Introduction

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM) are family matters. One person may be the ill, but everyone in the family is affected.

Both conditions:

Put marriage under serious strain
Intensify normal stresses such as money, sex, parenting and careers
Create new stresses because of the limitations imposed on the person who is ill
Bring uncertainty about the future
Trigger anger, fear, resentment, grief, guilt and depression

Even though CFS and fibromyalgia create great challenges, there are many strategies that can reduce the stresses and improve quality of life, both for the person who is ill and for other members of the family.

This booklet addresses three questions:

What is important to know about these two conditions?
What adjustments can the family make to live better with long-term illness?
How can you help your loved one and also take care of yourself?

1: Roadmap for CFS and Fibromyalgia