Fibromyalgia and Fatigue
What are the main symptoms?
- Severe and debilitating fatigue
- Painful muscles and joints
- Disordered sleep
- Gastric disturbances
- Poor memory and concentration
When your child or teen is struggling to get out of bed and has days when he or she is only a shadow of the child you know.
Looking after a child with fatigue is stressful for any parent – not just dealing with the demands of the illness but making sure your child gets appropriate medical care, education and emotional support.
It’s a difficult balancing act, especially when you have other family members who need your attention too.
How can psychological support helps?
For parents:
Because there is no magic cure, dealing with the illness may feel like an endless task.
You may feel inadequate because you don't know whether to make demands of your child or whether to give him or her a break.
You may feel like you are fighting a losing battle when you ask for support to doctors. They may make you feel you are over-anxious and exaggerating your child's illness.
You may feel nobody understands what your family is going through because there are no external signs of the illness. The child looks well. Your relatives may think he or she is playing you up or he or she is depressed. They may make you feel you are too soft or your child is manipulating you.
I can help you regain control.
I will make sure you have the strength to be your child's main advocate.
I will help you deal with your anxiety so that you are more able to support your child.
For the child:
There is no proven cure but with changes in your life style, diet, behavioural therapy and other natural medicines, it is possible to alleviate the symptoms until your child gets better (they usually do). With proven CBT strategies, I will help your child accept the limitations of the illness and set realistic targets that will help your child on the road to recovery. I will help your child feel happier again and regain self-esteem.
