Chronic Fatigue (ME/CFS) at a glance
More than “tired”
Fatigue can be profound and disabling, often with brain fog and sleep disruption.
Post-exertional flare-ups
Symptoms can worsen after physical, cognitive, emotional, or sensory exertion.
Rule out red flags
New or worsening fatigue needs a medical review to exclude other causes.
This page is educational. If you are worried, symptoms are severe, or changing quickly, seek personalised medical advice.
What is Chronic Fatigue (ME/CFS)?
ME/CFS is a complex condition characterised by long-lasting fatigue that is not relieved by rest, alongside other symptoms. A key feature for many people is post-exertional malaise - a delayed worsening of symptoms after activity that may have previously felt normal.
People may also experience sleep that does not restore energy, cognitive symptoms (brain fog), pain, dizziness, sensitivity to light or noise, and autonomic symptoms (for example, feeling worse when standing).
Why can symptoms persist?
Autonomic and system dysregulation
Many people describe a body that struggles to regulate energy, sleep, stress response and circulation. Symptoms can worsen with standing, sensory load, stress, and inconsistent pacing.
Sensitivity and protection patterns
When the system is under prolonged strain, it may become more sensitive to normal inputs - activity, stress, exertion, uncertainty. This can create cycles of flare-ups that are real, but not always a sign of damage occurring.
Learn more in prediction, danger and safety.
What does “post-exertional” mean?
Post-exertional symptom flare-ups often show up as a delayed crash after activity. Triggers can include:
- physical activity, even gentle exercise
- cognitive exertion, such as deep concentration or long meetings
- emotional stress or conflict
- sensory load, such as noisy environments or long screen sessions
The goal is not to “push through”. For many people, progress starts with pacing - staying within a safer energy envelope and expanding tolerance gradually.
When should I worry?
Seek medical assessment promptly if fatigue is new, severe, worsening, or you have:
- chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting
- unexplained weight loss, persistent fever, night sweats
- new neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness, or severe headache
- blood in stool or urine, or ongoing vomiting
- severe depression, suicidal thoughts, or not feeling safe
If you are unsure, it is reasonable to speak with a clinician. This page is educational and does not replace personalised medical advice.
What helps with Chronic Fatigue (ME/CFS)?
Practical foundations
- Pacing: reduce boom-and-bust cycles and stabilise your baseline.
- Sleep support: keep routines steady, reduce overstimulation where possible.
- Gentle consistency: small, repeatable activity is often safer than big pushes.
- Reduce threat: fear and constant monitoring can amplify symptoms.
If you feel stuck
Many people benefit from a supportive, structured approach that combines pacing, nervous system regulation tools, and gradual reconditioning, alongside appropriate medical oversight. The aim is to create safety, stabilise patterns, then expand tolerance carefully.
Explore flare-ups, patterns and triggers and self-guided tools and practices.
Common questions about Chronic Fatigue (ME/CFS)
Is this the same as being “burnt out”?
Burnout and chronic fatigue can overlap, but ME/CFS has specific patterns, especially post-exertional symptom worsening. If you are unsure what is driving your symptoms, a medical review is important.
Can stress make symptoms worse?
Yes. Stress can change sleep, pain processing, autonomic function and recovery capacity. That does not mean symptoms are “psychological”; it means the nervous system plays a role in how symptoms are expressed.
What should I do next?
Start with medical assessment to rule out other causes and to guide symptom management. Then focus on pacing, stabilising routines, and building a plan that fits your current capacity. Neurowaze can help you find a practitioner who works with complex, persistent symptoms.
Clinical note
ME/CFS is typically diagnosed clinically based on symptom patterns and duration, and after excluding other causes. This page is educational and does not diagnose. If symptoms are new, severe, or worsening, seek medical advice.