Anxiety, Depression and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

ou don't have to be a woman to suffer from anxiety, depression, or chronic fatigue syndrome, but it certainly helps. Women are about twice as likely as men to seek treatment for these disorders.

Some studies show that women actually do suffer certain types of these disorders more than men, while for other conditions, men and women appear to be stricken at the same rate, with women more likely to seek treatment. Either way, the bottom line is: don't be surprised if you or someone you know has one of these illnesses. Just look at the numbers: an estimated 18 million Americans have severe anxiety, more than 15 percent have had or will have a serious depression at some time in their lives and chronic fatigue syndrome has been estimated to affect as many as 5 million people.

But Don't We All Feel That Way?

Imagine you're keyed up planning a wedding, feeling restless, and not sleeping as well as usual. Or you're sad for a few weeks following the death of a friend. Or one Monday after a busy weekend, you feel more tired than usual.

Sound familiar? These are all normal feelings and normal responses to the events of life. Everyone feels anxious, depressed or fatigued for short periods of time, and the feelings usually pass on their own. A job change, marriage or divorce, financial problems, a new baby, illness of a loved one, or even an argument with a friend or colleague are all good reasons for some of these feelings.

In fact, even positive events can produce these reactions. The anxiety and fatigue that can accompany a whirlwind two­week vacation tour or a cross­country move to a great new job can be real and significant.

But—if you have feelings of anxiety, depression, or fatigue that severely disrupt your daily life or persist for more than a few weeks, or if your feelings seem out of proportion to the event that caused them—or if there is no specific cause—then it's time to see your doctor. Anxiety and depression are treatable mental illnesses, and incapacitating fatigue can be an important symptom of disease, including chronic fatigue syndrome.

What Kind of Doctor?

The first step is to get an initial diagnosis from your regular internist or family practitioner. Your family doctor can screen you for underlying medical conditions or medications that could be causing or contributing to the way you feel. Usually, the doctor will ask you about your medical history, perform blood and urine tests, and, if appropriate, take x­rays. Your doctor may then refer you to a specialist for treatment. Severe anxiety and depression are real illnesses—not signs of “weakness”—and should be treated by a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a medical condition that can be treated by your regular doctor, a specialist in the syndrome, or an immunologist. In some cases, you may be referred to a neurologist for an assessment.

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