Today I'd like to thank Squarespace for supporting the channel, and helping me to build my new website

which you'll have to wait until the New Year to take a peek at, because [clears throat] Vlogmas.

It will include my personal blog, recipes, fashion, rants on life,

but with a well-deserved make-over.

If you need a main website or online store,

you can get 10% off your first Squarespace order

with the code OUTOFTHECLOSET

More on that later, because right now we've got a busy day ahead of us.

Hi, I'm Jessica, and I can't remember ever not being tired.

This might seem strange as a Vlogmas video, but it's actually incredibly apt

because, Lord, I am tired.

Now, a lot of people say that they're getting very tired in the run-up to Christmas

they just can't wait for the break; for the holiday.

Stumbling towards Christmas.

But, being tired and having Chronic Fatigue aren't actually the same thing.

Also, Chronic Fatigue is not the same thing as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Also known as ME, or - let's try and say this - [attempts pronunciation]

Yeah! Said that in one.

People with ME generally don't actually like their condition being called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,

because it belittles what it is.

It makes it sound like it's about being tired all the time

when actually it's about having incredible pain

and being unable to sleep when you really, really need to

and inflammation of your spinal column.

With a variety of other symptoms, actually. Not just chronic fatigue.

ME has a very long and complicated history.

So, yes, it is characterised by long-term fatigue

but there are many other symptoms, and that's what makes it special

and different from just Chronic Fatigue.

Although I was first diagnosed with ME,

I'm quite iffy on that and I don't like using that term to describe my condition

and I will probably explain more

on that in a minute.

But this video is just going to be about fatigue and living with fatigue.

But if you would like me to make a video that is about ME - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome -

all this stuff that is happening right here

just specifically about that, then let me know and I'm very happy to do so.

Discuss my experiences with it, et cetera, et cetera, but just to warn you

it will probably drag up some painful history and I will probably cry.

Like, painful memories like that time I was accidentally admitted to a psychiatric ward.

You think you know all my stories.

No.

I have more.

So, what is chronic fatigue?

Other than a common symptom of many conditions.

Now, I asked on Twitter if there's anything that you wanted me to say specifically about chronic fatigue

and actually, one of the most asked questions was: How do I know if I have it?

How do I know the difference between chronic fatigue and just generally being tired?

It's basically like having the flu

all the time.

Chronic fatigue is not wanting to be in bed all day.

Napping... Just...sleeping away the day.

Although that can be a symptom of depression,

so if you are feeling like that, probably go and get that checked out

but it's not really the same.

Chronic fatigue is utterly debilitating.

It's wanting to both cry and vomit at the same time

because you're so tired, but you're so tired that you can't actually move your body

to do either of those things

or blink.

Sometimes you feel like you can't breathe.

If you've ever run a marathon,

you know that point where you hit the wall?

Boom! The exhaustion and it just...gets you?

That is what Chronic Fatigue is.

Every day.

It is that horrific "everything hurts."

Everything is tired. Your bones are tired.

This morning I woke up and my thighs were tired.

Not even the muscles, just the bone.

The bone in my thigh was exhausted.

Chronic fatigue, it never ends.

It may be persistent, just forever and ever

or it may be relapsing.

You may have moments where it - "You may have moments?"

More than moments, hopefully - if you're relapsing,

you may have months where you're absolutely fine-ish.

You're able to go around your daily life and you're not thinking, "Oh, my God, I'm so tired right now."

I'm actually yawning.

It's a pretty appropriate video to yawn in.

I'll give myself that.

The thing is, it doesn't--it doesn't get better.

Things that are most affected in your life

was another question

and again the answer to that is

everything.

For me, it's things like personal care.

I hate that term. I think they just use it in hospitals too much

and carer agencies

and I've just sat through way, way too many of those

disability tests that aren't really tests, but they are tests.

It's like a conversation but you know it's actually a test - whatever.

The government. The government is fun.

Where they say, you know, what's your personal care needs? And you have to list all your needs.

Basically, it's things like having a leisurely bath

often or a shower.

Changing your clothes,

looking after your body.

Obviously is deeply affected.

I have been needing to wash my hair now for probably five days,

but I don't have the energy to do it.

I just keep curling it.

Perfume - that is a good friend

Yeah, and wet wipes.

Always wet wipe baths.

Other things: keeping in contact with friends

I find I am terrible at this.

I can do one thing at a time.

I used to write a text about my day

and then copy and paste it

to the different people I love.

I used to write a text about my week and then copy and paste it

to all the people I love.

Like, “Just to let you know what's going on with me guys. Just to let you know,”

and then they would reply and then I would never respond to their replies

because I was so tired by the first message I sent, it was just never gonna happen again.

I find it much easier to have an actual conversation in person

even though that can be tiring, I find it less tiring than having a text conversation back and forth

so I'm really terrible, I'm sorry.

My chronic fatigue is because I have a condition

where I have a hole in my myelin sheath.

That's the sheath that wraps around your nerves and protects it

and my body is constantly trying to make this better,

even though that is an impossible task

so my body uses a lot of energy on doing that.

I also have a soft tissue problem

where my soft tissue is too floppy

and injures very easily,

so the muscle is always slightly torn and then my body puts a lot of energy into trying to fix that

and trying to put that back together.

And I'm in a lot of pain all the time, which of course takes an awful lot of energy.

So, if I ate more vegetables,

it's not really going to make a huge difference to that.

And on the subject of happiness, actually,

for me, chronic fatigue comes with malaise.

Now, malaise I've also mentioned in my “what are my disabilities” video

because malaise is a general feeling of unwellness;

of uneasiness, almost.

It's knowing that there is something wrong with your body.

It's a constant discomfort.

It's your body trying to tell you something is wrong.

My body, unfortunately, does not realise I have got the message.

I'm good, thanks.

It's all right. It's fine.

So my body is just constantly telling me, "Something is wrong."

“I mean something is really wrong, Jessica. Do you know this, Jessica?

Are you aware of this, Jessica? Something is really wrong with this body, Jessica.

Jessica, do you know this, Jessica?

Jessica!

Jessica, are you listening to me?"

And I'm like, “Yes!"

“I'm f****** listening to you, would you stop?!”

“Noo. Never!”

But yes, if you are a friend of someone who has chronic fatigue or you have chronic fatigue yourself,

probably one of the most important things you can ever know about the condition

is that it is impossible to push through.

It's just not a thing.

You use your energy reserves, and unlike other people

who can keep going because their body can continue to make more energy,

you just don't.

It's just gone. That's it.

That's your energy.

It's done.

You have no other option. You just--you're down.

Puddle on the floor, that's me.

So, to give you a good idea of what life with chronic fatigue is like

when it's especially bad,

Um...picture: you're lying on the floor

and there is the deepest, dullest, aching pain

throughout your body.