THE LIGHTNING PROCESS. Calling all ME/CFS people to help!

[WoodYouBeHappy]

I know there are lots of us unfortunate ME/CFS people on here (past and present) and would like your advice/knowledge/information about Phil Parker's The Lightning Process.

Having been severely affected with ME (since a flu virus in 2013) I have researched the full range of 'cures' to get me out of my 'Housebound Hell' of pain, fatigue and vertigo etc. Every so often, a different friend recommends the LP and I find myself on his website again.

In the beginning -with lots of research- I faced my illness with positive, determined CBT/NLP type approaches and attempted to get on with my life. I continued to deteriorate.

After an (NHS prescribed) year of Graded Exercise, I am worse and now medically retired.

Can anyone tell me why people pay £650 for LP and risk causing a further relapse? I've read such mixed stories on their success and am curious. It seems to either be a miracle cure (how?) or causes permanent further damage.

How do I explain to my well-meaning friends that 'No, I don't want to sign up to something that will cure me' . It shows me as the typical obstructive ME patient who continues to subscribe to the 'false illness belief' (that is still being rolled out in the UK press ) even though what I really fear is ending up being poorer, bed-bound and tube fed/catheterised.

Any thoughts? Would you risk it? Or did you and with what results? Would be interested to know if anyone was 'cured' and then had a later serious relapse and regrets trying it.

I understand it’s unconventional and may not be in the NICE guidelines. However to say no positive results isn’t true.

This article shows research and review of its workability. A higher percentage of workability compared with NLP and CBT. Also how some practitioners wrongly put blame on people if it didn’t work.

https://repository.londonmet.ac.uk/6059/1/Systematic-review-of-the-evidence-base-for-the-Lightning-Process.pdf

I’ve ordered the Dű book and also looking into the Gupta method. I do believe that the direction of neuroplasticity is worthwhile as it puts people in control of their bodies.

One thing that resonates for my daughter is her body is switched on to a protective flight or fight mode 24/7 - the results being an exhausted body in pain 24/7. She’s done with it and has not found the mainstream medical model successful. Really at the end spending £700 or £800 is nothing if it means a chance to overcome this.

For me it’s research, reading the book, speaking to people who’ve tried it and looking up the Gupta method as comparison.

@SophieShine I rarely post about LP due to the vitiriol that is seems to cause.

Our experience was very positive. I am nothing to do with LP so this is our families interpretation of how it worked for us.

We went in very open minded and pretty desperate. Bed bound and on a feeding tube and unable to do anything. Conversations very exhausting, eating or chewing was not possible. Very sensitive to sound and light so wore ear plugs and in a darken room the whole time. Traditional medicine could offer nothing to us. CBT, Grade exercise was suggested, anti depressants, supplements etc none made any difference at all. CBT and graded exercise were impossible due to extent of the symptoms. Although it was tried - we started with a conversation of 1 min etc but over a long period of time nothing improved. Even resting in bed 24/7 made the symptoms worse so we had to try something different.

No way is LP in "the mind" but an acceptance that you can get a physical response to situations does help. eg if I see a snake I will feel hot and clammy my heart rate will increase and I will get an uncomfortable feeling in my tummy. This is not in my mind but my fear of snakes causes a physical reaction even though my rational mind tells me I am safe and ok.

LP helps to turn off the physical responses to situations and enables the body to be in a state to heal.

For us it was not an instant cure at all but over time and using the process until it became normal, confidence grew, the fear of crashes and am "I doing too much faded" and now things are pretty much back to normal. For us it really helped.

That’s beautiful! One woman I spoke to said she was delighted the day she sent her disabled badge back after 26 years of disability.

Thank you for sharing 💗