When interviewers or recruiters ask you to describe yourself, they want to see how clearly and confidently you communicate who you are and what your strengths and values are. They also need to understand whether you’ll fit the company culture and will be a good fit for the role.
The words you choose to use to explain yourself are important, especially if you have ME/CFS, or are a carer for someone with ME/CFS. The condition is often misunderstood and can have a negative impact on how others treat you, how they perceive your illness and how much support you get from them.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is an inflammatory disease affecting multiple systems of the body. It can cause profound fatigue, a range of cognitive difficulties and a variety of other symptoms. The overlapping nature of the symptom set means that it is very difficult to diagnose and many people with ME/CFS go years without being diagnosed or are misdiagnosed.
It is not known what causes ME, but it is thought that a combination of factors can trigger it, including infections and immune system problems. Research shows that some patients are genetically predisposed to developing the condition, while other have been triggered by events such as major bereavement or job loss.
People with ME often have one or more additional diseases called comorbidities, such as fibromyalgia (widespread muscle pain), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (abnormal increase in heart rate when standing up) and gastroparesis and irritable bowel syndrome (gastrointestinal problems). The researchers behind the world’s largest ME study, DecodeME, are working to uncover the underlying biological mechanisms of this complex disease, so that potential treatment options can be developed in the future.
A diagnosis of ME/CFS is based on a careful assessment of the symptoms, with exclusion of other conditions that may be causing them. Currently, there is no laboratory diagnostic test.
There are a number of treatments available, such as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET). However, there is no evidence that these are helpful in ME/CFS. Research suggests that GET can worsen the severity of ME/CFS in some patients, and CBT has been found to be ineffective.
Maeve Boothby O’Neill died in October 2021 from her ME/CFS and the poor NHS care she received was highlighted at her inquest. ME/CFS is a life-limiting disease and needs to be taken seriously. We hope the outcome of this inquest will mark a significant milestone in changing how the illness is treated and understood by the NHS.