Congratulations! You have been accepted into the graduate program in self-healing at Life University.
A certain dark humor often tempted me to make that response when new people called me, as a support group leader, asking for information on CFS. Of course I always stifled that impulse, listened to their story and tried to respond appropriately. If, however, the caller revealed a sense of humor during our conversation, I sometimes ended with something along that line to help them put things in perspective.
The truth is, over the 20 years I’ve been dealing with CFS, I’m coming more to see the illness in that light. Were the other person to say, “But I never applied for that program,” my response would be, “Perhaps consciously you never did, but your body applied for you.” Whether assaulted by a virus, toxins, stress or a combination of these, the body signals the ego that it has to enroll in this program whether the ego wants to or not.
The curriculum for the course covers:
-
Reevaluating what you put in your body
-
Reevaluating how you use your body
-
Reevaluating your priorities and your use of time
-
Reevaluating all your preconceived notions about yourself
The course aims to:
-
Develop flexibility in dealing with setbacks
-
Develop an ability to listen to the needs of the body and respond appropriately instead of forcing it to operate according to a previous standard
-
Develop a perspective that values balance rather than achievement
-
Develop a sense of self-worth based on loving the parts of yourself that don’t work
The tools required to pass the course are flexibility, patience, faith in your own healing process and a sense of humor.
There will be tests daily at the beginning of the course. Gradually they will come less often, eventually in the form of one or two a year. A big exam is called a relapse.
Homework is self-assigned, and part of the program is figuring out what homework is best for you. It may involve any of the following:
-
Taking daily vitamin or mineral supplements, herbal supplements or homeopathic remedies
-
Eating wholesome, balanced meals and avoiding foods that upset the balance
-
Drinking plenty of liquids without caffeine or alcohol
-
Taking small amounts of an antidepressant to regulate neurotransmitter activity
-
Simple exercise for short periods: walking, yoga, Tai Chi or Qi Gong
-
Allowing times for rest during the day
-
Practicing meditation or relaxation techniques
-
Keeping a journal to note what helps or hinders well-being
-
Tuning out overstimulation
Or a zillion other things you may discover that help you.
Participants are graded on how well they learn to balance body, mind and spirit. A person doing less but at peace with herself is graded higher than someone running around doing everything and paying the price physically and emotionally.
The global objective of the course is to have more people living in a balanced way on our planet and able to encourage others to live a life of balance.
Congratulations! You are now a student in the graduate program of self-healing at Life University. Completion of this course guarantees you will live with greater sensitivity to your environment and to maintaining balance in your life.
P.S. This is an open-ended, ongoing course, and you may be asked to teach it to others.
________________________________
Shirley Kiefer was a CFS support group leader in West Hartford, Connecticut, for 13 years. She became ill in 1988 and began the support group in 1989. She took early retirement as a librarian in 1993, and still does telephone support counseling. She’s been a CFIDS Association member and donor for more than 16 years.
________________________________
The CFIDS Association of America is the largest charitable organization dedicated to conquering chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), which is also known as chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS), myalgic encephalomyelitis and myalgic encephalopathy (ME). Through your donations, the CFIDS Association leads national efforts in CFS research, education and public policy.
You can make a difference. Donate now to support the CFIDS Association’s research, education and advocacy efforts.
