When you perform many tasks throughout the day, you slowly wear out, especially if the tasks are particularly strenuous. By the end of the day, you get home, plop down on your sofa, and just bask in the afterglow of having done a hard day's work. Most people call this being fatigued; essentially, your body has used up all the energy it has obtained from the food and rest. The most common way for people to replenish their spend energy is, of course, rest, either through taking a breather or getting sleep. A body normally needs 8-10 hours of sleep in order to repair everything in your body and get you fully recharged for another day. With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, however, this is not so. Low Battery Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disorder that is characterized by a state of chronic or extreme fatigue that doesn't go away or improve even after sufficient bed rest. When you exert effort doing any physical or mental activity, the condition may worsen. People with chronic fatigue syndrome appears fatigued without any explanation, for a period that is longer than six months. The following criteria, while not definitive, may indicate that you're suffering from CFS:

1. If you're experiencing chronic fatigue for six months or longer, and all the known conditions that may cause chronic fatigue have already been ruled out by your physician;
2. If you have four (or more) of the following symptoms simultaneously:

- short-term memory or loss of it, or lack of concentration; - tender or enlarged lymph nodes; - sore throat; - joint pains that move from one joint to another, without any redness or swelling; - muscle pain or soreness; - headache that is not usual with what you would normally have; - easily disturbed when sleeping; - tiredness and fatigue that lasts for more than 24 hours after exercise. There are also non-official symptoms of CFS. While they may also be symptoms of other ailments, these, in conjunction with the two main ones above, can provide physicians a better diagnosis of CFS. These various symptoms include irregular heartbeat, nausea, visual disturbances, and weight loss or gain. Chronic fatigue syndrome is one of the most mysterious of all chronic illnesses. There is no clear cause for it, unlike other illnesses. It has been supposed that it is the result of an infection with effects to the immune system, like an inflammation of the nervous system pathways as an autoimmune response. The problem is that there is nothing to measure in the blood like the other autoimmune diseases so there is no definitive way to be sure. Several viruses as well as bacteria have also been studied as possible causes of CFS but no cause-and-effect relationships have been found. To compound things, lack of medical knowledge and understanding of CFS has made determining the characteristics of the illness difficult. Ways To Get Rid of CFS Despite your symptoms, learning how to manage your fatigue will give you a modicum of normalcy and help you improve your level of functioning, and overall quality of life. These are self-care tips that will help you maintain good general health:

1. Reduce your stress. Limit overexertion and emotional stress. Relax. Take a break if you're subjecting yourself to a rigorous and stress-inducing workload. Don't change your daily routine totally, however. It has been shown that people who drop all their activity tend to end up being worse than those who kept on being active. Just change enough to allow yourself a breather.
2. Exercise regularly. It might seem counterintuitive, expending more energy when you're feeling fatigued. However, regular exercise often improves your CFS symptoms. Start slow, and then gradually build up. Many people find that walking, aerobics, or swimming help make them feel better. Stretching, relaxation exercises and proper posture are reportedly very helpful. Consult with your physical therapist for a good exercise regimen.
3. Get enough rest and sleep. Build up energy by getting enough rest and sleep. Aside from this, practice good sleeping habits. Remember that when you sleep is just as important as how many hours you sleep. Limit daytime napping. Make it a point to go to bed and wake up roughly the same time each day. Doing so will keep your internal body clock on the level.
4. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Get a balanced diet and reduce or avoid caffeine, smoking, and drink plenty of fluids. Find a hobby or career that's fulfilling.
5. Moderate your daily activities. Too much or too little activity can worsen your long-term symptoms. Strike a balance between the two. Work a regimen with your doctor and gently increase your stamina over time.

Other Forms of Treatment There are a lot of therapies for chronic fatigue syndrome. Since the cause of the illness is generally unknown, these therapies are primarily designed to offer relief of the symptoms rather than cure it. The ultimate goal is to maintain a rather normal or otherwise healthy lifestyle. Some of the therapy treatments include:

1. Cognitive behavior therapy. Often used with graduated exercise, the therapist tries to identify the negative behaviors and beliefs that prevent you from achieving recovery. Once identified, the therapist tries to replace them with healthy and positive ones.
2. Depression treatment. Therapy for depression is often accompanied by medications and antidepressants such as tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medications may also improve sleeping and act as pain relievers.
3. Acupuncture. While not directly used for CFS, acupuncture has been studied as a possible cure for fibromyalgia symptoms, a disease that is similar to CFS and is also characterized by fatigue and muscle soreness.

The symptoms and experience of chronic fatigue syndrome differs from eprson to person. Some recover over time while some are finding it hard to deal with the illness. If you or a loved one are suffering from CFS, emotional and physical support is a very important factor in recovery and self-coping. After all, sometimes, medicine is not enough. If you found this article interesting, you may also be interested in finding out how to avoid feeling sleepy after lunch.