treatment of physical conditions and both conditions need to be always addressed.
Chronic Fatigue Explained
Chronic fatigue is a generalized term for feelings of lethargy, tiredness, and a lack of energy that persist, seemingly without an easily identifiable underlying cause. Patients struggling with chronic fatigue commonly experience unsatisfying or insufficient sleep, poor concentration, memory issues, dizziness, and/or disorientation.
Though chronic fatigue can manifest itself in patients with no history of mental health issues, it’s often co-diagnosed with conditions like depression. It has also been linked to a variety of other potential underlying conditions, including:
- Traumatic experiences, both physical and emotional
- Autoimmune disorders
- Hormonal imbalance
Depression
Depression is a mood disorder that can manifest in a variety of ways depending on a patient’s history and circumstances. This includes deep sadness, numbness, apathy, fatigue, hopelessness, and/or anxiety. Depression can come with any combination of the above manifestations and other symptoms, including:
- Changes in appetite (including loss of appetite or increased appetite)
- Troubles with concentrating or remembering
- Repeated or extreme crying spells
- Suicidal ideation
- Digestive problems
- Migraines or headaches
As is the case with chronic fatigue, the underlying cause of depression is unclear–partly because causes can vary widely from person to person. Individuals struggling with depression can benefit from any number of treatments, including talk therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, or any combination of the above.
What to Know If You’re Struggling
Whether you’re experiencing chronic fatigue, depression, or some combination of both, it can be quite difficult to deal with conditions as rife with uncertainty as these. Ultimately, it’s crucial to remember that, as is the case with physical ailments, this isn’t something that you’ve “chosen.” Though struggles like chronic fatigue and depression can be commonly misconstrued, know that they are valid conditions that often require medical attention to treat and manage.
When it comes to addressing and managing chronic fatigue and depression, the best thing you can do is speak to a medical professional who understands that conditions like these are hardly ever isolated, even if their symptoms are difficult to pinpoint at first glance. It’s important to consider these conditions alongside a host of other circumstances, including your:
- Family history
- Personal history and current conditions
- Lifestyle habits, like sleep, diet, and exercise
- Emotional health, including past traumas
- Hormone levels
Dealing with chronic fatigue can take a considerable toll on your mental health–and, sometimes, mental health conditions like depression can manifest in chronic fatigue. It’s important to remember that, no matter how difficult your struggle, you don’t have to experience it alone.
At Your Private Physician, we are committed to offering concierge services designed to get to the root cause of illness so that our patients are empowered to live happy, healthy, and fulfilled lives. If you’re interested in learning more about chronic fatigue and its management, simply schedule a consultation here.