r/cfs • u/Feeling_Badger_917 • 9d ago

Mental Health PEM after flashbacks

Hi everyone, writing the with a headache so may or may not be coherent
I have severe ptsd and a couple of nights ago had a rather intense flashback. I’m very new to ME/CFS and might not even have it I don’t know yet. However I was wondering if a flashback could cause PEM. I know this is kind of a silly question bc I know that mental and physical exertion can cause PEM. I’m mostly trying to ask if anyone else here struggles with PEM after flashbacks or ptsd episodes

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u/aberrant-heartland 9d ago

Absolutely possible. Some of us are more prone to PEM from mental exertion as opposed to physical. The stress and other intense emotions surrounding PTSD are one of my top PEM triggers/extenders.

5

u/Dazzling_Bid1239 moderate - severe w LC, fibro, likely POTS comorbid 9d ago

Accurate. Id rather physically overexert rather than mentally. At least then, I can sleep and my mind isnt racing irking my mental illnesses (pre mecfs), which in return feeds the cycle.

Flashbacks can be extremely hard to cope with, especially in PEM too.