United Kingdom: Optimum Health Clinic (Alex Howard)

[Trish]

I'd steer well clear of anything medical on YouTube. Even doctors with strings of qualifications are putting out all sorts of unfounded theories and rubbish. And as others have said, anyone can call themselves a therapist.

I'd also steer clear of the neuroplasticity and mind/body stuff you find online. It's not based on research, it's all anecdotes, and making some people a lot of money. Their victims get sucked in and end up blaming themselves when they don't get better, or if they do happen to be on an improving trajectory anyway, and happen to try one of these training/therapy/snake oil things at the time, they realise it's a great money spinner, and set themselves up in businesses with all sorts of 'feel good' names to entice people in.

 

[Tia]

So. This is my first post here, (other than my welcome post). This thread was one that came up in a search I did, because my wife had been asking me whether we should spend money to get her fixed. Obviously I'd give more than money to cure her of ME, but I don't like the hard sell. My search for answers on Google led here, to this thread.
In conclusion, it's all snake oil.

Hi @New POD and welcome. I've been in the position you are in now of desperately looking a 'fix'. I've tried a fair few things and my conclusion is that anything that promises a cure is dodgy. There is no magic solution however much money you spend. It is possible to manage some symptoms like poor sleep and pain and if there is depression too that can be possibly be managed through medication or talk therapies so it is worth a GP trip.

Alex Howard is offering therapy but he is not a therapist. I do think that therapy/counselling can be helpful as a support (not a cure). We're all hoping for a 'fix' but until that a time when treatments are developed, I think support is incredibly important. People with ME can get depressed too and being depressed and having ME is a lot worse than just having ME! If you are looking for a counsellor, I would recommend going for someone who is qualified and having a chat with them first to ask about their experience of working with people with ME / other chronic illnesses. If they promise a quick fix, or any kind of fix, for ME, they are not worth it. If they understand the difficulties of living with a chronic physical illness and want to help you live your best life despite this, then they may be helpful.

 

[Tia]

Also, I just wanted to add, learning to pace yourself can make a huge difference and it is possible to live a good life with this illness, however bleak it might feel right now!

 

[Ash]

So. This is my first post here, (other than my welcome post). This thread was one that came up in a search I did, because my wife had been asking me whether we should spend money to get her fixed. Obviously I'd give more than money to cure her of ME, but I don't like the hard sell. My search for answers on Google led here, to this thread.
In conclusion, it's all snake oil.

I think that’s a fair summary.

I’ve also been thinking how sometimes we all need a bit of nutritional help like supplements or dietary changes or some manual pain relief like massage or physio or a mood reset some sunshine or relaxation, and that’s material. These
companies just hoover up all the generic information floating around about these things, that individual people have reportedly found helpful or advice that could apply to the majority humans, bung it all together in a brochure and call it a unique program.

A program, because while the company selling the program give you some of the potentially good things, they ruin all the good that the good things might happen to be doing by programming you to that it’s all your fault for not improving if the good things aren’t actually proving to be all that good for you, at that specific time.

So if feeling like taking a punt on something, if it were me I’d save money for the good things themselves whatever they may be without a third party broker.

But I am still sick so maybe I should listen to the experts and get myself on someone’s program….