A Perspective on ME/CFS as Chronic Stress

In February's newsletter Richard wrote an article concerning approaches that concentrate on the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axix. We had one response that pointed out that not everyone is helped by talking therapies such as Reverse Therapy, and queried how this type of therapy can help a physical problem. It is important when assessing any treatment to remember that ME/CFS is NOT a true diagnosis but a group of symptoms, which conventional medicine does not understand, thus it is called a 'syndrome'.

It is most likely that ME/CFS has many causes/triggers but what all suffers have in common is their symptoms which are those of CHRONIC STRESS. To the body stress is anything that causes an elevation in the stress hormones, it can be physical or psychological/emotional and the body's response is the same.

The body system that deals with stress is the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal axis (HPA axis). This has been observed to be dysfunctional in ME/CFS. The end organs that suffer are the adrenal glands and this is variously referred to as adrenal fatigue/adrenal insufficiency/low adrenal reserve. The thyroid gland may also be involved.

The distinction between the body and mind that is often made is a false one. While physical stressors may be outside of our knowledge or control e.g. infections, chronic or undiagnosed illness, it may be in our power to deal with psychological/emotional stressors. This is what the talking therapies have honed in on.