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Basics

Sleep

Improving sleep helps to reduce all symptoms. Therefore, it is a good first step to feeling healthier.

It helps to keep your bedroom dark and quiet. Room-darkening shades and curtains can keep the morning light out. White noise from a fan, humidifier, or special machine helps mask other household sounds. You can turn off or cover your phone so you won't be awakened in the morning or tell your frequent callers what the best times are to reach you. Having layers of covers to add or discard is also useful.

You might find you sleep better if you go to bed late and sleep late mornings. But whatever hours work best for you, try to make them regular.

Also, some people have found certain medicines help them sleep better.

Activity Levels

Symptoms can be aggravated by overexertion or, less often, by atrophy or depression due to inactivity. The most popular technique to regulate activity level and avoid the payback effect is called "living within the envelope:"

  1. Try to observe what activities, at what levels, make your symptoms worse.
  2. Estimate how much of the activity you can do without causing more symptoms.
  3. Do this much of the activity and no more. Try to remember how much you did and any signs or sensations you felt during the activity, such as dizziness or pain. You may record this on a chart or do it by intuition.
  4. If you did too much, do less next time. Note what signs you felt before doing too much and stop as soon as you notice one of those signs. When your symptoms don't get worse, you'll know that you've found a good activity level.

This process is based on trial and error, and it will take some time to find good levels for yourself. Although it may be tedious at first, with practice you'll get more familiar with your limits and warning signs.

Sensory Overload

Most people with CFS are uncomfortable with too much light, sound, heat, or cold. Some strategies for handling this include wearing sunglasses or visors, dressing in layers to prepare for any temperature, or simply avoiding places and situations that are uncomfortable.

Suggestions Suggestions Making Decisions