M.E: In the mind or in the body?

M.E is neither physical nor psychological. What we need to understand is that the mind and body are one, the body is inseparable from the mind.

The idea that M.E. is 'in the mind' suggests that the sufferer has some conscious control over their illness. This is not the case; M.E is a genuine illness with a disturbance of the immune, endocrine and neurological system.

However it is recognised that these disturbances have been caused by subconscious stress or a negative belief system. The sufferer is absolutely not conscious of their stress levels because they have lived with their belief system for many years.

N.B. We consider M.E, CFS, Fibromyalgia and PVFS to be all the same condition.

PNI (Psychoneuroimmunology). The Science behind it?

According to Candace Pert, a Neuroscientist, "I can no longer make a distinction between brain and body".

Her research concludes that the immune system and nervous system are interconnected. Peptides and receptors join the brain, glands and immune system in a network of communication between the brain and body. This body wide network is the molecular basis of emotion. Therefore scientifically proves that the chemicals inside us form an information network; linking mind and body.

Our mind and emotions can have an affect on our health. According to Watkins (1996), alterations in immunity occur in response to belief and stress.

Ann O' Leary also claims that bottling up negative emotions ties up immunity. Pert supports this theory by saying, "To repress emotions and not let them flow freely is to set up a dis-integrity in the system, causing it to act at cross- purposes rather than a unified whole." She claims that when feelings are denied, they cannot be easily and rapidly processed through the system and released and the situation becomes toxic. This can then have a negative impact on our immunity and health.

M.E: Similar personalities?

Often M.E. sufferers have a subconscious negative self belief structure, which causes stress on the body. It may take a viral infection, stressful event(s), or some sort of shock to overload the immune system so it starts to close down and reduce the body to a state of exhaustion.

This common belief structure can sometimes involve: only worth something if they are 'doing', putting other people before them, the desire to be accepted by others, high expectations of themselves, the desire to achieve, feeling responsible for others, inability to express feelings (due to dominant or neglectful parent) and lack of self esteem.

How Therapy Works?

Medical science and other well known therapies often have a one size fits all approach. Sometimes a symptom led diagnosis can produce a symptom led treatment but fails to address the cause.

As a specialist in M.E./CFS, I use an integrative approach using, hypnosis, hypnoanalysis, counselling, psychotherapy, EFT (Emotional Freedom Therapy), NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), nutritional advice and Parts Therapy, both to seek out the causes but also encouraging the body and mind to resurge alliance, allowing the individual to regain full health.

Hypnotherapy allows us to by pass the conscious mind, revealing to the sufferer their stressful way of looking at the world. This can then be reframed through therapeutic techniques.

So how do I know it works?

I personally had M.E for nearly three years, two of which I was extremely ill suffering from chronic fatigue, sore throats, muscular aches, headaches, 'foggy brain', IBS, lack of concentration. You name it, I had it! In the darkest days I could barely walk or cut my own food. I was also guilty of the boom and bust cycle, i.e. as soon as I felt a bit of energy I would over do it, making myself feel much worse.

I tried seeing medical professionals in the field, CBT and every type of alternative treatment you can imagine. Nothing worked.

I got better through therapy, which involved a mixture of NLP, EFT hypnotherapy, hypnoanalysis and psychotherapy. I was completely free from M.E in a number of weeks. I am now completely recovered and have been for the last few years, working full time as a therapist helping people to get well just as I did.

That's not to say it was easy at first - I had to come to terms with why and how I got M.E. in the first place, looking at myself and challenging my self beliefs. My therapist did not 'cure' me but helped me access my inner resources and changing negative thought patterns.

It allowed me to "find my voice" so to speak, remembering again what it was to be ME.

So the question is: are you ready to get well?

I work independently and in association with Ashok Gupta and the Amygdala Retraining Programme at his Harley Street office.

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Related links

 What is hypnosis?

 Frequently asked questions

 Find out more about different therapies used

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