Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

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Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Real conditions. Real suffering. Evidence-based support.

What are Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are complex, often misunderstood conditions that significantly impair daily functioning and quality of life. Both conditions involve a range of physical symptoms — widespread pain, profound fatigue, cognitive difficulties and sleep disturbance — that are real, debilitating and frequently dismissed or minimised by medical and social environments.

Neither condition is imagined or fabricated. Both have a significant neurobiological basis. And both involve a complex interplay between physical and psychological factors that makes integrated treatment — addressing both dimensions simultaneously — the most effective approach.

At Karasick Psychology we provide evidence-based psychological assessment and treatment for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome — working collaboratively with clients and their medical teams to address the psychological factors maintaining symptoms and support gradual rehabilitation and improved quality of life.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome — also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or ME/CFS — is characterised by profound, persistent fatigue that is not explained by another medical condition and is not relieved by rest. It is a serious, complex condition that affects multiple body systems and significantly impairs daily functioning.

Post-exertional malaise — a worsening of symptoms following physical or cognitive exertion that can last hours, days or weeks — is the hallmark feature of ME/CFS and distinguishes it from other fatigue conditions. The condition is frequently misunderstood and people with ME/CFS often face significant barriers to diagnosis and appropriate support.

Does this sound familiar?

▪ Profound persistent fatigue lasting six months or more

▪ Post-exertional malaise — significant symptom worsening after physical or mental activity

▪ Unrefreshing sleep despite adequate or excessive duration

▪ Cognitive difficulties — brain fog, memory impairment, difficulty concentrating

▪ Orthostatic intolerance — worsening symptoms when upright

▪ Pain — headaches, muscle pain, joint pain without swelling

▪ Sensitivity to light, sound, temperature and smell

▪ Immune symptoms — sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, flu-like feelings

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance and cognitive difficulties — commonly referred to as fibro fog. It is one of the most common chronic pain conditions and one of the most frequently misdiagnosed and misunderstood.

The pain in fibromyalgia is real and neurologically based — involving central sensitisation, a process in which the nervous system becomes amplified in its response to pain signals. Psychological factors including stress, trauma, anxiety and depression play a significant role in central sensitisation and in the maintenance and exacerbation of fibromyalgia symptoms.

Does this sound familiar?

▪ Widespread musculoskeletal pain affecting multiple areas of the body

▪ Fatigue that is not relieved by rest

▪ Cognitive difficulties — memory problems, difficulty concentrating, brain fog

▪ Sleep disturbance — unrefreshing sleep despite adequate duration

▪ Heightened sensitivity to pain, temperature, sound and light

▪ Headaches and migraines

▪ Irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal symptoms

▪ Mood disturbance — depression and anxiety are common comorbidities

The Role of Psychology

Psychological treatment for fibromyalgia and ME/CFS does not mean that the symptoms are psychological in origin or that they are not real. It means that the brain and nervous system — which are fundamentally psychological as well as physical systems — play a significant role in how these conditions develop, persist and respond to treatment.

Stress, trauma, anxiety and depression all have measurable effects on pain sensitivity, immune function, fatigue and cognitive performance. Addressing these factors through evidence-based psychological treatment produces real, measurable improvements in physical symptoms — not because the symptoms were imagined but because the mind and body are genuinely inseparable.

Psychological treatment also addresses the significant emotional and psychological burden of living with a chronic, poorly understood condition — including grief for lost functioning, the impact on identity and relationships, depression, anxiety and the exhaustion of navigating a medical system that frequently fails to take these conditions seriously.

Treatment

At Karasick Psychology treatment for fibromyalgia and ME/CFS is carefully paced, collaborative and tailored to your specific presentation and energy envelope. We draw primarily from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy — addressing the thought patterns, behaviours and emotional responses that maintain and exacerbate symptoms — alongside acceptance-based approaches that support living well within current limitations while working toward gradual improvement.

Treatment is paced carefully to your energy and symptom levels — we never push beyond what your system can tolerate. The goal is gradual, sustainable improvement in functioning and quality of life — not a return to functioning at any cost.

What to expect

Treatment begins with a thorough assessment of your symptoms, history, current functioning and goals. From there therapy is collaborative, flexible and adjusted as your needs and capacity evolve. We work alongside your medical team — not instead of them.

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Reaching out for therapy is hard, but struggling alone is harder. Contact us to learn how we can support your path toward healing, development, and lasting improvement.