Let’s face it: the post-Covid years are a mess. We have statistics to prove it: recent data collected by Lyra Southern Africa from 67,419 Employee Wellness Program (EWP) cases shows that between 40% and 43% of South African women are currently experiencing workplace burnout. And by next year, the rate of stress-related mental illness is expected to rise to a whopping 50%.
And since there are compounding stressors everywhere – gas prices, anyone? – Chances are, you feel just as stressed and tired. We all juggle deadlines at work; Sitting in endless traffic and caring for family and friends… Even if things feel overwhelming, it’s important to know that there is a difference between burnout and chronic fatigue syndrome.
What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a severe, complex, multisystem biological disease. It limits a person’s ability to carry out routine daily activities.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complicated condition diagnosed by three symptoms:
- A significant loss of functionality
- Feeling unwell after exertion (sometimes even as minor as sending an email)
- Unrestful sleep
Diagnosis is based on functional decline lasting more than six months and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as: B. cognitive impairment (thinking or memory problems) or difficulty standing or sitting upright. Women are two to four times more likely to be diagnosed than men.
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The illness can occur suddenly, often after a flu-like infection. In fact, a review in Diagnostics states that about 50-80% of patients suddenly develop a flu-like illness from which they never recover. But CFS can also begin with an episode of physical or psychological trauma, such as surgery, a traumatic accident, or the death of a loved one. In other cases, chronic fatigue syndrome develops gradually. And now for the bad news: the illness can last for many months or years and only a small percentage of people make a full recovery. Yikes.
How chronic fatigue syndrome manifests itself
“Someone with a heavy workload will work longer hours. This results in less time for exercise, making healthy dietary choices, getting enough sleep, and neglecting relationships, which can even lead to substance abuse,” says Dr. Anthony Koller, consultant psychiatrist in Cape Town. And chronic fatigue syndrome isn’t just attributed to low energy levels: emotional exhaustion is one of the key elements.
“Emotional exhaustion is the almost complete depletion of your emotional reserves,” says Dr. Koller. It could get as bad as feeling like you have nothing to give people emotionally. Think: Not responding to text messages, saying “no” to conversations over coffee, or simply not responding well to a conversation. And that is depersonalization, says Dr. Koller. “Depersonalization refers to the unusually harsh, emotionless, and indifferent way a person with CFS begins to treat their clients and/or loved ones,” adds Dr. Koller added.
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What about burnout?
In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially classified burnout as an “occupational phenomenon” in the ICD-11. One of the main symptoms is chronic stress at work that is not successfully managed. Unlike burnout (which is due to occupational stress), ME/CFS involves severe physiological fatigue that is not relieved by rest and is worsened by even minor physical or cognitive exertion.
Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a biological rather than psychological disorder and has serious symptoms. It drains your energy, destroys your desire to go to the gym, and even extinguishes your desire to live. Here’s how CFS can affect your mind and body:
Extreme exhaustion
Think: tired, but no rest helps. And science says that prolonged upright posture can make fatigue worse. Poor concentration, forgetting words mid-sentence and poor short-term memory are the main symptoms.
Weakened immunity
Chronic fatigue syndrome damages your immune system and affects just about everything, including a sore throat, tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpit, muscle pain, and/or multi-point pain without joint swelling.
Mysterious illnesses everywhere
Because your immune system is weakened, CFS can lead to eczema or skin infections such as staph. And when hormones called androgens increase in your body, acne breakouts can occur. Headaches, muscle aches, and widespread pain are common symptoms.
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You sleep, but it doesn’t help
It can go either way, as inadequate sleep can occur both before and alongside burnout (BMC Public Health). Waking up exhausted after a full night’s sleep is a warning sign of chronic fatigue syndrome, in which people may not feel less tired after a full night’s sleep (CDC). If it persists, tell your doctor.
Fear that won’t let you switch off
The gender gap is reflected in fear. A Swedish population study found that anxiety, insomnia and burnout were common among women, particularly young women, while depression rates were similar between the sexes. You shouldn’t ignore a bad mood either, because burnout and depression overlap greatly.
Your stomach protests
Constipation and bloating can be a result of stress and women are more affected by it. Irritable bowel syndrome disproportionately affects women, and stress and anxiety are strongly linked to the symptoms. In women with irritable bowel syndrome, daily stress leads to gastrointestinal symptoms, including constipation. Digestive problems are also on the CDC’s list of other ME/CFS symptoms.
What is the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome?
This form of exhaustion does not mean that you will never be happy again. You need a doctor and a targeted plan of action, as well as lots of help from friends and family. Treatment is multifactorial, meaning it is not necessary to take a single pill. Rather, each symptom is treated and general steps must also be taken. To avoid power outages, you need to reduce your workload and carefully manage your productivity. Other treatments include medications for pain, sleep and mood. If these symptoms sound familiar, call your doctor – and take it easy.