ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - What is ME/CFS?

tired out ME, or to give it its’ full name, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, has earned itself, over recent medical history, the unenviable status in the popular imagination as a condition that is ‘all in the mind’. For those that suffer from ME it is certainly felt physically, and they do not consider it as a mind only issue.

Symptoms can vary from mild to more severe, and can include…

> Fuzzy thinking or “mind fog”
> Aching limbs and/or muscles
> Headaches
> Dizzy spells
> Unable to support ones own weight
> Impairment in short term memory
> Poor concentration
> Sore throat
> Tenderness in lymph nodes
> Unrefreshing sleep
> Extreme exhaustion after mild physical work or exercise

Cause and Diagnosis

The cause of CFS remains unknown, despite vigorous research resulting in ME being diagnosed after elimination of other organic causes. Some current medical opinion points to CFS being a common manifestation of multiple precipitating factors, including infective agents, immune-defects, neuro-endocrine imbalance, and neuro-transmitter malfunction.

With no clear evidence of why people have CFS it often falls to the GP to make a judgement on what is the right treatment for the patient. The advice and judgement can vary immensely with some suggesting anti-depressants to help, while others will advise Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, NHS nutritionists, and paced exercise. With all of these there are no guarantees of successful treatment.

Many affected by the syndrome do get depressed and frustrated, understandably so because very often the message they receive after a long journey through medical tests and counseling is the phrase “there is nothing more that can be done”. This often the worst thing that they will hear, because they need to have hope, a belief that there is something they can do to overcome their symptoms and get better.

“They told me it’s all in the mind”

It's “Psychosomatic” or “It’s all in your mind”. These phrases do more to antagonize suffers of syndromes such as MS/CFS, IBS, and Fybromyalgia than any other single thing. We all know the feelings phrases like the two above conjure up even for anyone healthy. Most people immediately become defensive and the reaction is “I’m not imagining it, I’m not making it up, you know” and other responses. For the ME/CFS sufferer it’s tends to make them see red, because they know all the physical symptoms are there, they know how it feels to be totally exhausted and not know why. To be told it’s all psychological is a hard pill to swallow and yet the mind is playing a large part, a part that is often hidden because the processes are deeply buried in the sub-conscious mind!

The longer the ME/CFS sufferer lives with the undiagnosed and untreated condition the longer they learnt to accept it at an unconscious level. “It’s just how I am” is a phrase often heard as they describe their life. The condition can breed a lack of hope, a deep sadness because of the loss of a lifestyle they formerly enjoyed and a general belief that they will never recover. Modern medical intervention tends to confirm that belief, as most attempts conventionally to treat this condition fail.

“Mind, Body, Spirit – We are one entity”

relaxing water To illustrate simply how our mind and body interact perhaps you can recall a time when you had a sudden shock, a frightening experience or received bad news. The first thing that happens is that we feel physically nauseous to a degree depending on the circumstances. At the opposite end of the spectrum I’m sure you can remember a truly exciting or fulfilling moment in your life when you were so captured in the moment that you physically felt it in your body i.e. the thrill of passing that all important test or exam. You felt elated, a physically excitement that flowed through your whole body as the mind sent out the “happy” chemicals throughout your physical body.

There is a growing branch of medicine that has over the past few years begun to research the connections of the mind and body, how they interact and cause us to be ill, and also to recover…

Psychoneuroimmunology

Psychoneuroimmunology or PNI to give it a more manageable title can shed some light on what happens when we think a thought, how it affects our physiology and ultimately our future health. It was proven as long ago as the 50’s by Robert Ader that the immune system itself has a memory, that is it will remember without any reference to our conscious minds. In an experiment rats who were made ill on drugged flavoured water and, once withdrawn, subsequently recovered became ill again to the same extent, on identically flavoured water that has not had any addition of a drug.

Hans Selye as long ago as the 20’s identified that an excess production of adrenalin caused by stress will cause adrenal exhaustion and ultimately, all of the symptoms we today identify as being Chronic Fatigue. Ellen Sue Stern in her book, “The Indispensable Woman” and “Running on Empty”, written in the 80’s identify symptoms and mind traps of the indispensable woman that equate to symptoms of ME/CFS.

Candace Pert a Neuro Pharmacologist who part of the team who discovered Peptides has carried out much research into the mind/body connection and is convinced that not only is the Mind and Body linked but that every cell in the body communicates in a vast network, exchanging intelligence and ultimately become the “Brain.”

The Spirit – Are we talking about religion?

Modern living has made humans far more prone to stress than ever before. We have lost the spiritual values that sustained many generations. Many people on hearing that someone is spiritual immediately connect it with being “religious”. The spirit referred to here is not about your religious beliefs but about how you feel inside, what drives you, what is your purpose in life, how you live from day to day, how you treat others, and how you regard yourself. In essence what makes you tick!

In many chronic conditions the person often has fallen out of love with themselves, feeling perhaps unworthy, incapable, and feeling that they have nothing that gives them satisfaction, pleasure, or peace in life. Many times they are high achievers, working around the clock if they can, and when ME/CFS strikes they feel even more frustrated at not being able to “achieve”. Part of the reason they have the syndrome in most cases is that they have for a long time been burning themselves out, trying to cram in more with less time. The body gives various warning signals, but all too often they are ignored, then one day “bam” they are so exhausted they cannot go on, or come down with a viral illness that precedes the syndrome, and the immune system becomes very depleted. Even then they will attempt to make up for days were they are unwell and further exhaust the body and mind.

The Artt Therapy multi-modal approach to ME/CFS

Some excellent work is being done nowadays worldwide by therapists and practitioners using hypnotherapy. Alan completed specialist ME/CFS training with Jenny Lynn of Open Mind Therapy. Jenny has taught and practiced her structured programme for over four years now with excellent results. Alan has found that Reiki combined with the Open Mind programme has produced a treatment protocol that works on the mInd, body, and spirit.

footsteps Alan firmly believes that the Eastern approach of treating the whole person is exactly what ME/CFS requires, and his treatment is a multi-modal one that combines Hypnotherapy, and Reiki, allowing the mind and body to relax totally. Reiki is particularly good for treating clients that have been experiencing stress for a lengthy period, it encourages emotional balance, and promotes an overall calm relaxed feeling, often from the very first session. Hypnotherapy allows the client to address many of the subconscious issues that they are not normally aware of. The use of analytical hypnosis techniques allows the client to gain a deeper understanding of the causes, and ultimately the solutions to their ME/CFS. Also important is a proper nutritional regime for the physical recovery of the immune system, something that Alan encourages all ME/CFS clients to pursue via their GP who can refer them to a nutritionist. It’s a slow path but ultimately clients make the subconscious connection and begin to recover, eliminating the symptoms as they take back control of their body through a process of re-education.

But that’s not all. Alan considers one more aspect of his therapy as vital as any other treatment whether conventional, alternative, or complementary...

He listens!

Alan walks the journey with you in a non-judgemental way, he supports you on your way back to health, aware of the fact that for so long your words have gone unheard. He gives you a voice, and a safe environment where you can express how you feel without any criticism or judgement.