| Which of the following five assumptions are you | | | | cause for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, you may |
| making about the illness known as Chronic Fatigue | | | | get mired in that line of thinking. Wrong or right, |
| Syndrome (CFS)? Read on to discover how | | | | you assume this is the best way to approach the |
| critical the right attitude is and why you can't | | | | problem and you stop looking further. You don't |
| afford to make such a mistake in attitude. These | | | | consider other possibilities, such as causes |
| wrong assumptions could hurt you exponentially | | | | originating from a mind/body/spirit origin. This |
| by producing damaging health consequences. | | | | wrong assumption can be a huge mistake and |
| When a person first gets (a.k.a "comes down | | | | unfortunately you've made it at the very |
| with") Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and, for today's | | | | beginning! |
| purpose let's assume that's you, everything about | | | | Special Tip #2: Keep your brain working and your |
| your world feels confusing. One minute you're | | | | heart open to the answers. You will figure out |
| merrily skipping along and enjoying a robust level | | | | why you got sick. |
| of health; the next, you're quite ill and can barely | | | | SECOND ASSUMPTION: The number of intense |
| whip out a laundry-sized list of complaints to | | | | CFS symptoms is so overwhelming, you feel as if |
| prove your infirmity. | | | | you can't manage them. They are more than you |
| Any one symptom may be tough to handle. Mix | | | | can bear. |
| several of the rougher ones together and it may | | | | This type of assumption lends itself to a type of |
| seem that you're treading deep water. Your | | | | permitted weakness, because in thinking this way, |
| symptom load can feel overwhelming and add to | | | | you essentially are giving up control. Yes, you |
| your increasing sense of confusion, anxiety and | | | | may have a lot of symptoms, but each one can |
| frustration. | | | | be addressed. Note: Many people feel the need to |
| Now, assuming that you don't want to continue | | | | take strong prescription drugs for symptom relief, |
| living like this, ask yourself, "How are you going to | | | | but those very drugs can cause other problems |
| get a handle on these health issues and begin to | | | | and add to your misery. Be careful of the number |
| get well?" Beyond the simple advice of take it | | | | of drugs you take and which specific ones you |
| easy and rest, eat well and lower your stress | | | | use. Work closely with your doctor. |
| level, what are you going to do? | | | | Special Tip #3: You already have enough problems |
| Special Tip #1: Don't jump at the first answers | | | | and symptoms to deal with. Don't make things |
| you find and make wrong assumptions about | | | | worse by allowing drug side effects or dangerous |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Wrong information can | | | | interactions to create more health problems. |
| come from seemingly credible sources such as | | | | If you approach your illness symptoms one by |
| what you hear from cousin Sally or what you're | | | | one and explore more natural solutions that won't |
| reading in someone's personal blog/ complaint | | | | produce negative results, very likely you can |
| tirade. Mis-information can come in all forms and | | | | avoid an out-of-control spiral of symptoms. |
| from seemingly knowledgeable, well-meaning | | | | THIRD ASSUMPTION: Because it's been such a |
| sources. | | | | long time since scientists and researchers began |
| Know that your maintaining a positive attitude | | | | looking for answers and they still have very few, |
| about getting well is the "first key" to improving | | | | you believe you're probably doomed to suffer |
| your health and probably the most essential | | | | with CFS indefinitely. Chances are... you won't ever |
| element to making it happen. After doing thorough | | | | feel well again. |
| research, base your plan of action and your | | | | Now that's the thinking of someone who's already |
| attitude on the absolute best information that you | | | | defeated. It's obvious how wrong it is when you |
| can find and what feels right for you down in | | | | look at this assumption in black and white words. |
| your gut. Gut instinct is important. | | | | Find a way to change that belief and you'll have |
| Now let's examine these FIVE HARMFUL | | | | plenty of room for hope and healing again. |
| ASSUMPTIONS and guard against them: | | | | |
| FIRST ASSUMPTION: Because Chronic Fatigue | | | | Special Tip #4:Don't give up. Don't even think |
| Syndrome feels like such a physical illness, it must | | | | about it. |
| have a physically-based cause. | | | | FOURTH ASSUMPTION: Because CFS is such a |
| There is no proof of that statement. All traditional | | | | multi-faceted illness and is so misunderstood and |
| medical researchers can say are two things: 1) | | | | puzzling, there is no way for you to understand |
| people who suffer with CFS often have additional | | | | what's going on. |
| illnesses like Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, or Lupus, and | | | | Wow, is that a lie! Yes, you may suffer with |
| 2) that many people with CFS often exhibit more | | | | cognitive dysfunction like brain fog or memory |
| than one infection, such as when a dysfunctional | | | | loss, but somewhere in all of the muck and mire, |
| immune system allows the existence of viruses | | | | you're there. Your soul is still present and |
| like Herpes Virus-6 (HHV-6), Epstein Barr Virus | | | | accounted for. It wants to prevail. Your heart |
| (Mononucleosis), Coxsackie Virus, Cytomegalovirus | | | | wants healing to happen. |
| (CMV), and more. Truly, when your Immune | | | | Special Tip #5: Be brave. Keep your wits about |
| System becomes totally confused and | | | | you and proceed onward. Don't plow up this mine |
| dysfunctional, almost anything is possible. | | | | field alone if you can't handle it. Don't be afraid to |
| And to date, not one of these medical experts | | | | ask for help from a loved one, friend or |
| can tell you whether the viruses come first and | | | | caretaker. |
| cause CFS or whether your already weakened | | | | FIFTH ASSUMPTION: That you're stuck living with |
| Immune System allows the invaders to get a | | | | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome forever until someone |
| foothold. The only thing clear is that once this | | | | else finds the cause and cure. |
| happens, your body can descend into long term | | | | The truth is science may not find the answer to |
| illness while fighting but never completely | | | | everyone's case of CFS, but with a little help and |
| conquering the invaders. This mystery is truly an | | | | fortitude, you can figure out your own. Realize |
| age-old chicken-and-egg question. We're left | | | | that the Creator made you to be a very |
| wondering which part comes first, the disease | | | | intelligent and resourceful human being. He created |
| process or the symptoms. Maybe, in the end it | | | | within you innate healing knowledge. It may have |
| doesn't matter and here's an important reason | | | | been pushed down a little, but it has not gone |
| why. | | | | away. It's still there and it's still accessible! |
| If you assume that there must be a physical | | | | |