I wrote this as an exploration based upon my own experience and study, but I don’t claim to have all the answers. Rather I’m hoping to open up more research and thought.
I have read studies in which both ME and POTS have been found to be as disabling, if not more so, than chronic heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
So I’ll use “heart disease” to substitute for “ME and related illnesses” in this comparison.
Let’s say a person with heart disease does the Gupta program. Relaxation exercises help reduce the stress in their lives. Mindfulness helps increase their gratitude for what is good in their lives and increases their peace and awareness. Healing from past traumas helps reduce their stress levels, thus freeing up their energy for their body to heal their heart better. Learning to pace themselves and slow down puts less stress on their heart. Picturing themselves as being healthy inspires them to watch their nutrition and to choose more wisely among the many activities of life.
However, saying that since they’re getting good results from this program, that therefore this means that trauma and stress are the underlying cause of heart disease would be foolish. Saying that all the science and research out there only support his views would also be going too far.
There are physical causes of heart disease that science has found that need to be studied and understood.
Saying that they should only use the Gupta program and ignore all the other data out there while doing this program would help them ignore the debates, misinformation, and battling philosophies out there. But it has the potential of also ignoring science and treatments that are good and helpful.
Saying to themselves that they no longer have this label of heart disease when they show improvement has the potential of causing harm by causing them to stop the medicines, treatments and cautions that their other health professionals recommend.
Switching back to using “ME and other illnesses.” There are errors in logic here, but the potential for good. Healing from past trauma, relaxation, and working towards better health are useful.
More knowledge and treatments are also needed. As well as greater research of the science behind ME and similar illnesses.
Swiss flowers https://pixabay.com/photos/flowers-wildflowers-swiss-flowers-7428030/ Image by Kelli Holm from Pixabay
