I have been interested in these conditions after I experienced them for myself in my early twenties. The doctors were unsure as to whether I had PVFS (Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome), ME (Myalgic encephalomyelitis) or Fibromylagia. In fact, after seeing several doctors, I was diagnosed by each with a different condition. I fully understand how debilitating any of these conditions can be and how medical treatment is so difficult as there is little in the way of obvious treatment. Nevertheless, I recovered fully from them as a result of self-hypnosis, which I began to take an interest in at the time. To me, as with many others, hypnotherapy was a last resort when indeed it should have been the first.
The symptoms happened after I had several acute viruses in my early twenties. I cannot remember exactly whether the symptoms came about quickly, but I do remember them. I would often spend most of my time lying on the bed unable to move because of diffuse muscular pains. They were so unspecific, that if someone asked me to describe where they were, I'd say "all over". Over the months, the pains intensified to my shoulders and chest and I would often have really bad days where I couldn't even talk to anyone. The pains where sometimes accompanied by severe headaches. My social life deteriorated as I couldn't face anyone around me. When I awoke each morning, I felt that part of my mind was still asleep, and life around me was "cloudy". My perception of spatial depth and balance was affected, and sometimes I couldn't even walk straight.
My recovery began after a couple of years when I started believing in my ability to control part of my body's physiology through the power of my own thinking. I was determined not to let whatever I had dominate my life. I used many self-hypnosis techniques to weaken the pain, and to focus my concentration away from inside my body. Within months I was on the way to recovery and began re-building my social life. After a year or so, the affects of my condition had completely disappeared and I was thankful to be able to do all the things I was missing out on. There are others who are not so lucky and suffer with these conditions for several years, sometimes longer, unnecessarily.
I am a firm believer that we all have the ability to control our bodies physiologically to a certain extent. This ability is particularly useful for those of us suffering from unexplained pains and illnesses. If you have a similar condition and are interested in what hypnotherapy can do for you, please don't be afraid to ask.