Beyond Exhaustion: 3 Powerful Ways to Describe the Reality of Chronic Fatigue

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is far from ordinary tiredness—it’s a profound exhaustion that affects every aspect of life.

Each person’s experience with health challenges is unique. This is one perspective on living with CFS.

“Everyone gets tired sometimes. I wish I could nap every afternoon too!”

When I shared with my disability attorney that fatigue was the symptom most impacting my daily life, this was his response.

Often called myalgic encephalomyelitis, CFS is widely misunderstood by those who don’t live with it. Responses like these are common, but they don’t capture the true depth of the condition.

CFS is much more than feeling tired. It’s a complex illness that affects multiple systems, causing overwhelming exhaustion so severe that many sufferers are confined to bed for extended periods.

In addition to fatigue, CFS brings muscle and joint pain, cognitive impairments, and heightened sensitivity to stimuli such as light, sound, and touch. The defining symptom is post-exertional malaise—where even minor physical or mental exertion leads to prolonged crashes lasting hours, days, or even months.

The Need for Empathy and Understanding

Though I maintained composure in my lawyer’s office, I broke down as soon as I stepped outside.

Hearing phrases like “I get tired too” or “I wish I could nap all the time” may seem harmless, but they minimize the reality of living with CFS.

It’s deeply frustrating to have a debilitating illness dismissed as mere tiredness or something easily fixed by rest.

Chronic illness often brings isolation and loneliness, and misunderstanding only deepens these feelings. When healthcare providers or others don’t grasp the severity of CFS, it can negatively affect the care patients receive.

That’s why I’ve sought creative ways to communicate my experience, helping others truly understand what it means to live with CFS.

But how can you explain something so unfamiliar? By drawing parallels with experiences people know. Here are three analogies I use to convey the reality of CFS:

1. Like Being Trapped in 'The Princess Bride's' Torture Machine

Have you seen the 1987 classic “The Princess Bride”? The villain, Count Rugen, uses a torture device called “The Machine” that slowly drains life from its victim.

When my symptoms worsen, I feel as if I’m strapped into that machine, with Count Rugen turning the dial mercilessly. After being released, the hero Wesley can barely move—much like how I struggle to function beyond lying still.

Using pop culture references helps those around me grasp my experience by linking it to familiar stories, making my symptoms relatable and less alien. Humor in these analogies also eases difficult conversations about illness.

2. Seeing the World Through an Underwater Lens

I often describe my cognitive fog as if I’m viewing everything from beneath water—things appear blurry, slow, and just out of reach.

Similarly, nerve pain can feel like a wildfire spreading unpredictably across my limbs.

Nature-based metaphors like these paint vivid pictures that help others visualize my struggles without firsthand experience.

3. Like Looking at a 3-D Book Without Glasses

As a child, I loved 3-D books that required special glasses. Without them, the images overlapped imperfectly, creating a confusing, blurred effect.

When severely fatigued, my body and mind feel similarly out of sync—overlapping parts that don’t quite align, making my experience fragmented and unclear.

Relating symptoms to common experiences helps others connect with what I’m going through, fostering empathy.

Finding ways to articulate my journey with CFS has reduced my sense of isolation and helped loved ones appreciate that my fatigue is far beyond ordinary tiredness.

If someone you know lives with a complex chronic illness, support them by listening, believing, and striving to understand.

Opening our hearts and minds to unfamiliar realities builds connection, combats loneliness, and strengthens community.

Angie Ebba is a queer disabled artist, writer, and performer dedicated to using art and storytelling to deepen understanding, foster community, and inspire change. Learn more about Angie on her website, blog, or Facebook.

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