The External Search phase develops because, quite understandably, sufferers believe that the reason they feel so ill is because have caught a virus, or that there is something serious and rare happening to their body because tests always seem to show that nothing is wrong. This leads sufferers to begin a desperate search for answers and jumping from one treatment or therapy to another. The uncertainty and lack of understanding about the condition often means that sufferers become frightened and frustrated which then may exacerbate their symptoms.
The impact of losing one’s health on such a scale can have a massive financial and emotional impact. This phase is so often where people get stuck. They may become defined by their condition and life may revolve around it. Their quality of life, relationships, hopes and dreams have all been dramatically affected. Relationships with family and friends are affected as the sufferer is unable to do what they used to be able to do. Sometimes there may be a lack of understanding as some people may feel that the sufferer is lazy.
This phase is all about looking outside of the self for answers and there is often an acceptance that this may be their life from now on. The medical professionals may tell them that there is no cure and they will have to live with it. In many cases, sufferers may be unwilling to accept any personal responsibility for their condition.
In the initial stages the sufferer may be unwilling to accept this and start to read books, join forums, search google for cures.
This is the most isolating phase where a sufferer may become defined by their illness. They are now an ‘M.E. sufferer’. Many support forums may reinforce the narrative that there is no cure, and they may read about sufferers who may need a wheelchair or become bedbound. People can often lose heart and come to accept the condition as chronic and inevitable. Often sufferers may develop depression on top of their other symptoms.
This phase can be the most challenging to get through as the sufferer may feel that have been abandoned my the medical profession. This is the stage where may sufferers may become stuck, as they have not yet realised that they need to look inwards and make changes to how they live their life in order to overcome their illness. They may reject the idea that their personality type, their emotions, mindset or lifestyle may have contributed to their condition. Without recognising any of this it will be very difficult to get well.
If however the sufferer is willing to shift their focus from searching for an external cause like a virus or infection, or waiting for the medical profession to find a cause and a cure, then recovery becomes possible.
If this resonates with you and you are now ready to do what is necessary to help yourself, get in touch and find out more about how I can support you on your recovery journey. As a Specialist Chronic Fatigue recovery practitioner, I am experienced in supporting clients through this stage of their illness. If you want to find out more, book in for a 30 minute discovery consultation and take the first step of your journey to recovery.
