Any answer to severe fatigue and somatic symptoms?

[anxiousrecoverer]

Hi, I'm just wondering if anyone has found the answer to these symptoms? I'm ok at the moment mostly (but need to take a nap each evening) as I have gone on a low dose of antidepressants, which helps. However, I know from previous experience that the antidepressants don't work forever and the effects start to wear off so I want to have worked this out before that happens. I'm in my mid-20s and when in education I was high-achieving, but I have never been able to work a full five days a week without quickly becoming ill because I frequently dip into bouts of really severe fatigue. I don't have any sleep problems - except perhaps sleeping too much when I just give in to the exhaustion - and emotionally I'm not too bad. I don't really feel anxious anymore, just kind of slightly down. Not unhappy just never happy. I'm in therapy for MH problems which I have had for about 13 years, but I know that it will take a number of years to overcome. In the meantime, I don't want to have any more somatic problems disrupting my life. It really doesn't help if you need to take time off work or if you don't have the energy to try to improve your lifestyle! So is there something I can do in the meantime? Like some exercises or something? My friend has CFS, which she thinks is the result of many years of MH problems, and she has a pacing package the doctor gave her. Do doctors provide them for MH problems too does anyone know?

[leehow79]

Dont know wot MH is but it sounds like ur tired + sleepin due 2 a low form of longterm depression. Maybe u need 2 find the right antidepressants 4 u + maybe look into wot could b keepin ur depression goin + exersise does do wonders 2 lift ur spirits. Hope this helped.xx

[anxiousrecoverer in reply to leehow79]

Thanks. Sorry, MH just meant 'mental health'. Difficult to give a diagnosis because my symptoms have gone from anorexia, to bulimia, to compulsive eating disorder, to depression, to agoraphobia, to somatic disorders, so I just call it MH. I've tried most antidepressants (all the SSRIs and Venlafaxine and don't fancy the older types of ADs because of the side effects) and found Citalopram is the only one with an effect, so I'm sticking with these. I've heard they don't have as much of an effect on low-level depression and are more suited to people with 'proper' depression and anxiety - more severe and in bouts, etc - so I've accepted they're no cure, but they definitely help me to function day to day. Hopefully figuring out my low mood through therapy will help then. Just in a bit of a Catch 22 because I need to do more to beat the low mood but I don't have enough energy because of the low mood!! Very frustrating! That's why I was thinking maybe pacing....perhaps I will ask my GP at my next checkup. x