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There are several alternative treatments in the private sector that claim to cure ME i.e lightning process, Mickel therapy, Optimum Health Clinic's
90 day programme which are psychological approaches. Can ME be cured using psychological treatments?

There is a wide spectrum of clinical presentations and disease pathways that come under the current definition of ME/CFS

At one end of the CFS spectrum there are people whose illness appears to be more related to psychological factors than physical factors - psychological based treatments can be of help here

So psychological based therapies can sometimes be of help in this group (as they can when anyone is having mental health problems with a purely physical illness) but I think it's optimistic to say they can be curative

There is very little evidence to demonstrate that some of psychological therapies that are available in alternative and complementary health sectors are as effective as is often claimed by those promoting them!

Access to psychological therapies on the NHS:

http://www.iapt.nhs.uk

Thank you. I attended an MBSR course 4 years ago & use the breathing meditation or bodyscan during rests (needed every 2hrs 45min). Really helps still my mind & obtain deep levels of restorative relaxation. Mindfulness has helped especially living in The Now & not the future during a relapse but is not curative

Just to echo that which has been stated already - fields such as my own (hypnotherapy) tend to be a useful adjunct to your formal medical care and can equip you to deal with facets of your illness better, however there is no evidence to suggest that they are curative; despite many protestations to the contrary by those that you mention here.

How can hypnotherapy help?

Can it be used to help let go of persistent negative thoughts?

Stress & anxiety always trigger a relapse & it would really help if I could find a way of letting go of them & turning off the dysfunctional stress response. Use mindfulness but it's still hard to let thoughts go.

This clinic is really helpful

Thank you

Further information on hypnotherapy can be found in other threads in this clinic:

viewtopic.php?f=493&t=4691

and

viewtopic.php?f=493&t=4686