In this blog our specialist fatigue clinician talks to three team members with pain and fatigue about how it is to have an invisible disability & the challenges this presents in relationships, how this can create misunderstandings socially and in the workplace.

The current economic crisis so soon after the pandemic is a stressful experience for us all in its various forms of suffering, disruption to our lives and the uncertainty it’s generating.

This article contains my 6 tips for dealing with overwhelm.

#Burnout is a risk for employees given the stressors of the current economic climate. This article looks at risks & tips for employers & employees spotting the signs and preventing issues taking hold.

Research, conducted by the University of Bristol (Collin and Cawley, 2016) shows that one in 50 16-year-olds have experienced significant, long term fatigue (more than 6 months.)  Add to this the numbers of young people with other long term pain and medical conditions and we can see that the struggles of continuing education with a chronic illness are more common place than we might at first think.

Our Executive Manager and Specialist Clinician reflects on what basis is it possible to maintain to be an expert in something given our emphasis on our role as an expert persistent pain and fatigue rehabilitation provider.

Does the very thought of planning a holiday leave you feeling exhausted? The thought of a long journey and sleeping in a different bed is enough to raise your anxiety levels before you even consider the expectations of yourself or others regarding what you will actually do whilst on holiday. Isn’t it supposed to be pleasurable or at the very least somewhat relaxing?

It’s unlikely that we’ll pass through life feeling little or no stress at all.  (Although many of us can recall a friend or family member who’s “so laid back (s)he’s almost horizontal”!)  Stress is linked to the ‘fight flight’ response; a primitive, normal and natural response that keeps us safe from any perceived threat. 

A combination of various factors such as persistent sleep disturbance, living under chronic and sustained stress and having chicken pox as an adult, all meant that one day when I was at work for Hilton Hotels I was suddenly utterly incapacitated by severe pain. On another occasion, I recall standing at the bottom of the stairs, unable to go up them as my whole body felt like lead.

As a colleague witnessing someone in pain, It can be very difficult knowing when to help, when not to, when to offer sympathy, when not to, when to suggest ‘it may be better if you stopped doing that and rest’ and when to let your colleague just get on with it.  

Low back pain is very common, and most people have it at some point in their lives. It affects people of all ages and all socio-economic statuses. It is the leading cause of disability worldwide and the number of people affected is increasing.

When you are feeling unwell it is far more challenging to eat well.  Having the energy or inclination to spend time preparing food can seem daunting.  Many people find that they lose their normal appetite and enjoyment of food and eating can become a chore.  Some people also feel less like eating if they are low in mood or concerned about their health.

How many times do we hear the words ‘it’s all about balance’.  ‘Balance is key’. ‘All things in moderation’.  Etc etc.? In fact, if we look at the definition of ‘balance’ we see that it’s ‘a situation in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions’. Broadly speaking we may find that our lives are split into different areas: Self care, achievement, connecting with others and enjoyment. 

When you have an ongoing pain condition it can be such a struggle to talk to others about what its like to live with and what practical and emotional support they could give you.

It is easy to make assumptions about others based on their appearance or behaviours, but do we also make assumptions about ourselves when we feel fatigued? The first thought for most people experiencing fatigue is, “I must get some more sleep”.

8 tips to help you cope with pain

I feel privileged to be part of this team – not only because I am surrounded by a huge amount of expertise and experience, but because they’re a lovely bunch of people. For two days we spent the time getting to know each other better as well as experiencing the wonderful outdoors.

We are celebrating 10 years of supporting people with ME/CFS with a team event which synchronistically coincides with ME Awareness week. Here on our team members talks about how it is to attend this event with this condition.

Recovering from long covid can be a long haul for some and diet is very important means to aid recovery. However, advice can be conflicting. Here our specialist dietitian explores the anti-histamine diet and the Mediterranean diet and considers their benefits.

One of our team shares what its like getting back to work after burning out with post viral fatigue/Chronic fatigue syndrome and the challenges of living with an invisible disability.

Be alert to the signs of #burnout, says employment lawyer. This article looks at risks & tips for employers & employees spotting the signs and preventing issues taking hold. This was written by Generali following a webinar presented by us on ‘Preventing Fatigue and Burnout’.