Claire's Recovery Story

My story with ME began when I became ill with glandular fever at the age of 8, where I was really ill for weeks and missed a lot of school as a result. I returned to school in September for the new academic year but still felt really unwell. I felt overwhelmed with fatigue and couldn’t face the school environment with a particular sensitivity to loud noises, which made me want to curl up into a ball and cry. It was around this time that I started experiencing panic attacks and completely lost interest in the things I used to enjoy, such as playing with my friends and my dance classes, which I used to love! I was seen by a lot of doctors and psychologists at this time to try and figure out what was wrong with me and I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. A combination of medications and talking therapies eased the anxiety and depression a little but I continued to miss a lot of school throughout my teens due to feeling extremely unwell, causing anxiety, which became a vicious cycle.

As a result, I left school with very little qualifications, I was determined however, to do well in my studies. I therefore took GCSE resits at sixth form and from then I was able to study A Levels. I thoroughly enjoyed studying again, however, I still felt really unwell during this time and seemed to constantly be picking up cold viruses and the flu. I was completely exhausted and a week of trying to fight the exhaustion and study seemed to be followed with a week of literally not been able to get out of bed. These ups and downs continued for a long time with frequent trips to the doctor to try and get an explanation for how ill I was. I was eventually diagnosed with ME. By this time I was really behind with all my studies and doubted whether I could continue with them.

My ME diagnosis was a huge relief, as I finally had an explanation for how ill I’d been feeling all these years, but it also terrified me, as I knew there was no known cure and I was terrified of remaining unwell for the rest of my life. I tried various recommended therapies, such as pacing. These treatments did seem to work initially but I just couldn’t seem to apply them to my life in the long-term and maintain improvements. I seemed to be suffering from constant relapses and felt pretty fed up wondering whether I’d be able to finish my A Levels and go to university.

My much-needed ray of hope came when my granddad visited me with a newspaper article he had found about the Lightning Process for ME. That evening I researched the Lightning Process and grew more and more hopeful as I watched people’s recovery stories. I decided to give the Lightning Process a go, as I felt extremely optimistic about it and was desperate to get better and complete my studies. I travelled down to London with my mum to complete the course. It was very challenging, as it involved a whole new way of thinking, but I started to feel my symptoms lifting almost instantly. On returning home I worked hard to continue with everything I’d learned from the Lightning Process and was able to maintain wellbeing. The changes to my health were amazing and I loved the freedom that it gave me. People around me also noticed a big change in me and couldn’t believe the difference.

I returned to my studies and managed to get the A Levels I needed to study psychology at university. I enjoyed studying, socialising and even dancing on the university dance team! These were things I’d never dreamed I’d be able to do! When I graduated I decided to do a Masters in Health Psychology, as I was really interested in the mind and body connection, partly as a result of doing the Lightning Process.

I chose to study the Lightning Process and its benefits to those with ME/CFS for my Health Psychology thesis project. The results were very promising and I received a 1st class honours mark for it. I am currently trying to publish these findings in a peer-reviewed journal article.

I currently work as a Research Assistant, but have been offered a PhD, which I start in January. I am hoping to then become a Chartered Health Psychologist.

I really hope this gives people some hope, which I found to be invaluable while I was unwell.