People who experience prolonged and severe symptoms of pain or fatigue, often try to manage it by: 1) Resting more and reducing activity in the hope of feeling better and to prevent symptoms from getting worse. 2) Pushing themselves to do as much as possible when they can, and rest more when symptoms get worse (‘all or nothing’ behaviour). Many people use both of these strategies. They are natural, understandable ways to try to manage symptoms. However, when you rest more and reduce activity in an attempt to get better: […]...
Dear Dr Gray, My GP thinks I might have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and thinks that maybe Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) could help me. However, I don’t understand how a ‘talking therapy’ can help a physical problem.. Simon – Clapham Dr Gray Replies…….. Dear Simon I think that it is fair enough to question how talking about a problem that manifests in such a physical way can possibly help. First let’s start with a general point, our minds and bodies are inextricably linked, the best example of this is the so […]...
Finding the Cause of Migraines A migraine is a debilitating and reoccurring headache that often effects one side of the head and is usually accompanied by nausea and blurred vision. Although the experience of a migraine is a very physical one the cause seldom is. However this does not make a migraine any less painful or distressing nor does it make the sufferer any less deserving of a high quality therapy. Migraines are often thought of as severe headaches but this approach has not only lead to the condition being […]...
Cheap, Effective, Long Lasting Results in Just 10 weeks Recent research suggests that relief for millions of IBS sufferers could be just around the corner. A study conducted at The Stockholm Centre for Psychiatry Research found that an internet based treatment programme combining Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), exposure and mindfulness techniques resulted in a significant reduction of IBS symptoms in sufferers compared to a control group in just 10 weeks, improvements that were maintained at a 1 year follow up. The fact that the treatment programme was delivered via the […]...