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Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Studies

By February 28, 2011 - 2:08am

I've just been reading a couple of articles about ANOTHER study that says CFS/ME can be much better managed through Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Graded Exercise Therapy (GET), and a whole load of other - excuse me - crap. Just wondering has anyone else read anything about this, and what they make of it all??? Link to one article below.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/217039.php

By March 5, 2011 - 9:34pm

Hi Susan,

I saw a supposed CFS specialist here in Australia about eleven or twelve years ago, and he insisted I try what would now be called graded exercise therapy. But I couldn't just start with walking, because that wasn't exercise! I had to actually play sport (which I did a lot of before I got sick). If that's what they're talking about now with the graded exercise therapy, then I think there's going to be a LOT of people with CFS, in varying degrees of severity, that will get a lot worse.

As for the cognitive behaviour therapy, you're spot about why it's upsetting. It does make it sound like it's a mental issue. CBT is something that's used for illnesses like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It MAY be useful for CFS patients who're suffering from depression related to the CFS, but most of us (and I know a few) learn very quickly to, (as my mum has been calling it for nearly two decades), pace ourselves. Most CFS patients learn their limitations very quickly, almost always learning the hard way, push too far, end up stuck in bed for weeks on end!

I personally think the pacing technique is the way to handle it, for me at least. If I have, say a friends birthday to go to, I will really take things easy (really really easy, extra naps, etc) for a couple of weeks before the event. And I'm always aware that I won't be able to keep up with my friends. But I go, and enjoy myself, and, thankfully, the friends that have stuck around, understand that I'm not sulking in a corner, I just have used up most of my energy just getting ready to go out and getting there.

Sorry if this sounds a bit all over the place. I've been hit with 'flu this week, and I keep having to reach for the tissues!

Jac

March 5, 2011 - 9:34pm

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