Chronic fatigue is intense lethargy -- a feeling of listlessness, lack of energy, and deprivation of motivation to do anything. Chronic fatigue is subjective, without well-defined characteristics. Chronic fatigue may be due to death of loved ones; diseases, such as heart conditions or diabetes; emotional problems, such as stress or depression; and medications, such as antihistamines, sedatives, and antidepressants. Chronic fatigue may also be psychological rather than physical, if the symptoms seem most severe on waking up, and taper off during the day, and there is hardly any muscle weakness.
Mental depression is one of the most common mental disorders. Mental depression is due to hereditary predisposition, emotional trauma, chemical imbalance, or hormonal changes. A characteristic symptom of mental depression is lethargy, listlessness, and lack of incentive to do anything. Due to its similarity with chronic fatigue, many individuals -- in particular, those without a history of depression -- may think they are suffering from chronic fatigue, when, in fact, they are undergoing a depressive episode.
So, how can one tell a mental depression from chronic fatigue?
In addition to fatigue, a characteristic of mental depression is distorted thinking, which may be caused by a dysfunctional deep limbic system (near the center of your brain). A dysfunctional deep limbic system may result from deficiency of neurotransmitters (responsible for communication between brain cells), causing increased metabolism or inflammation in the limbic system.
An overactive deep limbic system may cause individuals to do the following: looking back at the past and feel regret; looking at the future, and feel anxiety; looking at the present, and feel dissatisfaction. These negative thoughts are known as automatic negative thoughts (ANT).
So, if you are preoccupied with negative thoughts about yourself and what is happening around you, you are most probably suffering from mental depression, rather than chronic fatigue.
Chronic fatigue is a reflection of poor physical health, which adversely affects the mind. A complete physical checkup is the first step: you need to find out what is really wrong with you. The next step is detoxification: removing all body toxins. Healing and recovery will not take place until your body is clear of toxic wastes. Then, the final step is rejuvenation: providing your body with nutrients to complement the recovery process. Eating whole foods holds the key to rejuvenation. Avoid all processed foods, which are loaded with chemicals. A change in lifestyle, in particular an exercise regimen, is a must for long-term recovery from chronic fatigue.
Mental depression may require antidepressants. However, antidepressants alone may not provide a long-term cure; they only suppress the symptoms of mental depression. After all, all pharmaceutical drugs are chemicals.
It is critically important to heal you deep limbic system by changing your moment-to-moment thought patterns. Understand that your negative thoughts are real to you, but you must "talk back" to them whenever they occur. You must challenge them, and talk back to them repeatedly until they are banished from your mind.
Exercise can also help you not only to increase you energy output to induce restful sleep, but also banish your negative thoughts.
Nutrition can enhance the functioning of your deep limbic system. Your body needs proteins, which are building blocks of brain neurotransmitters. Eat a diet rich in omega-3-fatty acids.
Both chronic fatigue and mental depression require a complete overhaul of both physical and mental health.
Author Resource:-
For more information on how to heal the deep limbic system to banish automatic negative thoughts (ANT), go to Stephen Lau's web page: Depression Myth. Stephen Lau is a writer and researcher with books and websites on Chinese natural healing, eating disorders, and Zen health. Also, visit his website: The Seven Pillars of Wisdom on how to be healthy.
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