"Many people living with chronic illness experience fatigue (Farragher et al., 2020). Fatigue has been closely linked with inflammation (Rio et al., 2024), and many chronic illnesses involve inflammatory processes. Because fatigue cannot be objectively measured (with a blood test, for example), it is often disbelieved and minimized. While there is no standard definition of fatigue due to the individualized nature of the experience, commonalities do exist (Rio et al., 2024)."
"The experience of chronic illness fatigue is often described in metaphors (Rio et al., 2024). Some people describe it as a wall that can't be moved. Others say it feels like the body is burdened with heavy weights. Still others say it feels like the type of exhaustion one has with the flu. For many, an analogy of their fatigue to a worn-out battery feels apt. Like a tired battery, their energy level never resets to 100 percent, even after rest/recharge."
Fatigue commonly accompanies many chronic illnesses and has links to inflammatory processes. Fatigue cannot be objectively measured with standard tests, which contributes to disbelief and minimization. Individuals describe illness-related fatigue through metaphors such as immovable walls, heavy weights, flu-like exhaustion, or a worn-out battery that never fully recharges and drains rapidly. Communication is difficult because ordinary tiredness differs qualitatively from illness-related fatigue and typical remedies like caffeine or pushing through are ineffective. Conducting an energy audit and applying occupational therapy and psychotherapy principles can help people accept and manage energy limitations to live better with fatigue.
Read at Psychology Today
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