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.