My Fibromyalgia Journey

While working full time as a university lecturer in healthcare studies, I undertook a 4-year postgraduate course in therapeutic psychotherapy. At this time, I had a young family who required all my love, care and financial support. I was competent and creative in my work. I particularly enjoyed the nursing students and the collaborative work with my peers. I was fortunate to receive a substantial amount of money to conduct research. Then I began to suffer from anxiety, low mood, and lack of sleep naturally progressing to generalised anxiety disorder and panic attacks. In retrospect, my Headmind was telling me to slow down. Nonetheless, I had a sense that I was being tough and resilient, yet worried that my students and peers would discover my biggest fear that of “not being good enough” and “being an imposter”. I also felt huge gratitude for my family and career but feared that by not doing what was expected would mean I was not thankful or deserving enough and would lose it all. I completely ignored my Headmind decided I had no choice but to struggle through. 

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I then got Bronchitis and booked 3 days' of sick leave. I went to bed and never returned to my job or career. I was physically ill, my Bodymind had decided to take charge as I wasn’t listening to the anxiety. I suffered from muscle pain, fatigue. breathlessness and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. For the next few years, I was at home gradually building a private practice as a psychotherapist. I would rest between clients and the school run. 

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I tried every medication, therapy and approach available. Eventually, I found a therapist specialising in Neurosomatic therapy. After working with Dr Judith Maizels for three months there was 95% improvement. I felt it was a miracle. Judith herself had suffered from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) for years and as a scientist she had collated all information available which she published in her first book on the subject book (2015) Breakthrough for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, M.E. and Fibromyalgia: How Neurobiology and Epigenetics point the Way to Recovery: Volume 1. Chronic Neurosomatic Illness

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Since then, I have studied, trained and worked as a Somatic Psychotherapist.

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Judith's book is available from :

www.proactive-neurosomatic-therapy/books.com

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