By now, many of you have heard news reports about the PACE study out of the U.K., suggesting that cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise are helpful for chronic fatigue syndrome, and misguided media reports suggesting that this shows that the illness is all in people's minds.
Two other studies came out recently as well, which add perspective:
1. Promising New CFS Study (Reported by CBS News)
This study showed changes in over 700 proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that bathes the brain, in CFS patients. These patterns were much different for CFS patients vs. chronic Lyme vs. healthy controls — Again proving that CFS is a real physical illness, and adding more info that may point to both a diagnostic test and a treatment.
The good news is there's no need to have a spinal tap! This is simply one more study proving CFS is a very real physical disease, and the study was even reported in a CBS news segment. Good timing to counteract the misinformation from the PACE report.
(Watch the CBS News report here video ».)
2. Counseling and Exercise Help Cancer Patients Too, But It's No Cure
A literature review looking at severe fatigue in cancer patients also noted that counseling and exercise can be helpful in cancer patients (Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Practical Review). Using the line of reasoning applied by some to the PACE study, this would also suggest that cancer is all in people's minds.
Of course, this is simply an absurdity that points to the simple fact that for most severe debilitating diseases, emotional support and coping skills can be helpful along with maintaining conditioning. In chronic fatigue syndrome, people are facing an energy crisis so they can only walk or exercise to a certain point, beyond which they crash and burn. So you only want to exercise "as able." This means listening to your body and seeing what feels comfortable. On the other hand, if you don't exercise at all, your body has a "use it or lose it" approach to efficiency, and you'll de-condition.
So basic common sense says that for cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis (which doctors also used to believe was all in people's minds, calling it "hysterical paralysis"), and any severe disease, it is helpful to get emotional support, coping skills, and exercise as able. The problem occurs when a form of cognitive behavioral therapy is used that includes beating people over the head with the misguided belief that the illness is not real. This then changes from teaching coping skills to being abusive.
It is a basic matter of common sense. CFS is real and it is treatable (with the SHINE protocol being one effective approach). We still have much to learn, but this simply means treatments will become increasingly effective.
But don't "throw the baby out with the bathwater." Many mind-body approaches are helpful in CFS (and in cancer and in many other devastating illnesses). These include yoga, tai chi and mindfulness and journaling. So treat the physical components while strengthening your spirit and mind, as with any illness.
In the interim, though the PACE study lead author Professor Peter White has done excellent work looking at both the physical and mind-body issues surrounding CFS, and has noted that illness in general has a mind-body nature with both physical and psychological components (which is the case with cancer, CFS and most illnesses — and not a statement that an illness is all in ones mind), there are those who are misinterpreting the PACE study (and I suspect misquoting Professor White) to imply that CFS is a psychological disorder. Given that if you were to substitute "cancer" for "CFS" in the PACE study report, it would reach the same conclusions, it becomes obvious just how absurd that position is. So feel free to ignore media misinformation on the study!
Love and blessings,
Dr. T
Centering activities nurture parasympathetic tone which contributes to cell renewal and well-being.
http://www.ForHerHeart.org/sanctuary.aspx
I believe that our Mind-Body relationship can not really be separated as what affects one affects another. So by working our body we are energizing and strengthening every system that I suspect is the best approach to the prevention of illness and injury. I love biking for the same reason and a fellow biker said: "Is there any other exercise that you can just sit and enjoy the moving health experience as biking? :)
New ideas suggest:
Weaning sets up a food in and waste out pattern - probably in the ENS, Enteric Nervous System, that subconsciously programs us for our lives. If there is not enough breast milk before that weaning period - the infant will be 'hungry' from then on. He will move toward food and become overweight. The overriding emotion is Anger
If the weaning is too soon such that the child's digestion system can't handle the new non-breast milk, solids, then the child will have a waste out problem and always be 'too full' (of food he can't yet digest and excrete out) from then on. He will have a weaning problem. He will move away from food and become underweight.
The overriding emotion is Fear.
Qigong kept me strong in many ways: it calmed my mind--taking me out of the fight-or-flight syndrome, which pumps adrenal hormones into the system that could interfere with healing. The deep abdominal breathing pumped my lymphatic system—a vital component of the immune system. In addition, qigong energized and strengthened my body at a time when I couldn't do Western exercise such as weight-lifting or jogging--the chemo was too fatiguing. And it empowered my will and reinforced it every day with regular practice. In other words, I contributed to the healing process, instead of just depending solely on the chemo and the doctors. Clear 15 years and still practicing!
But--it is not a "magic bullet." It takes discipline and practice, and it really helps. But I wouldn't take on cancer alone by just employing the mind/body connection.
I never got diagnosed but I do have all the symptoms. I push myself to make gains all the time. I put myself on a graded exercise therapy program.... sure I don't have a dr pushing me (i wish I could afford one!) but i still push myself - EVEN when it hurts and is uncomfortable.
Sure. I relapse a TON doing this... but over time I feel like i have boosted the small range of abilities that I have. I might vommit the next day... but at least I don't feel like my body is regressing from inactivity. I could barely move off the couch when I first got this ... for months i could do nothing... and really "pushing" myself in the begining was just walking around the house once.
Things get better, and the more you use your "boundaries" ... which are very real limitations... then you can SLOWLY expand them. It is painful. That sucks. Oh well though, thats life. Until they find a cure....
I really can't recommend self-awareness, meditation & meditative fitness self-designed enough.
meditation aficionados understand or need to understand that the aim of meditation is to fall into the non-physical foundation deep within the physical ; that's the field of healing because it is allways negative entropy
meditation aficionado :)
I suppose heart attacks are also "in their head" since stress reduction clearly prevents recurrence and improves outcomes.