Have realised this week I need to be more careful with what I do. And not to get so carried away with things. If I am enjoying something and find it interesting and worthwhile – I tend to kind of throw myself into it and lose all track of time. And this can (and often will) make my CFS symptoms worse. Except I don’t realise this while it is happening or building up – but only when it is too late. If that makes sense to anyone ? That awful post-exertional fatigue – except that “fatigue” is a very lame description of how it feels. Plus very nasty headaches this week with eye strain and over-sensitivity to bright lights, noise etc. I got to the stage I couldn’t even tolerate watching TV or reading a book or paper.
Not ideal.
This week I have spent far too much time at my desk using my laptop – again.
I have to do this with my work stuff and that can’t usually be avoided. But have also being spending too much time on twitter. And thinking up stuff my for blog. Actually that gives the impression I am struggling to find stuff to use – but its the opposite problem. My head is full of over 20 years worth of stuff I want to get out – the problem is deciding what to write about first. So I end up spending too much time thinking and mulling over several options and ideas at once. Then end up too tired or headachey to write anything at all !
Overthinking stuff is maybe something I have always been prone to doing. In fact when I was doing Mickel Therapy back in 2008-09 David Mickel once said to me that his biggest challenge (ie. read problem !) was to get me to stop thinking so much. You see Mickel Therapy although decribed as a “talking treatment” is NOT a phsycological treatment. It has nothing at all to do with positive thinking, changing your thought processes, analysing, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), etc etc. (Just decided I would add this as I know there will by many sceptics out there – which is a pity.)
Back to my point :
Although I really enjoy twitter as there is a whole world of interesting people on it, and subjects that interest me – I have to accept this involves too much time staring at my laptop screen. And I will keep doing this blog – but must try to get into a better routine with it. Just decide on an item and write about it. Don’t over-think it and don’t worry about trying to make my writing perfect either. It is just a blog after all – not a classic novel. Both these things involve me spending too much time thinking, and over-stimulating my brain. Twitter of course is fatal for this – so many people and so many subjects of interest on it. Interesting to me anyway. But although my head feels it is enjoying this – I have to accept that sometimes my body does not, ie, the bad CFS symptoms this week.
Not a very good post I know – more a note to myself.
Do any others with CFS or ME feel their symptoms get worse if spend too much time thinking ? Or over-stimulating the brain in some way ?
Your Jaw Never Gets Tired 
Nov 04, 2012 @ 09:41:39
Hi Anne,
I’m a previous CFS sufferer (had it for over 6 years) and now a trained Mickel Therapist.
For sure over thinking stuff is a challenge but just try to remember to check for any primary emotions that could be missed.
Usually when we are in our head, it’s because of this.
Not sure if you know about the 3 keys but if not, message me and I can give you more input on this.
One other things….post-exertional fatigue is a bit of a myth. Not in any way to diminish what you are experiencing but depending on the situation, if you didn’t have symptoms while doing the activity but had them after or the next day, it is probably your body wanting more of the same or something else fun, but the body never pays you back with symptoms. It just wants you to rest when you get healthy tiredness.
Hope that’s helpful.
Saul