What Are You Tired Of? (Chronic Fatigue)

Explored in this episode

• Whether Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a psychological or physiological problem
• Why men may be diagnosed less often than women
• The difficulties in diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• The importance of a strong social and family network to our overall well being
• How language and word choice can influence our perspective on our health

Voices in the conversation

Anna Cummings

Entrepreneur and mother

In the 90’s, Anna was an active young mother and businesswoman. When she started exhibiting signs of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, nobody could figure out what was the matter with her. Her joints ached, her short term memory all but disappeared, along with all of her energy and coping ability. Nothing about how she was feeling seemed to add up, and yet she suffered for six years. She describes how her life took a turn for the better when she declined a prescription for antidepressants, and took her friend up on an offer to go cross-country skiing.

Dr. Ian Hyams

Medical Director at the Hyams Clinic, and consultant at the Complex Chronic Diseases Program at BC Women’s Hospital

Dr. Ian Hyams is the medical director of at his chronic fatigue and pain clinic in Ambleside, specializing in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia management, as well as the management of similar disorders.He is also a consultant at the Complex Chronic Diseases Program at BC Women’s Hospital in Vancouver, specializing in these disorders. In addition, Dr. Hyams is also a clinical instructor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of British Columbia.

Mark Groves

Human Connection Specialist and Applied Positive Psychologist

Mark describes himself as “an emotional translator, writer, speaker and coach,” and has an ability to help his clients put language to the human experience, especially from the male perspective. He helps people identify patterns that may be preventing them from falling in love, maintaining a good relationship, leading a healthy life and achieving their goals. His clients range from entire businesses and their leaders to couples and individuals.

We connected with Mark to learn his thoughts on why fewer men might check themselves into a clinic, or speak to their doctor about something like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

References

themighty.com

The Mighty is a digital health community that was created to empower and connect people facing health challenges and disabilities, including issues like chronic fatigue syndrome. In this episode, you’ll hear some real-life descriptions of what it feels like to have CFS, submitted to themighty.com by actual sufferers about their first-hand experience.

Learn More

Martin Seligman, founder of Applied Positive Psychology

Mark Groves holds a certificate in Applied Positive Psychology, a discipline founded by Martin Seligman, an American psychologist, educator an author of many self-help books. Dr. Seligman initiated research and founded the theory of “learned helplessness”, which is the view that depression and other mental illnesses may stem from the absence of control (either real or perceived) over a given situation and its outcome.