Beating Chronic Fatigue: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Complete Recovery.

U.K. psychotherapist Downing-Orr (Get the Life You Want; Wearing the Ruby Slippers) and a team of specialists offer two approaches to self-healing for readers battling chronic fatigue syndrome and those who suspect they might have it. The medical approach is centered on prescription medication and supplementation; the nutritional approach involves supporting biological systems (e.g., immune, circulatory, gastrointestinal) through a paleolithic diet (i.e., lean protein and vegetables) and vitamin, mineral, and herbal support. Downing-Orr's psychological method complements both approaches, which aim to reverse the complete physical breakdown and mental fog that Downing-Orr, a former CFS sufferer, says, characterize CFS. She explains complex contributing factors, differentiates CFS from similarly presenting conditions (e.g., fibromyalgia, depression), provides stress-relieving strategies, and describes ways to gradually increase activity levels. Most helpful are Downing-Orr's insistence on validating CFS as a bona fide condition that has been ignored, belittled, and misdiagnosed, and advice on developing resilience, dealing with relapses, and defusing tense relationships that can result from chronic illness. (Oct.)