New CFS recovery resources page, and why I made it

I recently created a central hub for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome recovery resources on my blog.  

You can find my new Resources page here.

I include books from people who healed from ME/CFS, holisitic programs, pacing programs, neuroplasticity programs, medical specialist information, CFS recovery channels, and much more.

It took me a long time to put it all together. I tried to put it together in an organized way for easy reading. It’s not meant to be the end-all be-all, and isn’t meant to be prescriptive. 

Healing shouldn’t have to be so confusing.

Recovery from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be so complicated.

None of us have all the answers, but I wanted to share resources in case it makes things easier for the next person. 

People shouldn’t have to trudge through the Google abyss for countless hours with energy they don’t have.

The Google abyss from hell most of us went through:

It all seems like a bad dream. Six years ago when my health fell apart, I was bombarded by so much conflicting information on Google when trying to find answers to why my body was falling apart. The doctors had given me no real answers.

I eventually came to the conclusion I had CFS (and would much later get an official diagnosis).

Here was my experience trying to find the “cure” for CFS on Google:

• • Google shows a woman slumped over a picnic table looking miserable while her friends are happily eating. You know this photo.
  • The general medical literature said there were lots of “unknowns” (Vaguely seemed to imply it mainly happened to sad white women, which is not accurate.) And that it could only be managed (with some pills.)
  • There were ME/CFS advocacy organizations that said there were actually hundreds of specific things wrong with us, we’d never recover, and our only hope was a pharmaceutical cure.
  • Some organization leaders and their followers repeatedly warned us that anyone trying to help us recover was a charlatan.
  • I’d try to “fix” everything the science said was wrong with us with supplements and a restrictive diet.
  • I’d find myself in the annals of forums seeing what supplements people took who had similar symptoms and pathogens.
  • I’d ultimately buy thousands of dollars worth of supplements on Amazon.
  • I found myself buying click-bait “Energy Blueprints” from Facebook influencers.
  • I found myself overwhelmed and lost.

I can laugh now at this ridiculous portrayal:

I was able to put my own pieces together, and find my way out.

Then over the last two years, I’ve talked with a couple hundred people on the journey and many people who have recovered. 

I’ve also conducted in depth interviews with 20 people who recovered on my blog and YouTube. And watched videos on Raelan Agle’s channel.

And here’s what I’ve learned:

• • There is no one-size-fits-all for recovery.
  • We can learn so much from the stories of others who have recovered (not just tactical advice, but powerful wisdom).
  • Most people find a holistic approach factoring lifestyle, pacing, sleep, diet, and other aspects key.
  • Many people find success with addressing their nervous system (CFS is a neurological condition after all), whether it’s meditation, a brain rewiring program, somatics, bringing in self-compassion, or all of the above.

Again, the resources I share aren’t medical advice. And no person or program is paying me to feature them on the page. I encourage you to do your own research, consult trusted professionals, and also trust your gut.

Here to give you hope and helpful information.

There is a wave of change in the CFS community that I’m honored to be a part of – and that is a change of hope. 

I’m an enthusiastic supporter of ME/CFS research and social support for health recovery. 

And I feel a duty to empower people with information to support them on their journey. None of us should feel lost and hopeless. 

We’re out of this together.

Visit my new Resources page