ME / CFS / PVFS helped in Cambridge and London through the 'Changing Limiting Beliefs' Training Programme

ME (Myalgic Encephalopathy or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) / CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) / PVFS (Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome) are conditions that can be extremely debilitating and limiting for the sufferer. Some of the symptoms of ME/CFS/PVFS include:

• Muscle pain and/or weakness
• Muscle Twitching
• Joint pain
• Chronic physical exhaustion
• Post-exertional fatigue
• Mental exhaustion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Cognitive dysfunction
• Sleep problems
• IBS symptoms/Digestive/gastric problems
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Poor memory
• Breathing difficulties
• Headaches
• Irregular heartbeat/palpitations
• Food intolerances

There is quite a lot of ambiguity and contention over the potential cause(s) and diagnosis of ME/CFS/PVFS, with many different diagnostic criteria available (for example the Oxford Criteria and The Canadian Clinical Criteria). As yet, no single cause or underlying pathology has been determined for this type of illness and people suffer from a wide range of symptoms. As you can see there is even ambiguity over the exact name for this type of illness, with the three different names used. Some people use these names interchangeably and others believe that they represent distinct conditions. There are varying beliefs on whether there is a spectrum of illness, with cases varying in severity, or a range of different illnesses, which have similar symptoms.

I am grouping ME/CFS/PVFS together because, regardless of whether there is a spectrum of illness or are several different similar illnesses, all the clients I have treated have had similar limiting beliefs about themselves and their illness, which were hindering their recovery. Limiting beliefs may well not be present in all ME/CFS/PVFS sufferers - but all of those I have treated have had these kind of beliefs to a greater or lesser extent. This suggestion that ME/CFS/PVFS sufferers may have a psychological component to their illness, may sound as though I am insinuating that many people who are suffering from ME/CFS/PVFS are ‘making their illness up’ or that it is ‘all in their mind’. I’m not; those suffering from this illness have very real physical symptoms, which can be very debilitating and distressing.

There is, however, a strong connection between your beliefs, feelings and stress levels and the development of physical symptoms and illnesses. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that the way you think and feel about yourself has a significant impact upon your immune system. Research by many doctors and scientists has highlighted the negative effects of stress on physical wellbeing, and the positive effects that high self-esteem and a positive mental attitude can have on recovering from many illnesses and diseases.

A very simple example of this is in relation to the common cold. Cohen, Tyrrell and Smith (1993) found that higher stress scores were associated with greater risk of developing a cold. Cohen et al (2003) found that those who experienced more positive emotions were more resistant to catching a cold.

Stress and our psychological processes are, also, significant in illnesses that are far more severe than the common cold. Leserman et al (1999) followed initially symptom free, HIV-infected men for five and a half years. Those who had above average stress levels, were two to three times more likely to have progressed to AIDS after the 5.5 years than those who had stress below average. Reed et al (1999) found that symptomless HIV positive men, who were recently bereaved and additionally had negative HIV related beliefs were significantly more likely to develop AIDS related symptoms in the next 2.5 to 3.5 years compared to those who were positive and/or not bereaved.

In relation to ME/CFS/PVFS, research by Lutgendorf et al, (1995) looked at the effects of a hurricane on the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers. People exposed to the hurricane and it’s after effects were more likely to suffer a relapse and reported greater symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Even more interestingly, the strongest predictor of the likelihood and severity of relapse and impairment was the patient’s distress response after the hurricane. So, those who interpreted their situation as being more distressing, independent of actual disruption and material loss, suffered more symptoms and were more likely to relapse. Additionally, optimism and social support were significantly associated with lower illness burden after exposure to the hurricane.

 

How can 'Changing Limiting Beliefs' help you to overcome your ME/CFS/PVFS?

ME/CFS/PVFS regularly disable sufferers to the extent that they are unable to go to work/college/school. If you have ME/CFS/PVFS your social life may have become pretty much non-existent, meaning that you feel very isolated and lonely. Some people become completely housebound or even bedbound and may require full time care.

Although for some people the symptoms improve or eventually disappear, many struggle for years or even the rest of their lives with the effects of ME/CFS/PVFS.

Yet all of the ME/CFS/PVFS sufferers I have treated have significantly recovered from their ME/CFS/PVFS through the Changing Limiting Beliefs programme - most are now completely symptom free.

Changing limiting beliefs is a highly effective training programme, which can help you to overcome your ME/CFS/PVFS and take back control of your life. This training programme will give you amazing insight into your personality and ways of thinking. It teaches you how to take control of your thoughts, feelings, emotions, doubts and worries. You will be able to completely change the way you think and feel about yourself and challenging situations – enabling you to live a happier, healthier, more successful and positive life.

If your limiting beliefs are preventing you from recovering from illness and stopping you from living life to the full, YOU have the power to change these destructive beliefs. Your ME/CFS/PVFS does NOT have to rule your life any longer.

Taking back control

One common characteristic of all my ME/CFS/PVFS clients is that they have all felt very powerless and out of control in relation to their illness and life in general. This is not surprising given that they are struggling with many distressing syptoms, and many have been ill for a long time, which has had a big impact on their life. The abiguity over the condition, uncertain duration of illness and wide range of symptoms tend to lead sufferers to feel that their condition is overwhelming and uncontrollable. The trouble is that these feelings of powerlessness then tend to maintain high levels of stress and trap the sufferer in an illness cycle, hindering them from recovering.

An example of how siginificant feeling powerless and hopeless can be in non-recovery from illness is found in research by Lewis et al (2001) who found that stroke patients who felt helpless or hopeless, ie, who did not feel that there was anything they could do to help themselves, did not survive as long as other patients. They found that this seemed to be the case even when physical factors, such as stroke severity, were accounted for. In a breast cancer study, Watson et al (1999), found that patients who scored highly on helplessness at the baseline were more likely to have relapsed or died during the following five years.

Often ME/CFS/PVFS is triggered by a viral illness such as glandular fever, hence one of the names for the condition, post-viral fatigue syndrome, PVFS. Viral illnesses that trigger ME/CFS/PVFS tend to be more severe and debilitating than your standard cold, and even people who don’t go on to develop ME/CFS/PVFS still tend to take several weeks to recover fully from these viruses. Some people do not recover properly and struggle with disabling fatigue and other symptoms for months or even years after the initial viral illness. Recent research on the development of CFS following Glandular Fever (Moss-Morris, Spence and Hou, 2010) found that perceiving Glandular Fever to be a serious, distressing condition, that will last a long time and is uncontrollable was a significant predictor of chronic fatigue.

Typically something along the following lines occurs in theses cases. Suddenly catching a debilitating illness is a big shock to the person, as they are used to being successful, fit and determined. They power on through pretty much anything, but out of the blue they feel very unwell. They try to press through, which makes them feel worse, so that they need complete rest. The sufferer may initially continue to respond in this all or nothing way, cycling through spurts of activity and needing total rest and feeling no better. They start to worry that their illness is very serious and uncontrollable, increasing stress levels. Weeks later they still feel very unwell, further increasing feelings of powerless and fears about the illness. The sufferer may engage in seemingly protective behaviours, such as resting all day and completely cutting out exercise, but these behaviours can then further reduce ability to recover, as they result in deconditioning, disrupted circadian rhythms, reduced blood volume and many other physical changes.

People don't tend to be taught how to manage their thinking and stress levels, nor the important effects this has on their self-esteem, success, immune system, health and happiness. As a kid you were taught how to brush your teeth, tie
your shoelaces, cross the street, spell, read and write... but not how to manage your thinking. As a consequence many people as adults have absolutely no idea how significant the way in which they think is, nor how to manage their thinking to allow themselves to live the best life they can.

The Changing Limiting Beliefs training programme will teach you how to build yourself an internal locus of control - a belief that you are in control of your life and events that affect you. The programme will enable you to take charge of your thoughts, feelings, emotions, doubts and worries, reduce your stress levels and help you to overcome your illness.

Testimonials from some Ex ME / CFS / PVFS Sufferers

I was suffering very badly from ME for over 20 years, and it was ruining my life. I had tried everything to get better, and nothing worked. I then came across The Rob Kelly Technique, and it has transformed my life. I rarely get the ME symptoms anymore, and when I do, they don’t last as long, or get as bad, as they used to.
Paul Ostryn

Dear Rob
After suffering terribly from M.E. for 14 years, I am totally amazed to be writing to you today, to tell you that it is now completely gone!
I have taken charge of my thoughts and beliefs, and cured myself! Thank you so much for sharing your 'limiting beliefs' technique with me - I am now the person I always knew that I could be. My husband, my family and my GP can't believe  - but that is their 'limiting belief'.
Thank you Rob, so very much. 
Emily x 
PS I hope you get this in time to add to your book!
Emily Felgate, London

Click here to view some futher testimonials and comments from people who have consulted Rob Kelly, at the Cambridge Hypnotherapy Clinic.

Additionally, here are some comments from Amazon from people who were suffering from ME/CFS/PVFS who bought Rob's 'Changing Limiting Beliefs' book.

This book is a must if you suffer form M.E
This has helped me like no other book.
In Depth you will discover a deeper understanding of why and how
you operate and you will understand the cause of all of your problems.
Invaluable purchase. Thank you Rob Kelly.

Big Al

Everyone should have a copy of this book. I recovered from Glandular Fever/ME in 6 weeks. It is truly a life changing book - buy it

Histon

I wasted 11 years of my life 'allowing' myself to suffer from PVFS.
I tried everything including the lightening process, but nothing worked. Lots of doctors seem to understand a little bit about PVTS/ME - but Rob Kelly really gets it.
22 days to get over an 11 year illness...

I found the book inspiring, incredibly honest, and completely down to earth. There is more knowledge in it than every self-help and psychology book that I've read, put together.

Like another reviewer said: I've got my life back - thanks Rob

M. Panter

It's hard to believe it, but I haven't worked or enjoyed life for more than twelve years. I was first diagnosed with 'glandular fever', then post-viral-fatigue-syndrome, then eventually ME. I don't know - or really care now - what it was. I have spent thousands of pounds searching for a cure, but I was always looking outside of myself (what the book calls 'external') instead of inside of myself. Looking back now I KNOW that I was causing the ME through my anxiety and emotional responses - but if you had said that to me just three weeks ago, I would have punched you in the face for saying so!. There is so much rubbish on the internet about ME, and it is just that: rubbish - most of it spouted by people with a huge interest in staying ill!
I have already recommended this book to all the ME sufferers I have met over the years, and I would recommend it to everyone.
Buy it, use it, change you life! Thanks Rob Kelly

David Canter

Call Rob on 0800 7831038 to book a free consultation now

The Cambridge Hypnotherapy Clinic - est 1988 - at
The Beechwood Medical Centre, 41 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 1NT

 

References

Cohen, S, Tyrrell, D and Smith, A (1993). ‘Negative life events, perceived stress,
negative affect, and susceptibility to the common cold’ Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64 (1) 131-140

Cohen, S, Doyle, W.J, Turner, R.B, Alper, C.M, and Skoner, D.P (2003). ‘Emotional Style and Susceptibility to the Common Cold'. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65 652-657

Leserman, J, Jackson, E.D, Petitto, J.M, Golden, R.N, Silva, S.G, Perkins,
D.O, Cai, J, Folds, J.D and Evans, D.L (1999). ‘Progression to AIDS: The Effects
of Stress, Depressive Symptoms, and Social Support’. Psychosomatic Medicine, 61 397-406

Reed, G.M, Kemeny, M.E, Taylor, S.E and Visscher, B.R (1999). ‘Negative
HIV-specific expectancies and AIDS-related bereavement as predictors of symptom
onset in asymptomatic HIV-positive gay men’. Health Psychology, 18 (4) 354-63

Lutgendorf, S.K, Antoni, M.H, Ironson, G, Fletcher, M.A, Penedo, F, Baum,
A, Schnelderman, N and Klimas, N (1995). ‘Physical Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Are Exacerbated By the Stress of Hurricane Andrew’. Psychosomatic Medicine, 57 310-323

Watson, M, Haviland, J.S, Greer, S, Davidson, J, and Bliss, J.M (1999).
‘Influence of psychological response on survival in breast cancer: a population-based cohort study’. The Lancet, 354 1331-1336

Lewis, S.C, Dennis, M.S, O’Rourke, S.J, and Sharpe, M (2001). ‘Negative
Attitudes Among Short-Term Stroke Survivors Predict Worse Long-Term Survival’. Stroke, 32 1640-1645

Moss-Morris, R, Spence, M.J and Hou, R (2010). ‘The pathway from glandular
fever to chronic fatigue syndrome: can the cognitive behavioural model provide the map?’ Psychological Medicine, 21 1-9