CFS/ME

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a chronic condition with a whole range of symptoms, it is more than feeling tired. Myalgic encephalomyelitis means pain in the muscles, inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, which affects the nervous system.

The most common symptoms of CFS/ME is post-exertional malaise or feeling tired after physical activity, including daily tasks. Even after resting, a person can feel fatigued, this is due to poor quality sleep, muscle and joint pain, headaches, and general flu-like symptoms. Due to lack of proper rest, brain fog develops; cognitive impairment, poor memory and lack of concentration, as well as heart palpitations, sensory overload, weight fluctuations and IBS.

However, what causes all of this is largely unknown. It is believed that there are many contributing factors, including genetic factors and problems with many of the body’s internal systems. It is thought that there may be defects in mitochondrial activity, therefore leading to disproportionate energy production and transport. Toxins are not removed efficiently, hormones are out of balance, poor nutrition and food intolerance leads to mineral deficiencies, and the list of possible causes goes on.

But these are physiological responses to a root cause of CFS/ME. Unprocessed emotional or physical trauma, as well as a disconnection from emotions results in feeling drained, due to a lack of emotional energy that leads to poor physical energy. We are told by society that it is not okay to express certain feelings and so we repress them. We shame ourselves for feeling and expressing negative (or unacceptable) emotions, such as sadness and crying, anger, desire which makes us “needy”/”desperate”. Even feeling overtly confident, which is seen as arrogance, is considered negative and leads to us having low self worth and little to no self love. Chronic depression and anxiety develop, but these too are seen as negative and therefore concealed and repressed.

Treatment of CFS/ME include ways to manage the symptoms, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT); pacing exercises to manage energy; and medicinal approaches to pain, sleep disorders, depression and anxiety.

But, to heal the root cause, treat the actual problem not the physiological response to it, you will need to reconnect with your emotions. It helps to talk to a licensed therapist, coach or a friend (if they have the emotional availability), and find a safe way to release and express these emotions, safely. Break free from the thoughts that you can’t/shouldn’t feel certain things, all emotions are valid and all should be felt and expressed. When we bottle things up this leads to outbursts, which in the case of CFS/ME, result in flare ups and worsening symptoms.

To do this, affirmations can be really helpful along with tapping/EFT, as well as journaling on the emotion you are feeling and why you think you shouldn’t be feeling/expressing it.

Getting to the real reason behind this will allow you to reframe and transform your beliefs. For example, if you feel ashamed to cry, why do you think crying is bad? Who/what made you believe this? How can you reframe this? Using affirmations, such as “It is safe for me to express my emotions, I love and accept my whole self” will allow you to break free and reframe these beliefs.

#affirmations #healingrootcause #Chronicfatigue #chronicillness #creativehealing #healing