Anxiety, depression, and panic attacks are common consequences of any long term illness and people with M.E. are not an exception.
Even if you have had anxiety or depression before the onset of M.E., it does not mean that they caused your M.E., or that your M.E. is ‘all in the mind’ or an indication of personality weakness. There are differences between M.E. and depression.
Untreated depression and anxiety can affect the long term outcome of many medical conditions. It is important to seek medical help if low mood or anxiety persist or they can aggravate your symptoms and get in the way of recovery.
Our booklet, All about M.E., tells you how to identify a mood problem and how to manage it.
If the problem is mild to moderate, counselling or CBT may help you work out how to manage your mood better.
If your M.E. is at a level where regular sessions are not feasible, or your depression is moderate to severe, you may be advised to take antidepressants. Some people try other approaches too.
If you are feeling so low that you become suicidal, help is available.
