Chronic illness, and especially fatigue oriented conditions can strike fear and confusion into anyone, ranging all the way from the onset of symptoms to a diagnosis and beyond.

This can linger, especially after trying many treatments and visiting multiple practitioners without lasting relief.

Chronic fatigue treatments range widely—from vitamin infusions to cognitive behavioral therapy, each touted as the next solution.

It is when these interventions fail to yield the desired outcome that leaves people scratching their heads.

A time like this calls for one to ensure they have not missed what I describe as the most common three roadblocks halting one’s progress.

1. Yet to address the big 3

Toxins, infections and trauma regularly play a role in chronic health symptoms and can be responsible for ongoing symptoms when not addressed.

In short, toxins which are ubiquitous in our modern-day environment are problematic for our organ systems and importantly for our purposes, our mitochondria. Toxins interrupt the normal function of our mitochondria leading to difficulties creating energy.

The same can be said for chronic infections which weigh down an at times overwhelmed immune system which struggles to keep up with the demands placed upon it. Consistent with the Cell Danger response theory, infections also create an environment which leads the cell to restrict energy production and instead shield itself from further harm.

The topic of trauma has continued to come to the forefront of discussions surrounding chronic illness and for good reason.

Traumatic episodes have been shown to initiate a dysregulated nervous system, leading one to experience a regular ongoing stress response which has detrimental physiological impacts on one’s system.

The Adverse Childhood Events study for instance found that the risk of an individual suffering from a chronic illness rises exponentially with their rate of adverse experiences growing up.

Dealing with trauma through various methods can help restore balance in one’s nervous system and set the stage for healing.

It is worth exploring each of these above factors when one is not improving.

2. Insufficient protocol

I am an ardent believer that we can each heal once we have found our unique root causes behind our symptoms.

Listening and understanding a patient’s symptoms, coupled with laboratory testing can play a role in finding this out.

This gives one a starting place and direction, which differs from the scattergun approach that merely can lead to inefficiency and more frustration later down the line.

The next step is having targeted therapies at our disposal and in the correct doses to assist the healing process.

3. Giving up prematurely

Healing is powerful, but it takes time—especially after being unwell for a long period.

Dedicating sufficient time to a treatment protocol that is tailored to your needs is essential and worth the investment.

Working with a practitioner or coach who understands this can be very helpful in ensuring one stays the course and remains resilient in the face of inevitable challenges along the way.

You can find other ME/CFS related blogs here.