M.E/CFS

M.E the complex illness.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is a complex and debilitating long-term condition. It is often characterised by extreme fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), cognitive difficulties, and increased sensitivity to physical, emotional, and sensory stress.

M.E is recognised by many professionals as both neurological and autoimmune in nature. Living with this condition can affect daily functioning, identity, relationships, emotional wellbeing, and confidence in the future.

I offer Solution Focused Hypnotherapy to support people living with M.E, particularly those who experience long-term difficulties with digital overstimulation or digital addiction.

Many people find that during crashes or periods of PEM, they turn to phones, social media, short-form content, or constant online stimulation as a way to cope or distract themselves. While this can feel like rest, it often keeps the mind in a heightened and activated state.

With M.E, true rest requires a reduction in sensory and mental input. Continuous scrolling, TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube shorts can overstimulate the nervous system, increase mental fatigue, and delay recovery from crashes. Over time, this pattern can become habitual and difficult to break, especially during periods of low energy.

Digital overstimulation can also contribute to anxiety and depression. When the brain remains overstimulated, stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline can stay elevated, placing additional strain on the immune system and increasing inflammation. This can further complicate the management of M.E symptoms.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy supports both emotional and physical regulation. Hypnosis helps guide the mind into a calmer, more regulated state, similar to restorative stages of sleep. This allows stress levels to reduce and supports the nervous system in settling, which is essential for rest and recovery.

I recommend hypnosis as a supportive tool, not as a cure. It can help reduce anxiety, support the management of depression, encourage acceptance, and create healthier coping strategies, including reducing reliance on digital stimulation during difficult periods.

A key part of my work with M.E clients is supporting pacing and rest. Through hypnotherapy and solution-focused conversations, we work on recognising limits, respecting your baseline, and reducing the urge to push through when the body needs rest. This can help minimise crashes and support more consistent energy levels over time.

We also work on practical ways to reduce digital overload, such as limiting short-form content, becoming more aware of compulsive scrolling patterns, and finding calmer, less stimulating ways to rest. This is done gently and realistically, without removing choice or creating pressure.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is also future-oriented. Even when living with a long-term condition, it is important to have achievable future goals, no matter how small. Sessions can support you in rebuilding confidence, planning within your capacity, and focusing on what is possible rather than what has been lost.

By engaging the prefrontal cortex, many clients experience improved perspective, emotional balance, and a greater sense of control. This can be particularly helpful when navigating long-term illness, uncertainty, and change.

Living with M.E can involve frustration, grief, and emotional strain, especially following crashes or burnout episodes. These responses are valid. Through hypnotherapy, we work gently on emotional regulation, self-acceptance, confidence, and long-term habit change, including digital overuse.

I offer both one-off hypnotherapy sessions and ongoing Solution Focused Hypnotherapy for people with long-term conditions. While a single session can be helpful for relaxation or immediate support, many clients benefit from a structured series of sessions.

For long-term conditions such as M.E, this may involve 6, 7, 8 or more sessions, depending on your needs, goals, and baseline. Ongoing work allows time to support nervous system regulation, pacing, rest, anxiety and depression management, digital habit change, and long-term wellbeing.

Sessions can be arranged weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly and are always paced carefully to suit your energy levels. The focus is on steady, realistic progress rather than quick fixes.

There is no magic cure for M.E. However, with the right long-term approach, appropriate support, and realistic expectations, it is possible to improve overall wellbeing, increase stability, and work towards a higher baseline over time.

If you are living with M.E and struggling with digital overstimulation, pacing, anxiety, depression, or difficulty fully resting, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy may be a supportive addition to your care.

If you would like to explore this further, you are welcome to get in touch.