It is important that activity levels are managed. Planning ahead and keeping track will ensure that gradual, healthy increases in exercise and activity can be made at a suitable rate, whilst avoiding any overexertion that may prove detrimental to progress. Organising your day will help you pace yourself and give you a beneficial sense of control over your situation. Setting and achieving realistic goals will help you stay motivated.

Graded exercise therapy (GET) is utilised by many individuals with milder symptoms of CFS. It is a structured exercise programme which gradually increases in frequency and intensity. This process should be supported by a physiotherapist or other medical professional.

Make sure that you eat well to provide your body with the nutrients it needs. Eat regularly and consume foods with slow release energy. 

If you have trouble sleeping, try keeping to a routine: going to bed at the same time each night, taking a relaxing bath or having a warm drink. You could also try relaxation techniques. 

Mindfulness meditation is a helpful tool for the stress and emotional distress that having CFS may cause. 

It is also important to maintain social links with friends and family. Visiting a support group can also be very beneficial; it can be a relief to talk to others who truly understand what you are coping with.

There is no definite answer to what causes chronic fatigue syndrome. There are arguments that some people are more genetically vulnerable to the condition, as it is more common in some families.

It can also be caused by immune system weaknesses, a bacterial or viral infection, hormonal imbalance or psychological issues such as stress and trauma.

There is no diagnostic blood test for either condition, and the process of diagnosing both is very similar, as they have many overlapping symptoms.

With Long Covid, a person is more likely to have symptoms like shortness of breath and chest pains.

As the conditions are so similar, however, there is hope that research into one will support the other.

Chronic fatigue syndrome can have a devastating effect on emotional and mental health. Even with milder symptoms, the individual may be forced to give up cherished activities, their job and lifestyle, and reassess future plans. This loss – of freedom, spontaneity, financial security, hobbies – and the stress put upon personal relationships can be very difficult to adapt to. 

Many people with CFS feel ashamed of their condition and guilty that people in their life have had to make sacrifices in order to care for them. They may feel powerless, and often struggle with self-blame, looking back and wondering what they could have done differently in the past to prevent the condition. 

Frustration and fear are common in those with CFS. Attempts to continue with or increase levels of activity may fail, leading to frustration and in turn fear that the condition will never improve. 

Counselling can help an individual with CFS work through these difficult emotions, thereby reducing levels of stress and alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety.

This is particular relevant if we imagine how the psychological stress of the condition may worsen the symptoms.

If you are a carer for someone with chronic fatigue syndrome, you might be interested in reading our advice to carers.