Planet Thrive

Things are going so well for me that it gives me hope for all of you! Recently I did a long hike-walk through the hills and trails of Otay Lake, it was so gorgeous and rejuvenating. I’ve been thinking about the phases of CFS/ME recovery and would like to outline this a little for you.

Phase one consists of settling on CFS/ME as a diagnosis. We all know what a trial this can be, and particularly important at this time is to get the right doctor on board for your healing process. If you’ve been seeing anyone who suggests that you “manage” your illness with medication it’s time to fire this doctor and find someone who will encourage you to take steps to heal. THERE ARE MANY DOCTORS LIKE THIS NOW. If you’ve been seeing someone for 6 months and you have no improvement it’s also an indicator to find someone else. I suggest that you do an internet search for “integrative MD” in your area. Look for someone who practices integrative or functional medicine and is an expert in wellness. It’s also important to see someone who is confident in their ability to work with you to heal and recover.

Not all medications are terrible but all should be used very judiciously for the least length of time possible. Those that affect the central nervous system cause health-killing side effects like constipation (leads to leaky gut and worsens immune dysfunction), or are addicting or mood altering should be tapered off with help from your healer physician.

During phase one you can begin some treatments and measures that your healing M.D. suggests such as bio-identical hormone replacement, acupuncture, neural therapy, human growth hormone or Sermorelin, hypnosis, meditation, deep breathing exercises, low dose hydrocortisone, osteopathy, reiki treatments, homeopathy, Prolotherapy, and any elimination diet that you might need to determine food intolerances and begin to heal your GI tract.

Phase two consists of eliminating toxic stressors, this can include weaning yourself off medications that are preventing any forward healing momentum, eating a perfect real whole food diet, and implementing other aspects of my healing formula:

HEALING FORMULA: Real whole food alkaline diet + restorative sleep + elimination of toxins and stressors + being positive and hopeful + regular graded exercise and pacing + consistency + supplements + meditation + time.

Be consistent with some of the really important dietary measures. STOP all caffeine, sugar, junk and processed food. They are all stimulants and do nothing but keep you sick. Seriously you will definitely see improvement when you do this and you cannot heal if you don’t.

Phase three begins when you can see some forward momentum. This is typically when you begin to experience less post exertional malaise. During this phase you also have to begin to think about life when you’re well. When I was in this phase I started to amp up my efforts to launch my business and some of my ideas. I worked hard on my career while I was working hard on my health. I seriously put as many irons in the fire as I could think of!

Phase four is when you’re able to do normal things but you still must stay tight within your restrictions to prevent post-exertional malaise (PEM). During this time I began to also work on the inner dialogue and what seemed clearly to me to be post traumatic stress disorder. I recovered from the anger and trauma with prayer, giving back to others, meditation, and hypnosis.

Don’t wait for phase four to begin to change the inner dialogue. It’s nice to get validation and sympathy from others and you should never suck it up and suffer in silence. But don’t let the inner dialogue convince you that you need to feed the anger and the internal misery. I spent literally years saying things like, “I feel the Holy Spirit healing my body.” “I feel the healing energy in my cells.” I spoke my healing into my believing. I continually told people that God was healing my body and resurrecting my life. Even though it was hard to believe it, I still did it.

Click here to read Rescue Remedy Affirmations that you can use to help create a plan for what I call the “injured mind” and your complete healing.

Nothing is harder than being in the midst of extreme suffering and believing that you will heal. I tell people all the time that nothing is accomplished by perpetuating and feeding the negative – you cultivate it by continuing the pessimistic thinking and ranting. Instead, feed the positive – you don’t even have to believe it, but over time your thinking will change and your mood will improve and you’ll definitely notice the difference having positive and healing thoughts actually has on your physical health.

I’m praying and thinking of you all the time. STRENGTH and healing to you all.

photo credit: © Ilona Lapshina | Dreamstime.com