Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) could be helpful for those struggling with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in the following ways:
- Changes Unhelpful Thinking: CBT helps individuals to recognize and challenge negative patterns of thinking that may contribute to their symptoms or make them harder to deal with. This could be particularly beneficial for those with CFS who frequently experience fears and misconceptions about their illness and their abilities.
- Helps Manage Stress: CBT provides methods for managing stress, which could potentially exacerbate the symptoms of CFS. This may include recommendations for deep-breathing exercises, meditation, and pacing activities.
- Encourages Healthy Lifestyle Changes: Individuals with CFS could benefit from CBT because it often encourages healthy behaviour changes, such as engaging in regular gentle exercise and improving sleep hygiene, which could help reduce CFS symptoms.
- Improves Coping Strategies: CBT techniques can provide practical strategies to cope with the symptoms of CFS, such as pain or extreme tiredness, enabling individuals to feel more in control of their health condition.
See also Psychotherapy for Burnout.