Dr. Martina Melzer, published: 06/02/2022, updated: 02/20/2023

Raelan Agle has overcome her own ME/CFS and has a now really big YouTube channel. Among other things, she has interviewed around 80 people there (as of 04/06/2022) who have shared their recovery stories. In one video, she summarizes the most important strategies people have used to recover. One of them is having the right mindset. Raelan Agle says, "Can you get better if you don't believe it?" She thinks: no. I feel the same way. You have to believe strongly that recovery is possible. That's why my website is called "I will get well." I would like to add: Google for "MECFS Recovery" and not "MECFS"!

Source: Raelan Agle

A mindset focused on healing and recovery also helps you not to give up. To keep at it. To be able to persevere when another setback comes. Doing things that don't help you now, but will help you in the long run. Your focus really needs to be on recovery.

• Find some affirmations that suit you and say them to yourself regularly, hang them up in your home, save them on your smartphone. A few examples: "I'm getting well," "Healing energy fills every cell in my body," "My body knows how to heal itself, I trust it," "My recovery is a top priority," "Healing is within me."

• Create a vision board or something similar where you summarize all the things you want to do when you are well again. Look at it regularly.

• If you want to use your imagination, visualize yourself as a healthy, energetic person full of zest and drive. Feel it.

• Watch or listen to recovery stories or read books by people who have overcome their illnesses. English-language sources: Raelan Agle, Heal with Liz, The Chronic Comeback.

• Take your recovery into your own hands. Become empowered. Have faith. Have a healthy optimism (which does not mean to think only positively and to block out everything negative and unpleasant!).

Other recovery strategies: Gaining knowledge, brain training, inner work, lifestyle changes.

Translated with the help of DeepL

PS: Of course, I research and check everything I write here as well as possible. Nevertheless, I am only human and make mistakes. In addition, I may draw completely different conclusions as someone else would. Simply because they fit my story. But every story is different.

Important: The content on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for talking to your doctor or other therapist. The content reflects my personal experiences, research and findings that have helped me and that I therefore want to share. However, in your personal case, completely different things may play a role and other things may help. Please talk to your doctor or therapist before making any decisions that affect your physical or mental health. Also important: I don't want to convince anyone of anything here. Rather, I want to point out possible ways that hopefully can help some people to improve or overcome their ME/CFS or other syndromes.

Bessel van der Kolk: The body keeps the score

Gabor Maté: When the body says no

Russel Kennedy: The Anxiety Rx

Gregor Hasler: Die Darm-Hirn-Connection

John Sarno: The Mindbody Prescription

Stefanie Stahl: The child in you

Alex Howard: Decode your fatigue

Daniel Siegel: Mindsight

Joe Dispenza: You are the Placebo