Exhaustion syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome

When suddenly everything is just exhausting

The day is packed with appointments, the boss has a little “extra project” that needs to be completed quickly, children, family, shopping and household chores are waiting, and on top of that, a cold is on the horizon. Total overload is imminent. Now would actually be a good time to take a break. Actually. Because the watchword is to persevere, grit your teeth and perform. And tomorrow the whole game starts all over again.

For most people, the long-awaited vacation is the salvation they need to recover. For a few people, even time off no longer helps. They are and remain constantly tired. Their latent exhaustion becomes a permanent condition, a chronic fatigue syndrome from which they can no longer escape. An illness that can last for years and for which no official cause is known.

Definition of chronic fatigue syndrome

The definition of chronic fatigue syndrome is simply: “A state of fatigue that occurs for the first time, lasts longer than six months, does not improve with rest and restricts the quality of life.” The symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are varied and are often classified as diffuse. As a result, many patients only receive the medical support they need at a late stage.

Typical diffuse symptoms are

  • Concentration difficulties
  • Decreased short-term memory
  • Feeling of flu
  • Lack of restful sleep and sleep disorders
  • Tension
  • Headaches and back pain
  • Loss of appetite and ravenous hunger
  • Drop in performance
  • Upset to the point of depression
  • Loss of quality of life, joy
  • No desire and lack of energy for exercise and activities
  • Withdrawal tendencies

Stress as a contributory cause of fatigue syndrome

Stress is a significant contributor to chronic fatigue syndrome, as prolonged stress contributes to exhaustion of the adrenal glands. As an orthopaedic surgeon in Münster, but above all as a physician with an integrative and holistic approach, Dr. Ulrich Frohberger has been dealing with chronic fatigue syndrome and the question of how long-term stress affects metabolic processes for over ten years. In his many years of practice, he has increasingly observed the connections between long-term stress, chronic fatigue syndrome and a suboptimal supply of micronutrients, oxidative stress and hormonal imbalances.

Tired all the time? Shifted biochemistry instead of psyche

Exhaustion is often dismissed as a purely psychological problem. However, chronically exhausted people and people who are constantly tired usually have a very clear biochemical imbalance. The body is over-acidified and there is a lack of essential trace elements, minerals, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and amino acids. The hormone balance, one of the most important and complex systems in our body, is also often out of balance.

Due to chronic fatigue syndrome, the body simply no longer has enough energy to maintain its bodily functions, such as digestion, tissue formation or optimal hormone synthesis. Hormones help us to ensure that our organism and all its processes function properly. Even the slightest disruption can make you feel tired and exhausted all the time. A real vicious circle.

Triggers of an exhaustion syndrome

In the case of chronic fatigue syndrome, it is important to ensure that the body is optimally supplied with nutrients and that it is hormonally balanced so that the body can cope better with stress. On the other hand, in terms of mind-body medicine, we need to address the emotional or mental causes that lead to excessive energy loss in your life. These can be the following triggers:

  • Anger
  • Fear
  • Care
  • Depression
  • Feelings of guilt
  • Revision
  • Lack of sleep
  • Chronic pain
  • Exposure to toxins
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Nutrient deficiency
  • Relationship problems
  • Traumas
  • Life changes

Out of the exhaustion syndrome with mindful body-mind medicine

In terms of integrative medicine, body-mind medicine shows us ways in which we can sustainably support your health resources alongside conventional and complementary treatments. Mindfulness-promoting methods of tension regulation, cognitive restructuring and social support in your environment help us to do this. In this context, emotional aspects of recovery and health are given just as much attention as nutrition, exercise and new self-help strategies.

FAQ on fatigue syndrome

Fatigue syndrome (also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, adrenal fatigue or burnout syndrome) is a deep, persistent exhaustion that manifests itself through physical, mental and emotional symptoms. It is not a short-term fatigue, but a condition in which the body can no longer regenerate.

Those affected often experience extreme exercise intolerance – even minor activities can exacerbate exhaustion (so-called post-exertional malaise, PEM). A disturbed HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) often occurs, which leads to hormonal imbalances.

It is a highly complex interplay of various parameters, which we analyze at Z.O.R. in a comprehensive diagnostic process.

The symptoms can vary from person to person, but often include

Physical symptoms:

  • Permanent tiredness despite sleep
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Headache
  • Low blood pressure, dizziness (orthostatic dysregulation)
  • Intestinal diseases (irritable bowel syndrome, Leakey Gut, food intolerances)
  • Chronic susceptibility to infection
  • Cold hands and feet (circulatory disorders)

Mental symptoms:

  • Concentration problems (“brain fog”)
  • Memory problems
  • Irritability, emotional instability
  • Lack of drive

Sleep disorders:

  • Non-restorative sleep
  • Difficulty falling asleep or sleeping through the night
  • Exhaustion in the morning despite sufficient sleep time

Hormonal imbalances:

  • Low cortisol levels (late stages of adrenal exhaustion)
  • Disorders in thyroid metabolism
  • Progesterone or testosterone deficiency

In functional medicine, we also identify mitochondriopathy (impaired cell energy production) as the cause in most cases.

The duration is highly individual and depends on the cause, the severity and the therapy. Without intervention, the condition can last from months to years. A condition that many people suffer because no one helps them or investigates the cause. Many patients with fatigue syndrome are “filed” under mental illness.

  • Mild cases: Recovery possible within a few weeks
  • Moderately severe cases: Several months to over a year
  • Severe cases (ME/CFS): often chronic course, years of symptoms

This is why it is extremely important to precisely analyze the underlying causes of an exhaustion syndrome and to treat them at all relevant levels.

The most important thing is certainly point one: a complete root cause analysis. The treatment of fatigue syndrome often proves to be quite lengthy. The patient must have a great deal of patience and discipline in order to work towards recovery. Lifestyle changes such as a change in diet are often necessary. Here are some aspects that we recommend for fatigue syndrome:

1. root cause analysis (functional diagnostics)

  • Laboratory diagnostics: cortisol daily profile, thyroid hormones, inflammation markers, nutrient status (B vitamins, magnesium, omega-3, Q10, glutathione)
  • Mitochondrial diagnostics (ATP production, oxidative stress)
  • Intestinal flora analysis: dysbiosis, leaky gut syndrome

2. nutrition & micronutrients

  • Low-inflammatory diet: avoid sugar, gluten and processed foods
  • Mitochondrial booster: Q10, alpha-lipoic acid, NAD+, L-carnitine
  • Adaptogens: ashwagandha, rhodiola, ginseng to regulate the HPA axis
  • Magnesium & B vitamins: Essential for nerves and stress resistance

3. hormonal balance & sleep optimization

  • Cortisol regulation: adaptogens, light therapy, stress management
  • Melatonin support: daylight in the morning, avoidance of blue light in the evening
  • Thyroid support: iodine, selenium, zinc

4. exercise & regeneration

  • Gentle exercise: walking, yoga, light strength training (no intensive sport in the early stages)
  • Cold & heat therapy: sauna, alternating baths for mitochondrial stimulation
  • HRV training & meditation: strengthening the parasympathetic nervous system

5. detoxification

  • Avoidance of environmental toxins: pesticides, plasticizers, heavy metals
  • Strengthen intestinal health: prebiotics, probiotics, bitter substances for liver detoxification
  • Breathing techniques: CO2 tolerance training to improve cellular respiration

Overcoming fatigue syndrome holistically

Fatigue syndrome is more than just tiredness – it is a complex interplay of hormonal imbalances, mitochondriopathy, inflammation and stress. A functional medical approach requires in-depth diagnostics and targeted measures for regeneration. Early intervention can often reverse the condition within a few months.

You don’t want to be tired all the time?
Book your appointment now at Z.O.R. am Roggenmarkt online or by calling
on 0251 603-23 or 20251 603-24.