Therapeutic Coach Alex Howard talks about the importance of finding ways to stay inspired on the recovery path, including listening to stories of people who have reached milestones or made recoveries over various hardships. Having the mindset that improvement or recovery might be possible changes how motivated you might be to make helpful decisions and take positive action.

Therapeutic Coach Alex Howard talks about the importance of finding ways to stay inspired on the recovery path, including listening to stories of people who have reached milestones or made recoveries over various hardships. Having the mindset that improvement or recovery might be possible changes how motivated you might be to make helpful decisions and take positive action.

Why inspiration matters

Alex continues his Ask Me Anything list of questions from participants on Facebook and the Facebook Community Group - this week covering issues around how to afford treatment and deal with HR and benefits from work, building up confidence in stage 3 of recovery, and what can cause relapse after a full recovery was made. Watch the AMA Part 1 at https://youtu.be/bwhVs9jhkSk Watch the AMA Part 2 at https://youtu.be/GKVgdBqEmuk

Alex continues his Ask Me Anything list of questions from participants on Facebook and the Facebook Community Group - this week covering issues around how to afford treatment and deal with HR and benefits from work, building up confidence in stage 3 of recovery, and what can cause relapse after a full recovery was made. Watch the AMA Part 1 at <a href="https://youtu.be/bwhVs9jhkSk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/bwhVs9jhkSk</a> Watch the AMA Part 2 at <a href="https://youtu.be/GKVgdBqEmuk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/GKVgdBqEmuk</a>

AMA Part 3

"Courage isn't the absence of fear, courage is the ability to take action and keep moving forward in spite of the fear." On the eve of announcing the Fatigue Super Conference 2019, Alex shares a moment on the launching pad about taking risks and trying new things - and we hope you'll enjoy what's coming up next for The Optimum Health Clinic. Find out more about the Fatigue Super Conference at fatiguesuperconference dot com

"Courage isn't the absence of fear, courage is the ability to take action and keep moving forward in spite of the fear." On the eve of announcing the Fatigue Super Conference 2019, Alex shares a moment on the launching pad about taking risks and trying new things - and we hope you'll enjoy what's coming up next for The Optimum Health Clinic. Find out more about the Fatigue Super Conference at fatiguesuperconference dot com

New Beginnings

As we turn into the New Year and think about the goals we want to set, Alex gives advice on the kid of achievable goals that can be explored with ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia, and how to take into consideration what stage of recovery you are in to make realistic resolutions.

As we turn into the New Year and think about the goals we want to set, Alex gives advice on the kid of achievable goals that can be explored with ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia, and how to take into consideration what stage of recovery you are in to make realistic resolutions.

Set goals you can achieve

Alex addresses a common worry amongst patients - especially with the recent Fatigue Super Conference - that when starting a new program or course there can be a feeling of too much overwhelm. Alex offers some tips on how to tackle overwhelm and also shares his vision moving forward with new short filmed sessions with patients

Alex addresses a common worry amongst patients - especially with the recent Fatigue Super Conference - that when starting a new program or course there can be a feeling of too much overwhelm. Alex offers some tips on how to tackle overwhelm and also shares his vision moving forward with new short filmed sessions with patients

Dealing with overwhelm

Alex offers some tips on how to approach the holiday season as strategically as you can by communicating your needs, acknowledging your boundaries, pacing your energy and relax and have fun based on your protocols and parameters with where you are. (recorded 2018)

Alex offers some tips on how to approach the holiday season as strategically as you can by communicating your needs, acknowledging your boundaries, pacing your energy and relax and have fun based on your protocols and parameters with where you are. (recorded 2018)

Surviving the Holidays

Alex answers questions directly from users on Facebook, discussing the achiever type and the inner critic, how to address anger and resentment with ME CFS, and ways to work with trauma other than EFT.

Alex answers questions directly from users on Facebook, discussing the achiever type and the inner critic, how to address anger and resentment with ME CFS, and ways to work with trauma other than EFT.

Ask Me Anything Part 2

Solving the individual puzzle of ME CFS and/or Fibromyalgia for each patient is a very complex problem in the personalised medicine approach.  In this video, Alex explains why it would be beneficial to work with a practitioner specialising in interpreting tests and personalising your therapy for your best healing journey.

Solving the individual puzzle of ME CFS and/or Fibromyalgia for each patient is a very complex problem in the personalised medicine approach.  In this video, Alex explains why it would be beneficial to work with a practitioner specialising in interpreting tests and personalising your therapy for your best healing journey.

Why work with a practitioner?

Alex takes questions from The Optimum Health Clinic community group about recovering from ME, CFS and Fibromyalgia and updates about the work at the clinic. Alex answers a questions about the immune system response in ME CFS, the role of the maladaptive stress response, and gives an update on the research projects at the OHC.

Alex takes questions from The Optimum Health Clinic community group about recovering from ME, CFS and Fibromyalgia and updates about the work at the clinic. Alex answers a questions about the immune system response in ME CFS, the role of the maladaptive stress response, and gives an update on the research projects at the OHC.

Ask Me Anything

Alex discusses the importance of taking a step back to look at the bigger habits or themes in our life that cause ongoing stress that need to be addressed. So many of the tools for recovery are small daily habits to help calm the nervous system and support the healing process - but larger problems like chemical or mould exposure, stressful relationships, or difficult life circumstances need to take precedence and steps in our attention to help us move forward in a meaningful way.

Alex discusses the importance of taking a step back to look at the bigger habits or themes in our life that cause ongoing stress that need to be addressed. So many of the tools for recovery are small daily habits to help calm the nervous system and support the healing process - but larger problems like chemical or mould exposure, stressful relationships, or difficult life circumstances need to take precedence and steps in our attention to help us move forward in a meaningful way.

Don't forget the big stuff 

The world-leading team at The Optimum Health Clinic offer strategies to support healing from ME, CFS and Fibromyalgia.

Healing from ME, CFS and Fibromyalgia

 In this Facebook Live recording CEO Alex Howard discusses whether it's possible to make a full recovery from ME, CFS and Fibromyalgia including the controversy and complexity of the group of illnesses under the umbrella of ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia.

In this Facebook Live recording CEO Alex Howard discusses whether it's possible to make a full recovery from ME, CFS and Fibromyalgia including the controversy and complexity of the group of illnesses under the umbrella of ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia.

Episode 03 - Is it possible to make a full recovery from ME, CFS and Fibromyalgia?

 Alex describes the slippery slope of self-medicating or taking supplement advice from non-professionals. With personalised care from The Optimum Health Clinic, a nutritionist can help you discover exactly which supplements will be most helpful for your specific needs.

Alex describes the slippery slope of self-medicating or taking supplement advice from non-professionals. With personalised care from The Optimum Health Clinic, a nutritionist can help you discover exactly which supplements will be most helpful for your specific needs.

Episode 15 - What supplements should I take?

 A more restorative sleep is essential in recovery from ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia and in this session, Alex talks about sleep as a reflection of our mind state during the day - and how we can take steps during the day to make sure we have a better, more restorative sleep at night. 

A more restorative sleep is essential in recovery from ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia and in this session, Alex talks about sleep as a reflection of our mind state during the day - and how we can take steps during the day to make sure we have a better, more restorative sleep at night.

Episode 04 - Sleep and ME/CFS

In this Facebook Live recording CEO Alex Howard discusses how the maladaptive stress response can keep us in a state where we are unaware of what our body really needs. Being able to relax into your exhaustion can take practice, but being able to deeply rest is necessary for healing to take place.

In this Facebook Live recording CEO Alex Howard discusses how the maladaptive stress response can keep us in a state where we are unaware of what our body really needs. Being able to relax into your exhaustion can take practice, but being able to deeply rest is necessary for healing to take place.

Episode 20 - For the body to heal, you have to be in it

Alex expands on his 5 P's in recovery: Practice, Patience, Persistance, Perserverence, Precision. These 5 P's can be used to help patients between sessions with the clinic and working with techniques and changes. See more about the Optimum Health Clinic at https://www.theoptimumhealthclinic.com/

Alex expands on his 5 P's in recovery: Practice, Patience, Persistance, Perserverence, Precision. These 5 P's can be used to help patients between sessions with the clinic and working with techniques and changes. See more about the Optimum Health Clinic at <a href="https://www.theoptimumhealthclinic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.theoptimumhealthclinic.com/</a>

Episode 66 - The 5 P's

Alex mentions a simplified view of two different kinds of pacing based on data and rational planning, versus the more intuitive body based way of pacing in the moment and what might be better for a certain stage of recovery. Find out more about The Optimum Health Clinic at https://www.theoptimumhealthclinic.com/

Alex mentions a simplified view of two different kinds of pacing based on data and rational planning, versus the more intuitive body based way of pacing in the moment and what might be better for a certain stage of recovery. Find out more about The Optimum Health Clinic at <a href="https://www.theoptimumhealthclinic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.theoptimumhealthclinic.com/</a>

Episode 68 - Two types of pacing

The advice, "listen to your body" sounds like it should be easy, but it isn't quite as simple as it seems. We often get conflicting messages from our body and it can be tricky to decide which message to listen to. Alex offers advice on how to make the next best informed decision based on all the information available.

The advice, "listen to your body" sounds like it should be easy, but it isn't quite as simple as it seems. We often get conflicting messages from our body and it can be tricky to decide which message to listen to. Alex offers advice on how to make the next best informed decision based on all the information available.

Episode 33 - Why listening to your body is so hard

When our primary symptom is fatigue, it's clear that getting deep, effective rest is a crucial part of the recovery process. When the maladaptive stress response adds too much stress to be able to relax deeply, we can intend to rest without actually achieving deep rest. The OHC approach works to calm the nervous system enough that the tired/wired process surrenders to legitimate relaxed restful states. At stage 1 we need to prioritise deep rest, in stage 2 we need more activity to calm and ground the new energy anxiety, and at stage 3 people find it easier to get deep rest when they're able to do more physical activity. 

When our primary symptom is fatigue, it's clear that getting deep, effective rest is a crucial part of the recovery process. When the maladaptive stress response adds too much stress to be able to relax deeply, we can intend to rest without actually achieving deep rest. The OHC approach works to calm the nervous system enough that the tired/wired process surrenders to legitimate relaxed restful states. At stage 1 we need to prioritise deep rest, in stage 2 we need more activity to calm and ground the new energy anxiety, and at stage 3 people find it easier to get deep rest when they're able to do more physical activity.

Episode 50 - Deep rest 2

Emma Donohoe

Alex interviews Emma Donohoe - presenter of the BBC documentary M.E. and me. Emma discusses her recovery including the part the Optimum Health Clinic played in her journey.

Alex interviews Emma Donohoe - presenter of the BBC documentary M.E. and me. Emma discusses her recovery including the part the Optimum Health Clinic played in her journey.

Episode 58 Emma Donohoe - M.E. and me

It can be a real challenge to commit to future plans when we're still working on our recovery from ME CFS or Fibromyalgia. Alex offers some tips about how to handle social commitments when you really don't know if you'll be well enough to attend.

It can be a real challenge to commit to future plans when we're still working on our recovery from ME CFS or Fibromyalgia. Alex offers some tips about how to handle social commitments when you really don't know if you'll be well enough to attend.

Episode 36 - The danger of maybe

A complex illness like ME CFS can exhibit many different symptoms and co-morbidities. Being able to make sense of the cycles and systems affected can help us find pieces to work with that keep patients from healing. The body has a natural tendencey towards healing so we try to discover all the pieces of the ME/CFS puzzle and delicately try to balance the systems to alleviate symptoms and begin healing. What in your life is potentially obstructing your body's natural capacity towards healing?

A complex illness like ME CFS can exhibit many different symptoms and co-morbidities. Being able to make sense of the cycles and systems affected can help us find pieces to work with that keep patients from healing. The body has a natural tendencey towards healing so we try to discover all the pieces of the ME/CFS puzzle and delicately try to balance the systems to alleviate symptoms and begin healing. What in your life is potentially obstructing your body's natural capacity towards healing?

Episode 37 - What stops people from recovering?

Alex Howard discusses deep rest in ME, CFS and Fibromyalgia recovery. The maladaptive stress response in MECFS keeps the nervous system wired, and mindful rest can help us recover the parasympathetic nervous system. Noticing our personality patterns can help us recognise when we aren't allowing for deep rest when our mind wants us to push through and overexert.

Alex Howard discusses deep rest in ME, CFS and Fibromyalgia recovery. The maladaptive stress response in MECFS keeps the nervous system wired, and mindful rest can help us recover the parasympathetic nervous system. Noticing our personality patterns can help us recognise when we aren't allowing for deep rest when our mind wants us to push through and overexert.

Episode 22 - Deep Rest

 On the verge of the release of the Secrets to Recovery film, Alex reflects on the process of recovery from the patients that have been interviewed, and also the process of making a film - in that these projects take teamwork and collaboration. ME/CFS can feel like a very lonely journey, but Alex encourages being aware of all the members of your team helping you on your path to recovery.

On the verge of the release of the Secrets to Recovery film, Alex reflects on the process of recovery from the patients that have been interviewed, and also the process of making a film - in that these projects take teamwork and collaboration. ME/CFS can feel like a very lonely journey, but Alex encourages being aware of all the members of your team helping you on your path to recovery.

Episode 13 - Recovery takes a team

CEO Alex Howard discusses the OHC's approach to cultivating self-worth when the roles you held prior to getting ill have changed.

CEO Alex Howard discusses the OHC's approach to cultivating self-worth when the roles you held prior to getting ill have changed.

Episode 52 - Self-worth and ME, CFS and Fibromyalgia

Alex talks about people pleasing as a habit of the helper type that puts other peoples' needs before our own. Becoming aware of the pattern and its impact is the beginning of changing the behavior. If you go to great lengths to avoid conflict or get your self-worth from doing things for other people, you might find it worthwhile to explore this pattern in yourself. Understanding this pattern as a helper type with ME/CFS can help us avoid over-extending our energy in unhelpful ways. Use the sensitivity you have to sense what other people need and turn that around now on to yourself to sense what you need.

Alex talks about people pleasing as a habit of the helper type that puts other peoples' needs before our own. Becoming aware of the pattern and its impact is the beginning of changing the behavior. If you go to great lengths to avoid conflict or get your self-worth from doing things for other people, you might find it worthwhile to explore this pattern in yourself. Understanding this pattern as a helper type with ME/CFS can help us avoid over-extending our energy in unhelpful ways. Use the sensitivity you have to sense what other people need and turn that around now on to yourself to sense what you need.

Episode 49 - People pleasing and recovery

In this Facebook Live recording CEO Alex Howard discusses the 4 fundamentals of recovery from ME, CFS and Fibromyalgia from which to keep track of the recovery journey and build tools to move forward. 1. Do we have a baseline? (activity levels, pacing, a place from which to build) 2. Are we making progress over time? (Less crashes, more ups, quicker recoveries) 3. Protect the progress! 4. Accelerate the progress by tackling various symptoms or co-morbidities

In this Facebook Live recording CEO Alex Howard discusses the 4 fundamentals of recovery from ME, CFS and Fibromyalgia from which to keep track of the recovery journey and build tools to move forward. 1. Do we have a baseline? (activity levels, pacing, a place from which to build) 2. Are we making progress over time? (Less crashes, more ups, quicker recoveries) 3. Protect the progress! 4. Accelerate the progress by tackling various symptoms or co-morbidities

Episode 40 - 4 fundamentals of recovery

We now know that approaching healing from ME CFS from a "pushing" motivation can make everything worse, so willpower for recovery in ME CFS and Fibromyalgia needs a new meaning. Pushing to work harder and do more will not work for recovering from these illnesses, but we may need determination in other ways to find acceptance and allow ourselves to rest and take steps to get into a healing state. Willpower on the recovery path is doing LESS, to stop doing something you want to do when what you need to do is stop and rest.

We now know that approaching healing from ME CFS from a "pushing" motivation can make everything worse, so willpower for recovery in ME CFS and Fibromyalgia needs a new meaning. Pushing to work harder and do more will not work for recovering from these illnesses, but we may need determination in other ways to find acceptance and allow ourselves to rest and take steps to get into a healing state. Willpower on the recovery path is doing LESS, to stop doing something you want to do when what you need to do is stop and rest.

Episode 26 - Willpower and recovery

 When we start making some progress on our journey, the recovery process can feel incredibly slow and we start to wonder what exactly is possible from recovery from ME, CFS or Fibromyalgia. Alex explains that you do not need to be perfect biologically or psychologically in order to recover - and you can easily underestimate what is possible in the long term.

When we start making some progress on our journey, the recovery process can feel incredibly slow and we start to wonder what exactly is possible from recovery from ME, CFS or Fibromyalgia. Alex explains that you do not need to be perfect biologically or psychologically in order to recover - and you can easily underestimate what is possible in the long term.

Episode 23 - What is possible in recovery from ME/CFS?

Alex discusses why patients in the nutrition program can benefit from also doing the psychology work with The Optimum Health Clinic. We do not in any way promote the idea that ME/CFS or Fibromyalgia are psychological illnesses, but that chronic illness is both difficult, stressful, and at times traumatising, and that ME/CFS in particular causes over-arousal, over stimulation, and the maladaptive stress response. Our psychology work can help reduce the stress load and calm the nervous system and help take the load off of the immune system.

Alex discusses why patients in the nutrition program can benefit from also doing the psychology work with The Optimum Health Clinic. We do not in any way promote the idea that ME/CFS or Fibromyalgia are psychological illnesses, but that chronic illness is both difficult, stressful, and at times traumatising, and that ME/CFS in particular causes over-arousal, over stimulation, and the maladaptive stress response. Our psychology work can help reduce the stress load and calm the nervous system and help take the load off of the immune system.

Episode 28 - Why should our nutrition patients do the psychology programme?

Alex acknowledges the challenge of living day to day with pain and frustration, and offers some thoughts on how to remain hopeful and to continue to encourage your future dreams.

Alex acknowledges the challenge of living day to day with pain and frustration, and offers some thoughts on how to remain hopeful and to continue to encourage your future dreams.

Episode 56 - The power of dreams

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