After 7 years of suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) there were two things that I had given up any hope of achieving in my life – having a child and joining my husband on one of his wild trekking adventures.

Last week, whilst 4 months pregnant, I trekked for 6 days along the beautiful Hinchinbrook Island with my 18 month old son and husband. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Only 2 years ago this was all unimaginable and now I am determined to let others know that recovery is possible.

The symptoms and their severity fluctuated. It’s hard to describe what it is like to someone who has never experienced it. Imagine having the flu, the worst hangover and having to run a marathon at the same time. For me it started with the flu and I went from never having missed a day’s work in my life to not being able to wash my own hair.

Like for many suffers with CFS, it took quite some time before someone was able to tell me what on earth was going on. I spent 2 years seeing a string of doctors, specialists, herbalists and the odd quack. Each new doctor ran their full list of tests, only to then tell me it was all clear with the unspoken implication then that it was all in my head. I clearly recall getting yet another set of blood results back, being told I was ‘text book healthy’. I burst into tears at which the doctor tried to prescribe to me anti-depressants!

I was finally sent to a CFS specialist, who told me I was a classic case. At first I was frustrated as it had taken so long for doctors to figure it out. But I also felt vindicated. I wasn’t going crazy. It was real.

However, with the relief of a diagnosis came the devastating news that there is no cure and that I must accept a slower pace of life and try to manage the symptoms.
I was head of fundraising for Europe’s largest overseas development charity with responsibility for a large team and a budget of $16 million. This disease slowly ate away at my life. I had to give up a job I loved, stop socializing, driving and eventually walking from the bedroom to the kitchen was a huge effort. It was like my brain just stopped – I went from being driven and sharp to foggy all the time. I could handle very little sensory stimulation; no bright lights or computer screens – even music was too much at times and lying in bed for days on end I remember feeling like I had ants crawling under my skin. Talking on the phone could put me in bed for a week. Worst of all people didn’t understand what I was going through and would often say I looked great!

At my worst I was bed-bound and reliant on my husband Ian to shower me and make my meals. It was horrible. I was used to being so independent. We got through the hard times, and made the most of the up times, but deep down we used to dream of a normal life. We were living in England at the time, so we decided to move back to Australia, hoping that the warmth and sunshine of Queensland and the beautiful surrounds would make our life more bearable. But it mostly highlighted how little I could do.
Ian told me how he vividly recalls another ‘crash’ on the second day of our honeymoon at a resort in North Queensland. He said he felt so lonely as I was unable to go outside. He’d accepted that at 33 years old he had become his wife’s carer. We had both come to accept that this was to be our life.

Then a phone call changed our lives forever. One of my London friends who had CFS for many years achieved a full recovery using the ‘Lightning Process’. I trusted her so didn’t hesitate. I was a little skeptical and to be honest I was also terrified. I’d tried so many things and what if this didn’t work? But the prospect of a full recovery was so alluring. Back then it was only available in the UK so with wheelchair assistance I made the trip to London.

The training took place in a small clinic in London over 3 days. First the small group was told what was going on within our bodies with CFS. I had never had someone explain it so clearly. Then over the course of the 3 days I learnt what I could do about it.

The Lightning Process recognises CFS as a real physical disease created by a dysfunction of the Autonomic Nervous System – the part of the body responsible for many of the day-to-day functions of our body. One of the things discussed was the role of adrenaline on the body and the consequences of dysfunctional adrenals. This certainly rang true for me, as I had felt ‘wired’ for years, and survived by pushing through situations, then get hit with the inevitable crash.

The process gets you to retrain both your body and your mind to correct this dysfunction. It really felt like I was taking control of my body again. In fact one thing I really liked about the Lightning Process was that it gave me the tools to do something about my own condition.

It required a lot of focus and repetition but it wasn’t difficult, and it surprised me how quickly the results came. By the second day I realized that I had finally found the answers I was looking for. By the end of the training my symptoms were gone and haven’t returned. My recovery was so dramatic and I returned to Australia a new woman ready to live my life to the full.

The Lightning Process may not be for everyone, but I think it’s really important for sufferers to know that recovery is possible. Keep looking for answers and definitely don’t just settle for managing your symptoms and energy levels.

These days it’s hard to even remember what CFS was like. It’s like another lifetime ago, especially as I watch my gorgeous little boy try to help set up camp after a long 6-hour trek through the rain and swamps of Hinchinbrook Island. Since I did the Lightning Process I have travelled, started a family and started a new business. I feel so lucky to have my health again, and I am determined to let others know that recovery is possible.

We once dreamed of living a normal life. We now have a brilliant life!

I wish someone had told me about LP earlier and saved me 7 years of CFS

March 2010

‘Normal’ and ‘fantastic’ is how I would describe my life now. My dream to have a baby is fast approaching as I am now five months pregnant. I would never have believed this was possible only 18 months ago when I was struggling to walk the 50 metres to the end of my mum’s driveway.

Seems like a miracle! Applying the Lightning Process has had a ‘miraculous’ impact on my life. Lightning Process helped me to re-train my mind and body to get back to normal. Lots and lots of practise and consistency have got me to this point. I now hardly need to use the process and use it for extra things like getting the first job I applied for, being successful in meetings at work, and having a great time when I go out.

I had CFS twice for a total of 7 years. It started with a car accident that left me in great pain and stopped me from working. The ‘pain condition’ did not go away and created tension, stress and fatigue. A stressful year, a new job, and what appeared to be ‘the flu’ were the final straw.

When CFS came on it was profound. All ‘normal’ life stopped. Five years I spent climbing out of the worst of it and getting back to part-time work and some social life and excercise. Many many alternative remedies were tried. Then, just when I thought my life was really back on track, I caught another severe flu. The symptoms of CFS came back worse than ever. I was bed-ridden, house-bound and chronically ill for 18 months. At one stage I was going be put in hospital as I was struggling to get up at all, and digesting anything was very difficult.

Most of the symptoms of CFS were present: extreme fatigue, allergy, brain fog could not describe how the mind shut down, aches, pains, dizziness, severe weight loss, depression, mood changes, sensitivity to light and sound. I could not watch TV/listen to music/read/write/or even talk for more than very limited periods of the day and sometimes not at all.

The only reason for telling you how ‘bad’ it was is because there were times when I never thought I would be able to beat it. There was despair and hopelessness. Sometimes it’s hard to keep the hope alive when you feel like you have tried everything and you can become very cynical (to say the least) about new therapies or suggestions from friends.

Then a friend sent me a newspaper article about Ian’s wife’s success at using the Lightning Process to recover from CFS and have a baby. I read and re-read the article so many times. I could really relate to the story and the ‘transformation’ sparked a determination in me to be ‘be like her’. “Why can’t I have the same success and get the same results?”

I called Ian. That was it. It made sense to have a go. All the things I had tried (the exercise program, Chinese medicine, naturopaths, psychology, meditation) helped me get to the point where I knew there was something else I needed to do.

I went to Sydney (a big deal getting on a plane at that time). In the three days of training my life started to turn around.

It’s now 12 months since I did the training and it’s like I’ve been given another chance at life. I’m back to my old self, but a better self. Sometimes it’s hard to remember what I used to be like with CFS. I am having a very easy pregnancy and have heaps of energy. Even other pregnant friends are envious.

I don’t need to tell people about the CFS because I don’t have it anymore. I am eternally grateful for how far I’ve come and for a future filled with hope and excitement. The best part is knowing that if I hit a ‘stumbling block’ I can use the Lighting Process to turn it around. So the ‘fear’ of going back has gone.

I wish someone had told me about LP earlier and saved me 7 years of CFS. I learnt a lot from being ill and made the most of my situation. But to be able to get better and get my life back on track is the most amazing experience of all.

Thanks to Ian for his great training/mentoring and to Phil Parker for spending years designing the Process. And, just as importantly, I thank myself for having the courage to give the Lightning Process a go.

Success - One month after the Lightning Process

Nearly a year ago I started hearing that a friend of mine (Richard, whose story is also on this website), who had been really sick with ME/CFS for 15 years, had been helped by the Lightning Process. The first time I heard about it I didn’t actually know it was Richard they were talking about and when I had a look at the Lightning Process on the internet I just dismissed it because I thought it sounded too weird. Being a Christian I thought it sounded a bit new age and it mentioned something called self-hypnosis which definitely sounded strange! Then I heard about it from another friend who had been at Bible College with both Richard and I back in 1992. She told me Richard was out of bed and doing well. I got in touch with him and asked him about the LP. He was saying he didn’t have ME any more! He was able to keep going for 12 hours straight and still be feeling fine. This is someone who was so sick he was stuck in bed and unable to read or talk on the phone! So I asked him some questions about it, particularly the “hypnosis”. He explained to me that he didn’t know why they call it that because it is definitely not hypnotism and you are fully conscious and totally in control the whole time. He said it was more about being relaxed and confident.

Another thing that Richard told me was that the LP seminar costs $1500 Australian dollars. I knew that it would take me a few months to save up that kind of money. I thought this would be a good thing because it meant I would have to wait a while. I wanted to have time to pray about it and to make sure it was something God wanted me to be doing and I also wanted to wait to see how Richard was doing a few months down the track! Having now learned the LP for myself I can see that once you start using it you are well and it would only be if you stopped using it that you could go back to being sick again. There wasn’t much chance of that with Richard. He was very determined not to go back!

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

By the time I put in my application in August I was sure it was what God was leading me to do. He had given me some very clear scripture verses about healing. The most prominent one was from Malachi 4:2 which says “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.” And Richard was going from strength to strength and making huge progress.

Ian phoned me for my phone interview and accepted me straight away. This meant I had a bit of a wait until the dates for the seminar were finally confirmed for February. But he did phone me again closer to the time and it was encouraging to have that contact with him while I was waiting.

THE TRAINING

So in February I travelled up to Auckland, using a wheelchair to save my energy at the airports, to attend the seminar. I flew up on the Tuesday and the seminar began at 9am the next day. It was one of the hottest days on record for Auckland and it was a long day. We didn’t finish until after 5pm. There were 5 of us ladies at the seminar, all with similar conditions. On the first day we were taught an abridged version of the process and sent home with a goal to achieve something that we wouldn’t normally do. My goal was to go for a 10 minute walk along the street and back. The most walking I usually did was around the supermarket! The house where I was staying had a short, but very steep driveway and stairs in it and the seminar was also up a flight of stairs. After the seminar finished I stood at the bus stop for over half an hour in the sun and heat waiting for the bus to arrive to take me home. It was a huge day for me! I got home about 6pm and by the time we had dinner it was 7pm. I headed down to my bedroom to memorise the steps of the process and then put on my new walking shoes and went for my walk. When I got back I did my “homework” like a good girl – hehe – and sent an email to all the people who were praying for me.

SUCCESS

I still hadn’t noticed any change from using the process and was a bit disappointed because I had read success stories of people having success with the LP on the first day! Anyway, I headed to bed and was feeling quite anxious. The anxiety had kicked in the minute I left home because I was away from my comfort zone. So I tried doing the process again. The only thing I can say is Wow! There I was just lying in bed, just doing what we had been taught to do and I realised my whole body was feeling relaxed. I started getting excited and was thinking “I think it’s working!”

I woke up in the middle of the night with some abdominal pain that had been a problem for years and my whole body was screaming at me because of all I’d been doing over the last few days, especially the first day of the seminar! I did the LP and the pain all disappeared and the abdominal pain hasn’t come back since! I went back to sleep and woke up feeling ok the next day. I waited until I was on the bus and texted some of my family saying “I think it’s working!”

On the second day of the seminar we were taught the full version of the process. Ian took us through it one by one and after I had had my turn and was sitting down while the next lady was being taken through it, I noticed that my hands were really relaxed. I was sitting there playing with them because it felt so funny! That day we finished at 4pm and one of the ladies gave me a ride home to where I was staying. That evening I went for a walk with the lady I was staying with along to the shops to get ice-creams. It was about a 15-20 minute walk. That night when I sent out my email it was a very excited one to say that the LP was working!

On the third day we were asked to get up one by one and talk about the successes we had had with the LP in the last 24 hours (we had done this on the second day too). While I was talking I got really excited when I realised how much I had been doing and how good I was feeling. When I had finished Ian said “Who is this imposter? What have you done with Debbie? You’re all bubbly and excited!” I just told him that that was me! It was the same for all 5 of us at the seminar. We all had huge success with the LP and we could see it on each other’s faces. I have had someone say to me that the LP has changed my whole personality! But those who knew me before I became ill 15.5 years ago know that that is the real me. The LP has just given me my life back!

THE WEEKS AFTER THE TRAINING

After the seminar finished on the Friday at 3pm, I walked down the road to Newmarket and met up with a friend who I hadn’t seen for 20 years. Then the next day another friend came and took me out for brunch down at Mission Bay. It was a lovely day and I felt like we could have talked for hours! That afternoon I met up with another friend at the airport before flying back to Christchurch (without the wheelchair this time!). That was Saturday evening. On the Sunday afternoon I went for a walk around the block in the hot sun with my sister and her dog and then went to church with her that night. I have been staying seated during the worship times at my own church on the few occasions that I could get there and I was standing and singing and clapping and moving to the music for the first time in I don’t know how long!

The next day I woke up feeling fantastic and headed into Christchurch to pick up some card-making supplies and to go clothes shopping. I figured that I needed more clothes if I’m going to be going out more! Clothes shopping has been something I have kept to a minimum over the last 15 years because of how tiring it was trying clothes on. I tried on heaps of things and it was easy! And I got some very good bargains. I headed back to my sister’s place for a quick lunch before driving home that afternoon.

The next morning I woke up feeling good again and walked (10 minutes each way) around to my Mum’s place. She has had ME for 26 years and was really pleased that it had worked for me. I think we were both surprised by how major and sudden the change was. I am suddenly well and the huge thing for me is that I can now do anything I want to, without paying for it later.

I visited my Dad the next day and he is really pleased for me too, saying it’s like having the old Debbie back again! Since coming home I have been walking or exercising most days and I can go out at any time I like. I have seen my doctor who was just really excited for me and who gave me a prescription so that I can start coming off some of the medication I’m on. I went into the church one day and sat down with my pastor and explained the LP to him and answered all his questions. He wants to be ready for questions from people at church! I immediately increased the hours that I’m working when I got home and am now working twice as many hours. I have cancelled my “home help” lady and am now doing all my housework myself.

I have been to church the last 2 Sundays at my own church, standing for the whole of the worship time (about 30 minutes) and the only thing hurting was my feet! They will just have to get used to it! A couple of weeks ago I stayed for a lunch after church and was wandering around socialising with people and standing talking to people too!

And it is only 3 weeks since the seminar!

For those of you who are Christians and who are considering the Lightning Process I want to say that there is nothing “spiritual” about it. It is purely a mind-body technique. I was totally comfortable with everything we were taught at the seminar and everything we were asked to do. There was never a time when I felt uncomfortable.

I also want to say that Ian was nothing but totally professional, supportive and encouraging and committed to us getting the success we wanted and still is! He is only an email away if I have any questions. And he was really easy to listen to at the seminar. I am amazed that I was able to concentrate for 3 days straight!

I am so grateful to God that He has given Phil Parker and others the understanding of how the Lightning Process works and that He is using it to heal people and give them back their lives.

Debbie,

New Zealand.

Suddenly this bubbly, enthusiastic, energetic Rita is back, the person I was 40 years ago.

For me ME started after a bad bout of flu in early 2000. The onset was slow (it wasn’t recognised for another 4 years), and I only had glimpses of it by just not feeling my usual energetic self, frequent insomnia, brain fog/memory loss, aches and pains, with occasional days spent in bed when I felt totally exhausted, depressed and emotional. I couldn’t make head or tail of it. Just couldn’t put it down to anything, other than that I might be experiencing a variety of food intolerances. I had a few allergy tests, tried different diets and numerous supplements, but nothing really hit the spot. This is all a bit ironic as I was working in a health food shop, had just completed a Diploma in Holistic Therapies (Aromatherapy, Reflexology), and was practising part-time in a clinic, helping people to regain their health through nutrition, supplements, relaxation of mind, body and spirit.

The crunch came in 2003 when I was managing the shop, was short of staff for a couple of months and pushed myself too hard by thinking I can do it. It catapulted me over the edge and ended up in a real bad way. I really didn’t know what was happening to me, and just couldn’t make out what my crazy body had in mind. I carried on badly, reducing my hours in the process, and finally resigned from a job I loved so much by the end of 2004.

I’m not a fan of the medical profession, but in the end I dragged myself to my very understanding and patient GP. I had many blood tests over the years, but nothing ever showed up. With the symptoms I showed, he concluded in the end that I suffered from ME. My body seemed to be constantly see-sawing, but I wasn’t a bed case, and could still function at a reasonable level, but with some of these very deep crashes into the dark pit of despair. Two of my daughters weren’t very understanding, and to this day thought it was all in my mind, and going out to work would cure everything. It’s been all a bit of a haze, I had my amalgams removed, had acupuncture and reflexology, kept up with my regimen of supplements, read self-improvements books, but to no avail.

Helen, a friend of mine I had known from my health food shop days, had ME too and we supported each other. She eventually moved to Spain with her husband to live in a warmer climate which seemed to suit her better. My husband and I moved to Australia during 2007. Before I left the UK I had heard something about the Lightning Process, but didn’t follow it through. Several times I had put the Lightning Process into google here in Australia, but disappointingly nothing came up. Then my friend, Helen, emailed me in 2008 that she had done the Lightning Process in England, and wow, she was doing marvellously and hadn’t looked back since. Everybody who had known her, asked her what she had been doing, as she looked so much better, happier and was an altogether different person.

Still I googled away unsuccessfully here for a while, and was thinking, that next time I’m going back to the UK I’ll book myself into the LP course. I finally struck gold midway through last year, and lo and behold Ian Cleary popped up. I realised that there was going to be a course in Brisbane in July, and nothing would keep me away from that. I emailed Ian straight away, and after the usual interview process, was accepted onto the course. It seemed such a long few weeks to wait. I was never in any doubt that it wouldn’t work for me. It had worked for Helen, and I wanted to emulate her, and was sure it was going to work for me.

Helen could never quite explain to me what the LP was all about. She always said, you’ve to do it to understand it. I was intrigued and eager to get my life back. I know now what she meant. Those three days have changed my life and health completely. It was hard going, emotional, but also fun. Ian made us work hard; he is a wonderful motivator and quite a stickler, but he had to be. I’ve fond memories of those 3 life-changing days, and as a group we gelled very well and made friends.

I’m so very thankful to Ian and Phil Parker, of course, to have given me the life I love back. When I wrote my first post-LP email to my sister, she thought it was an imposter and couldn’t believe it was me. Since the course, I’m applying the LP on a daily basis. I’ve been doing absolutely marvellously. Suddenly this bubbly, enthusiastic, energetic Rita is back, the person I was 40 years ago. Something has been released within me. Nothing can stop me, I like being outdoors, walk a lot and long-distance, cycle, dance badly, enjoy going out with friends, BBQs by the bay, volunteering, loving my life and health. I can do meditation now without my mind wandering off, and often sit in my special place by the lake, feeling very lucky, enjoying the wonders of nature around me and living in that moment. I’ve cuddled a very cute koala, fed wallabies, and although I’m usually not a fan of snakes, have touched a python at Lone Pine Sanctuary. Nothing could hold me back and will ever hold me back from new experiences.

I’ve used this time to enjoy the health and happiness I love. Some time in the future I want to practise Reflexology again and maybe later on set up business, making aromatherapy creams and massage blends. I enjoy helping and assisting other people to lead a healthy life. I hope other people with ME or CFS who read my and the other success stories, will be inspired, and try it for themselves. I didn’t have to mill it over, my friend had success and continues to do so, that was enough for me to go ahead. Decide to do it, and you’ll find and grab the life you love with both hands. It’ll ignite the fire of life for the rest of your life if you let it.

6 months on I have had time to get used to having a future again.

In March 1995 I was aged 18 and studying full time when I caught glandular fever.  I never recovered and was soon diagnosed with CFS.  Every time I tried to return to study or work, my relapses got worse and worse.  In 1998 and 1999 my health hit rock bottom after I caught cytomegalovirus and wound up with fibromyalgia in addition to CFS.  My longest relapse at that time lasted for a year.  I spent so much of my waking hours horizontal, crying with the pain and waiting for the energy to do something essential like take a shower or fetch food.  My mother would cook loads of food and put it in my freezer to keep me alive.  There were long stretches of time where leaving the house was a very big deal. I was chemically sensitive and a whiff of perfume or cleaning products would have me in agony.  My body was just wrung out and none of the doctors I tried could offer any real help.

In 2000 I began to explore taking control of my health and began a very slow road to recovery.  I moved from the city to a small village, tried different diets and meditation, and worked on achieving emotional healing.  This was all made more complicated when I had my son in 2002.  My pregnancy and birth went well but that was only the beginning.  Although I loved my son so much the energy required to care for him was an endless drain.  I split up with his father in 2005 and the resettling process was also quite demanding.  I was functioning better than in the past but still nowhere near being able to get on with my life.

By 2008 I was getting some good medical treatment for adrenal fatigue and improved enough that I felt able to take on 2 hours of work per week in 2009 (in addition to sharing care of my son with his dad).  But it became clear that I was still stuck in the same pattern of illness and couldn’t ever seem to quite break out of the cycle.  I was feeling incredibly frustrated and sick of being a tired cranky mother and watching my life pass me by.  It was time to give the Lightning Process go.  I had a strong feeling that I would be able to use the LP to move on with life.

The Lightning Process was not what I expected.  That is to say, using it achieved what I wanted, but I never could have anticipated just how it would feel to have my life so thoroughly turned on its head.  At the end of the 2nd day of training I felt overwhelmed with all the changes.  I felt like my brain was melting and just wanted to go home and have a good cry – not because it “wasn’t working” but it was working all too well!  Suddenly having a whole new body and new life in a matter of 2 days was really disorienting, like landing in the open plain when you are used to being shut in a box.  Ian was an amazing trainer, with his experience in hypnotherapy he helped us pay very close attention to the way we used language, and, kindly but firmly, didn’t let us get away with practicing any old habits that could undermine our work with the LP.

6 months on I have had time to get used to having a future again.  I am seeking more work and have registered with an employment agency to help me make that transition.  I can now see the day where I will be able to achieve part time and eventually full time work.  I climbed up Table Top mountain with my son and the next day I was not even stiff.  I cycle half an hour to my friend’s house and it feels quite easy, I can feel the strength in my legs, feel my body making the energy it needs, and there is no pain any more.  I just got back from 2 weeks at the beach and loved being able to swim in the surf without the pain and the terror of tiring out and not being able to get back to shore.  I just felt strong and confident.  I couldn’t understand why all the other swimmers looked so serious, I felt so happy just to be out there and feeling so good that I wanted to yell out loud with joy.  Sure I slept better at night afterwards, but I experience normal fatigue now, not that dragging, energy sucking CFS black hole any more.  I’m even going on a 4 week trip to New Zealand later this year with my boyfriend, I would never have dared to plan that before.  I still overdo it sometimes and am still learning to manage my new body, but my outlook is so very, very different now and I’m so incredibly grateful.  Thank you, Ian, for showing me the way to this wonderful new life where so many things are possible!

Living with CFS often seems like a life sentence to those who have it and those who support them. Plans for the future are put on hold as you start to manage life day to day; often believing that this is all there is for you now. Anyone who has CFS knows that besides living with a debilitating condition, they have to battle to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the medical profession and support services of government. Add to this the often quoted malingerer tag and life on the whole can be pretty crappy.

So when I first heard of the Lightening Process, I wasn’t sceptical although I did my due diligence, I was just so happy to hear that something was giving people with CFS hope and health.

I was diagnosed with CFS 4 years ago but I’ve been living with the symptoms for about 7. During that time I have had periods of wellness but invariably they were followed by crashes and me having to put my life on hold once again. What that taught me was that I knew my body had the capacity and ability to be well. What I couldn’t work out was how to maintain that.

That’s what the Lightning Process has done for me.

I did the Lightning Process training 2 weeks ago and can honestly say that I haven’t been this hopeful about my future for a very long time. I now have the ability to keep myself healthy and the determination to get my life back, albeit with a fairly healthy upgrade to a better model. Since finishing the training I have started eating previously ‘forbidden’ foods. I have taken up bushwalking and am now doing Pilates 3 times a week. I now love it when my legs ache, my heart gets pumping and I get short of breath…it means I’m working out! My next goal is to begin part-time work and resuscitate an almost dead social life.

……….Watch this space!

POST SCRIPT – A year after the Lightning Process.

“It’s been almost a year since I did the LP training with Ian. I hardly recognise some of the aspects of my previous life that I wrote about in my success story. I honestly just can’t relate to that CFS/ME stage of my life anymore…it’s like it never happened. I know it did because of the evidence of the “lost years” but it’s really not a factor in my life anymore.

As far as accomplishing the things on my wish list goes:-

Commit to studying – tick

Start part-time work – tick

Revive my social life – tick

Plan my future career – tick

Travel – tick

Exercise…not so much…hate the stuff

BUT…

Energy – tick and heaps of it!

So if anyone is wondering about whether the Lightning Process works…it does!”

It’s 3 1/2 years on and I now live a vibrant life with my partner and two beautiful daughters. No fatigue.

I had CFS twice: once for two years between 19 – 21 y.o and then again between 30 – 34 y.o. it was bad enough the first time, bed ridden for 3 months and then a slow recovery at a time when I should have been enjoying my life to the full (actually, I now realise there is no time when we shouldn’t be enjoying life to the full!). I recovered on my own and as the years passed I forgot about it and got on with my life.

Ten years later I caught another virus and after six weeks fatigue set in, this time I was caught in its trap for 4 years. It is not an understatement to say that it devastated my life. I was unable to work or even socialise. I would spend most days on the couch looking out the window with a bottle of water and a book next to me. The book was in case I had enough energy to read, I rarely did. Sometimes I would not have enough energy to walk, so I would crawl down the corridor from the kitchen to the lounge, often I would have to wait on the floor after having a bath to have enough energy to dress. My one big event for the day was to make myself a juice and then I would be back on the couch. Too exhausted to be bored, going through waves of complacency and at other times despair.

But there is a happy ending to this fairy tale… Somehow, despite all the odds, I fell in love, moved to the country and started a family! All with the loving care of my partner. I noticed a big positive change in my energies when I became pregnant , for instance I was able to drive a car again, and as a new mum I was super careful with my energy, knowing in my heart of hearts that I would never be able to take on a full schedule again, always fearful of a relapse. How wrong I was!

After hearing about the Lightning Process I wanted to do the course before I left England (it wasn’t available in Australia at that time), because if there was any chance of being rid of the shadow CFS was casting on my life I wanted to grab it. In three short days I learned that I never have to worry about fatigue again. It’s 3 1/2 years on and I now live a vibrant life with my partner and two beautiful daughters. No fatigue. I absolutely love my life. I think we are incredibly lucky having someone like Ian Cleary, who is both incredibly caring and highly skilled, to offer the Lightning Process here in Australia. My only regret is that I didn’t know about the course all those years ago!

George

“I’m back at work, back in the ring, and back in life.”

Hello all,

My name is Dean Hamson, I am 23 years old, an amateur boxer and up until October 2009 I had been suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome for just less than three years.

My illness started of with me getting what seemed to be a flu every two or three weeks for a period of about five months. I would start to feel sick and go see a local GP who would either give me anti biotics or tell me that I had a viral infection and just to have a few days off work and training and I would be fine. I would take their advice and rest up and within a few days I would feel well enough to get back to work, but sure enough within a few weeks I would have the same symptoms back.

After about five months I finally booked in to see and ear, nose and throat specialist. I had tests done and it was found that I had glandular fever and CMV as well as allergies to mould, dust, pollen, cats and dogs. I felt this explained a lot but the doctor said that I had caught glandular fever more than three months earlier so resting now would have no real benefits as it was past its incubation period, or something to that affect. I decided to have a month off work and training anyway and actually felt fine after that rest and headed back to work and the gym.

My life over the next two years followed a similar pattern. I would get sick, have some time off work and training, feel well enough to go back to my normal routine but eventually I would get worn down and need more time off. At the time I was working as a real estate agent and I had to quit this because of my excessive time off and take up work as a casual labourer on building sites.

My symptoms over this period were generally flu like symptoms such as sore throats, blocked noses and the usual aches and pains.

Over this period I saw countless doctors, naturopaths and specialists in chronic fatigue. I tried all sorts of vitamin supplements, diets, medications and was even told that depression was the cause of my fatigue.

Then in February of 2009 I had a boxing match on and I trained harder than ever before and was easily in the best shape of my life. I won the fight easily and I would say it was the best I have ever felt in my life. But afterwards I walked onto a balcony where some people were smoking and instantly felt my throat swell up.

The next morning I woke up and could feel the same old symptoms coming on. I figured I had just had and allergic reaction to the smoke. I wasn’t concerned as this had happened so many times before. I spoke to my trainer and told him I would need a few days off and would be back in the gym next week…. I didn’t get back to the gym for eight months!

From that one sore throat I was sick for the best part of that year. I slowly deteriorated to the point where I couldn’t train at all and was only working a few days a week. I continued seeing different doctors and specialists in the chronic fatigue field. They tried many things, none of which had any lasting affects.

Eventually in July I had to quit work as I simply got to the point where I couldn’t leave the house.

I was getting sicker all the time and having less energy on an almost daily basis. The flu symptoms had been replaced by complete fatigue as well as headaches and an incredible pain in the back of my eyes.

I was at a breaking point and searching for any answers when I was on an internet forum and saw something written about someone using the lightning process and having success. I instantly looked up the website and read through as much information as I could before the pain in my eyes could get to me.

The stories on the website gave me hope that if these people had recovered so could I and when I read the explanation of chronic fatigue on the website it sounded like what I had been going through.

I got in touch with Ian and within two weeks I was at the first day of the lightning process. By the end of the first day I felt I was headed in the right direction. I went home and was able to run five km’s which for someone who had basically been stuck in bed for two months was a pretty good effort. But my first night was pretty rough and I was so tired I just wanted to sleep the next day and not even go to the course.

On day two I saw how much the other two people in my group had improved and it was definitely a turning point for me. That afternoon I went home and trained again, much harder this time and afterwards I felt much better than the day before. During this whole time I was applying the process regularly and feeling the tremendous benefits.

Day three was only a fairly short day and I was so excited by the end of it as I was convinced that I now had the tools to completely overcome this Chronic Fatigue.

Within a month I was back in the ring and had won my first fight! I am back at work labouring full time now as well as training six days a week and just absolutely loving life. In fact I am infinitely happier with my life now then before I was sick. It truly has been a life changing experience,

To anyone who is feeling stuck at the moment and wondering whether the lightning process can help them I would say it definitely can. I believe if you commit to the process completely and follow your trainer’s instructions than you can absolutely overcome any issue you are currently facing.

Dean Hamson

RICHARD’S CONDITION
Our son was a fit, happy, young man of 23 years when the devastating effects of CFS cut him down, following a bout of flu. He went from needing lots of rest to eventually being bed bound, needing full care for about 13 long years. It was so demoralising for him. Many times he felt a little more able and would very gradually try and build up activities, only to be felled by yet another relapse. He felt it was hopeless as this cycle went on year after year, despite trying many, usually expensive ways, to build him up.

READING THE LP BOOK
So it was, with some scepticism that we agreed to read Phil Parker’s book about the Lightning Process, which we borrowed from a former CFS sufferer who had attended the LP course and had been totally transformed back to her former lively self. I read the book on Richard’s behalf. There was no way he could read it all. I was struck by two things particularly. It made sense and I could see some links between our situation and the descriptions in the book. For instance Richard was totally ‘stuck’. If he gently pushed out he inevitably relapsed but if he lay in bed he had a non-life.
Secondly, the chapter on ME was so amazing; I had to quell the hope surging up in me. Could it possibly be that simple? Hadn’t we got expectant with other therapies/medications etc only to be disappointed? We got in touch with the lady who had gone through the LP course. She was so enthusiastic about it and talked about others on her course who had fantastic results also. Talking to her directly was pivotal, as a personal testimony is so different to reading a book or looking at things on a website. We did our Internet research and made enquires to Ian Cleary about applying.
APPLICATION PROCESS
First up, Ian was so helpful, not pushy. He explained that Richard needed to read the book as part of his preparation, and that there was an assessment, by him, as to Richard’s readiness. He encouraged Richard to email him with any questions and doubts. Best of all he offered to train Richard at his bedside if necessary – what a relief!
Ian was so encouraging all through the next 3-4 months as Richard slowly, paragraph by paragraph read the book and asked all the difficult questions by email. Ian replied clearly, fully and always made Richard feel it was OK to ask more. ‘Keep the questions coming” he would say. Eventually Richard did his phone assessment with Ian, spread out over 3 phone calls and was accepted. As the beginning of the training drew close I kept wondering how Richard could possibly manage to concentrate for an hour, let alone3 or 4 hours of that first day, because he could only talk a few sentences before feeling tired.
I had my Christian friends and relatives praying for strength to do the course and a break through for Richard, and I realised that Richard had made a quantum leap of faith in deciding to do the course and that he had decided to put his every fibre into it, knowing that anything less was holding back, an act of uncertainty against the way Ian had prepared him.
THE TRAINING
The first morning Ian arrived relaxed and got straight to work with Richard. Doors were shut and I did the ironing to stop the nail biting! Every 50 minutes he’d pop out to have a break and praise Richard’s courage. Unbelievably he was with Richard for over 4 hours and still Richard was coping. I was allowed in and Richard proudly showed me the little white board with the basis of the LP written up. The rest of the day Richard was constantly doing the LP from bed, talking animatedly and gesticulating. He ate his meals absentmindedly as he kept up his process, until sleep overtook. Day 2 & 3 were just as long and Richard was into it. He had a weapon, a tool, a technique now to counter every symptom, every fear, every negative thought – he had something to do instead of lying there in stuckness, frustrated, angry, feeling hopeless. Instead he was proud, fierce and had hope.
SUCCESS
Ian’s constant encouragement and positive feedback continued after he left with emails flying back and forth. But in the end it was Richard who had to leave the safety of his bed, his room and step out and it worked. It wasn’t always smooth sailing. Some occasions he felt the technique wasn’t working on a particular issue and so he would spend hours and hours persevering or just re-evaluating his technique and eventually breaking through. It was a roller coaster ride for his family at times, with great success followed by a hiatus, but always moving forward finally, which was a wonder.
A week later Richard was able to walk out of his room (using a walker). A month later he was able to go out in the car to a nearby beach for the first time in 13 years. After 6 weeks he managed, with help, to have a swim in the sea. Now after 3 months he is still stiff and has some hip and back problems, but he is driving a car, sorted out his internet banking, been to get his eyes checked and got glasses, goes out for drives and walks independently and is celebrating his new life with friends and family reunions.

Thanks to the LP course, and the way in which Ian handled the preparation, the actual 3-day seminar and the follow up, Richard has now got a life worth living again.

My name is Alex. I am 17 years old and I am studying for my A levels in Brighton, UK. When I was about 14 I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, specifically mitochondria failure, which my father also had. This is the story of the build up to CFS and my recovery.

The first signs of my CFS were when I was 13 during my last year at prep school. I was a county standard cross-country runner with several gold medals under my belt. I was very keen on most sports, I did a lot of drama and I was also taking an academic scholarship to my senior school. So, I had a lot going on! The first symptoms were recurring injuries that badly affected my running. I was very angry and quite depressed. I hated running and loved winning, so being injured was not fun as I didn’t win anymore. The second major symptom was repeated bouts of tonsillitis which resulted on me missing out on playing the lead role, Miranda in Shakespeares The Tempest at the Globe theatre in London. The disappointment of this is still with me now.

So, I started my first year of senior school. This was a huge move and a very tough one to make. The added stress of leaving my best friends and starting a huge new school did not help my health. That year I quit running, I wasn’t winning anymore no matter how hard I trained and I couldn’t stand it.

During my second year at senior school I had settled down well and was really enjoying school. I played for 3 different hockey teams within the school. This put a huge strain on me. I can remember really clearly playing 3 all day tournaments in a row for 3 different teams. The day after all of these tournaments my mum came to wake me up for school and I literally couldn’t get out of bed, it stayed like that for about two weeks. My dad had been saying for a while he thought I might have CFS. So, first things first I went to my GP to get tested for glandular fever, which turned out negative. Then I went to my dads homeopathic GP who tested me for CFS, which was positive. At the time I took it really well and didn’t see it as too much of a big deal. However, as time went on I soon realised it really was a huge deal.

The whole year was awful I was barely at school and few of my friends actually understood what was wrong with me no matter how hard I tried to explain. Things reached a head in June 2007. My dad decided that sending me to stay with my sister in Australia would be good respite not only for me but also for all the family; apparently I wasn’t the easiest person to live with!

When I was in Aus with my big sister she began talking about some of her mates who had had CFS and done some treatment called the lightning process and who were totally fit and healthy again. I had briefly heard of the lightning process but was very sceptical. Also I saw the lightning process as my last chance at being well again and found it difficult to take the plunge. Any way with some persuasion mum and I drove up to see Ian.

As I think back to that journey I was feeling pretty crappy. I didn’t want this to be my last chance. I was dreading so much that the lightning process wouldn’t work just like the other methods hadn’t worked.

Mum and I arrived and we went straight into the programme. At first I was a classic moody teenager, I didn’t engage and in hindsight must have come across as very rude! However Ian persevered. Mum and I found the process very uncomfortable on that first day. It was very emotional for both of us and we were thrown out of our comfort zones. At the end of that first day the theory of the lightning process started to make scientific sense. Mum and I were elated and really excited at the prospect of completely the course. I remember really clearly when the treatment was complete Ian  saying ”How does it feel not to have CFS anymore?” and finding it so overwhelming that in 48 it had gone. This was an incredible turning point. All three of us were grinning. I kept saying ‘so I can go and play hockey and run again?’ and Ian kept saying ‘yes! You can do whatever you want!’ He had to say it a few times!

On the way back mum and I were in a state of shock and didn’t really know what to do. So we stopped off went shopping and had an ice cream! When we arrived back at my sisters, Josie and her partner Brett were asking how it went and it felt like such an anti climax! I had been ill for 2 years and in 2 days I was well again. I was still so shocked. I waited a few days before I rang my dad to speak to him. I was expecting an emotional phone call. But it was just happy and calm. I couldn’t believe after all dad and I had endured that it was over.

It took around 2 months for the process to fully imbed itself. The real test was going back to school, the process excelled itself. There were moments when I found it hard to tell the difference between fatigue and just being tired and run down but I soon figured it out. I went back into full time school and gained four As and Bs in my GCSEs just getting me a place at my chosen college. I am so proud of this achievement, which I owe to Ian and the lightning process.

Now a year on, I am just completely my first year at college. I am about to sit four AS levels. I played a successful season in the 1st XI hockey team and I am doing athletics again. I ran my first 800m race in three years and came 4th. I am also a beach lifeguard and train in twice a week and patrol on the weekends. I am heading out to Australia this summer to see my sister again, how things have changed since the last time.

Ian gave me a rubber duck for use as a prop during the training. It sits on the side of the bath tub and every time I have a bath or shower I look at that rubber duck and think about what it represents; health.

For anyone suffering from CFS or similar illnesses take the plunge, swallow your pride do the process and start living the life you love!