1. Suffering from unexplained physical exhaustion that lasts more than 24 hours.

2. An inability to concentrate or memory loss.

3. Painful and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or arm area.

4. Unexplained muscle soreness.

5. Sore throat

6. Headaches that are of a different pattern or type than you usually suffer from.

7. Multiple joint pain that is unaccompanied by redness and swelling.

8. Sleep difficulties.

There are many other additional symptoms that sufferers complain of such as nausea, shortness of breath, jaw pain and tingling sensations as well as many others, but the eight symptoms listed above are the eight primary symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

It is also important to note that a person does not have to suffer from all eight of the basic symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for a diagnosis to be made.

Although any chronic illness is difficult to adjust to living with, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can be one of the more frustrating illness to adapt to. The majority of the time the underlying cause of the illness is unknown, so without a basic understanding of what is causing the illness, there often isn't an effective treatment plan that can be implemented to substantially reduce its symptoms.

Because fatigue is not a visible illness it is often not an illness that can be easily understood by co-workers, family, or friends. This adds to the effects of the illness a lot of physiological issues of self doubt, depression and alienation that need to dealt with in addition to the physical symptoms.

The first step in dealing with any chronic illness is learning how to best live with it. Lifestyle change is an important part of adapting.

The person afflicted with chronic fatigue must change their lifestyle to fit the new person that they have become rather than to continue trying to live as they had done previously. They are not the same person that they were previous to their illness and their body can no longer perform the functions that it used to. Continuing to push their body to try to do things that it is no longer capable of only increases the frustration and fatigue levels involved with the illness.

Where fatigue issues are concerned living life in bits and pieces works best. Participate in a little of this, and a little of that, but never too little or too much of any one activity at a time. Sitting for six hours will only cause you to feel more tired just as will trying to do housework or a job for a straight six hours. Where as an hour of sitting or an hour of work, will actually make you feel more refreshed, when they are put into your life in shorter time periods.

For example your day might go something like this: Standing activities first in the morning i.e.: cooking breakfast, then a sit down rest period at the computer for awhile, stand again to do dishes or have a shower, do a fifteen to twenty minute period of light exercise, lie down for a twenty minute rest break. Get back up, go downtown to pick up a few groceries and walk around the store a little just for exercise, then home again to enjoy a relaxing cup of tea, or to lie down for a rest once again. Watch T.V. or visit with family or friends for remainder of evening.

Living life in bits and pieces brings back the quality of life a person with chronic fatigue needs to truly enjoy their life once again. They are able to accomplish a great deal more than they would otherwise be able to and this factor alone is able to reduce the stress that they are forced to live in. Having the ability to live more effectively within their illness without having to increase the fatigue factor of it is a major accomplishment.

Lifestyle change is the absolute number one alternative therapy that needs to be implemented into the life of a person with this form of chronic illness!

Rest and a regular exercise program are two other alternative therapies that must be a part of life with a chronic illness. Chronic fatigue syndrome requires a much slower lifestyle than other average individuals would participate in, and for this reason rest must be treated as a form of treatment for it.

A "Total Rest" period of twenty minutes per day is enough to rejuvenate a person and give them the energy that they need to continue on with their day. This total rest period only requires that a person lie down and do absolutely nothing for twenty minutes at some point during each day. They do not have to sleep to get the benefits of this rest break but they must do absolutely nothing other than rest during this twenty minute period. It is amazing how this brief period of "Total Rest" can enable a person to have the energy to enjoy the rest of the day rather than the alternative of just existing through it.

Just as rest must be used as a form of alternative therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers, so does a regular therapy or exercise program need to be implemented into their lives.
Muscle and cardiovascular health can begin to determinate very quickly when one stops participating in regular exercise. People with a chronic illness that involves fatigue issues automatically find themselves drastically reducing the amount of physical activity that they participate in, and with their brain sending them the message that it needs to rest to get well, they are very unlikely to force themselves into a physical therapy program. However to insure that they are maintaining as much of their muscle strength and cardiovascular health as they are able to, they must participate in some form of exercise, or physical therapy program on a regular basis.

It is very important not to overstress the body during illness but it is also very important to insure that an adequate amount of physical activity is achieved. This is where it is very important for the individual to test and to learn their body limits. They must learn to push their body but not to the point of over stressing it. It really is a fine balancing act as most people with a chronic illness find their levels changing on a weekly or daily basis.

It is for this reason that exercises which can be easily adjusted are the ones that most individuals have the best success rates with. Yoga, walking, dancing, swimming, or basic range of motion exercise all have very positive results in this area. Each of these physical activities can be adjusted to an increase or decrease in level as needed. Walking or dancing as exercise can be done both within the home or out. Simply fast walking from room to room in the house is great exercise, and can probably get a few things put into their proper places while you are at it, while dancing around the home can actually be a very enjoyable form of exercise.

Physical activity also serves to release endorphins into the body which are the body's very own natural pain killer, as well as a feel good transmission sent out from your brain through the spine, to all the other areas of your body. These endorphins can greatly reduce the degree of physical and emotional stress that a person with chronic illness exists within.

Because the reasons as to why a person with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome suffers from their illness are unknown, it is essential for the sufferer to live as well as they are able to, in order to insure a maximum level of health. This always must include a healthy diet.

It is an absolute must to insure that all the basic nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are required by the human body for absolute health are ingested daily. Some people have an inability to retain Vitamins or protein in their body so it must be consumed on a regular basis to insure thier health. Because the underlying reason for their illness is unknown, a person with chronic fatigue syndrome must make sure that they are doing their best to provide for any dietary factors that could be a possible cause of their illness. The way to do this is to eat a proper nutritional diet on a regular basis and to take vitamin supplements as is necessary.

They should also consume a diet high in antioxidants as this will insure optimum health benefits during illness.

Eating five or six small meals throughout the day rather than one large meal will help to increase an individual's metabolism, and by doing so, help to prevent drastic weight gains.

Some foods can also increase metabolism, Cayenne pepper is an excellent example of one of these foods, mixed with yellow mustard it can be used as a tasty flavoring on your midday or evening meal.

Try to avoid red meats, dine instead on healthier lean meats, and an abundance of vegetables. These simple diet changes can have a dramatic affect on the amount of energy you are able to have throughout your day.

Avoid pollutants and other possible contaminants such as cigarette smoke.

Live within a lifestyle change that suits the person that you now are rather than the person that you used to be.

Once you grow more comfortable with the new person that you have come to be, and adjust to the new lifestyle that you now lead, you will probably find that you are able to just relax and enjoy this new phase of your life.

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http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/DS00395/DSECTION=symptoms