Weekly recovery guidance - ME/CFS and related illnesses.
- s-porter4
- Jul 21, 2025
- 2 min read
Weekly inspirational quotes, guidance & tips to support recovery from ME/CFS, Long Covid, Fibromyalgia and related illnesses.
Week 10 - 21/7/2025 (Post 13)
"It's not what you do, but the way that you do it!"
In the 1980s two UK bands (Bananarama and Fun Boy Three) had a hit with the following opening lines.
"It ain't what you do, but the way that do it, and that's what gets results".
I feel that this quote is very appropriate when it comes to making progress and recovering from ME/CFS, Long Covid, Fibromyalgia and related illnesses. It certainly resonates with me.
I have never yet met a lazy person who ends up developing one of these illnesses. In my experience they tend to have a tendency to 'push,' and I regularly see the following sorts of behaviour and personality traits in them;
They work extremely hard to meet goals and targets they have set for themselves
Show a deep desire to help others, be there for them and not to let them down
Set very high standards for themselves and can be very self critical
They often have an intensity and speed in the way things are done
Present a reluctance to rest, as they perceive this as wasted time
Have a desire to get things right and often aim for perfection
They tend to care very deeply about how others perceive them
The above are only examples, so what is my point? When you are faced with a hypersensitive nervous system and a brain on high alert it doesn't take a lot before there is a reaction from the brain and body. On your recovery journey it is essential that you recognise the traits that have not served you well and build a strategy that addresses some of the things that contributed to you becoming ill in the first place. Let me give you some examples.
When you are out for a walk you do it with calmness. You stay present. You don't try and beat your previous distance and you don't do it because you 'have to'
You accept that not everything on your 'to do' list will get done that day. You accept that something/'s can be left until the next day
You leave a letter that you are writing, half finished!
If you are vacuuming, then it is done slowly, you are present and perhaps you have a break in between
When you receive some unexpected, bad news, you respond with calmness, with an acceptance and you stay present
You have some serious medical appointments coming up. You plan ahead, you accept the situation, you drive slowly to the appointment. No ruminating, or catastrophising.
The above are only examples. You will need to work out what contributed to your illness. You will still have to 'do' things, and difficult situations will arise, but the way in which you do them and the way that you respond is going to be a key factor in your rate of recovery.
Let go of what no longer serves you!
Until next week.
Take care
Stuart
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