Over 45 people navigating Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have shared their experiences here, honest, specific, and offered in the hope that they might help someone else feel less alone in what they’re going through.
These are personal experiences shared voluntarily by course students. Individual experiences vary. This is educational coaching, not medical treatment. Always consult your GP or medical professional regarding your health.
Each story below includes the context before the course and the quote in their own words. Read one or read all of them.
Amy was attending only 20% of school and could concentrate for no more than ten minutes at a time. A future felt uncertain.
“What I have learned from Amir has changed my life forever. It hasn’t just helped me feel more like myself again, it has also helped with other aspects of my life…”
Andrew had been dealing with tiredness, anxiety, muscular pain, depression, paranoia and sleep problems for three years. Doctors told him he was making his symptoms up.
“I can’t explain how I feel about the help Amir’s course gave me, all I can say is he has changed my life for the better, I feel able to live my life so much more fully now.”
Ann had been unable to work or even watch television for over nine years with ME. She’d tried pacing and antidepressants. Neither had helped.
“I’d resigned myself to the fact that things weren’t going to change. So early on, I noticed the difference in myself. I’m working full-time now, and I’m doing all the things that I want to do and I’m so much happier now.”
For five years, Jade relied on a wheelchair to leave the house. Getting dressed, going out, being with people, a full day had become unimaginable.
“I’ve started to learn to drive, done lots of cooking, and I’ve started swimming. I’m still building up my muscle strength and my stamina, and that’s normal for a body that hasn’t done anything physical in five years. It’s not stopping me from doing the things I want to do. One day a week I try to have a quieter day at home so my body can recharge, but everyone should do this really.”
Anna had been a bubbly, high-energy teacher until ME/CFS stopped her in her tracks. Despite seeing her GP, Occupational Health, a Physiotherapist, and a CBT practitioner, she felt she was going nowhere. One busy day would set her back for the next few.
“I could scream with joy. I learned things that have made such a difference.”
Anna had been feeling hopeless, despondent and frustrated. Sleep was broken, her body felt heavy and achy, and everyday activities, socialising, walking, going out, had become an ordeal.
“I no longer feel hopeless, despondent and frustrated. I’ve found a way to approach my days that works for me, and my days are much happier.”
Simon’s brain felt “totally out of control and ruining his life.” As someone with a propensity to push too fast, he had lost the ability to manage his own pace, and it had taken everything with it.
“For those reading this who are in a dark place right now, put your faith in Amir and in yourself and you will find the light sooner than you think.”
Anne had been completely housebound with ME for 12 years. She was still resting for 20 minutes after every 40 minutes sitting up, and a weekly shower with assistance left her exhausted for the rest of the day.
“After 12 years of being completely housebound with ME and not imagining I’d ever be very much better, I am now living a very different life, and going out 2 or 3 times every day!”
Becky had been diagnosed with CFS, had to leave her nursing career, and had moved back home with her parents. Despite support from multiple health professionals, any emotional or physical setback would bring her back to square one.
“My life has changed so dramatically from just trying to get through every day and worrying about everything to now being full of life, being able to honestly enjoy the people around me and to do all those wonderful fun things I could only dream about doing a year ago.”
Two years before writing this message, Caroline was nervously beginning the Energy Excellence Course, not daring to imagine what the next two years might bring.
“The combination of tools you taught has made such a difference to how I live and I shall ever be thankful to you for your help in setting me on this amazing journey.”
Carolyn had been living with ME for over 15 years and needed to sleep for 1–3 hours every afternoon. She was limiting all activity within confined boundaries and suffering for days or weeks after any taxing event.
“I’m able to live my life much more fully now. No longer do I have to sleep every afternoon: spending half of my life in bed, and the other half worrying about how I was going to keep my activity within the confined limits of my ability.”
She was exhausted by every event of the day, wrapped in a constant grey blanket of fatigue, with brain fog that made it hard to find words, viral symptoms, and an emotional fragility that left her in tears daily.
“It felt like somebody had turned a light on.”
Diana had spent years managing ME/CFS through pacing, diet, acupuncture and multiple specialists, making partial progress, then losing ground again. It took a trusted referral from an acupuncturist who had lived with ME herself to finally persuade her to take the step.
“I heartily recommend this course to others and I now firmly believe that it can change your life too.”
Emma was using a wheelchair to get around, had dropped half her GCSEs, and was attending only three hours of school on her best days. CBT had been recommended but felt entirely wrong for where she was.
“If you are considering doing Amir’s course, then please go for it. You can learn to work with your body the way I did, and start enjoying the things you once loved.”
George was unable to work a full week and navigating the difficult balance of gratitude for small improvements alongside frustration at slow progress and frequent setbacks.
“The turning point in my recovery was definitely the Energy Excellence Course. Although other therapies have helped to encourage progress or alleviate temporary symptoms, the overall recovery has been almost exclusively down to what you taught us.”
Holly had been ill from childhood with no memory of ever feeling well. By her teenage years she was increasingly bed-bound, isolated, and at one point reliant on a wheelchair just to leave the house.
“I never imagined I would ever be free of pain or illness, I never imagined I would be happy. But I am all of those things.”
Helen had been unable to drive long distances or spend a full day out for over two years. Simple activities, clearing kitchen cupboards, a pub evening with family, had become out of reach.
“I can’t believe how quickly things have changed, and not only am I back to the outdoorsy, active days I used to have, but my experience has made me appreciate my energy more and take more pleasure from the things I used to take for granted.”
Holly needed assistance to wash and dry her hair, something she hadn’t done alone in three years. She was nervous around new people, easily overwhelmed in busy situations, and struggled to keep up with everyday activities.
“It has been life changing for me. I am now able to get up at 8.30 every morning and start my day with breakfast and not lunch!”
Josie had been diagnosed with M.E. and was frequently bedbound. After a severe relapse she was fully bedbound for six months, experiencing paralysis, seizures, and unable to eat, drink, or walk.
“After learning this approach with Amir, I feel like a new person…”
Christine had been living with ME for approximately ten years. Her youngest son Michael was three years old when she became ill. She had been carefully planning everything around her limited capacity, unable to do ordinary household tasks without it taking a toll.
“I love my new life. A bubble of joy rises in me every time I think of all the things I can do, big and small. I even laugh out loud to myself in public and get some strange looks but I don’t care. Every day is like a new beginning.”
Jules was sleeping 18 hours a day, unable to do her own housework, unable to work or train. Life had come to a complete standstill.
“I made everything you taught me part of my daily routine. Thank you for helping me choose a healthy path, one that allows me to be who I can be.”
Kate had ME/CFS triggered by flu and was unable to work or often leave the house. Some days she could not read or hold a conversation. She had been previously active, alert, and healthy.
“Since doing the Energy Excellence Course two years ago, everything that’s changed for me has been remarkable.”
Kate was unable to work, experiencing persistent fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, and a loss of joy. A naturally sensitive person, she had watched her energy erode during a pressured overseas posting, until she had almost nothing left to give.
“My abiding fear was: ‘Am I ill enough?’ A ridiculous thought, but one loses perspective after being ill for a long time.”
Paula had been ill for over three years, unable to sustain a return to work, and had reluctantly resigned from a teaching career she loved.
“I am now enjoying a social life again, swimming regularly, gardening, attending yoga classes, going to the gym and last weekend we did a 4 mile walk. It’s amazing!!”
ME/CFS had made school life a significant struggle for Katie. School trips abroad, holidays, sporting events, 100% attendance: all of these would have been unimaginable at the time.
“The Energy Excellence Course was a real turning point for me. I am so grateful, and I haven’t looked back since.”
Lindsay was living with post-viral fatigue and had initial uncertainty about whether a course could help someone who had already read everything on the topic.
“For me it has been truly life-changing despite my initial uncertainty…”
Lindsay had been ill for 18 months, managing through careful pacing. Housework, short shopping trips, and coffee with friends were the limits of her world.
“Personally, I am so glad I was able to go and experience the course, it has given me back so much of what I’d lost…”
Amir lived with ME/CFS for over a decade. The tools and understanding behind the Energy Excellence Course grew directly from his own search for answers.
“Gradually, the fog of fatigue began to lift. I started experiencing good days and then stretches of good weeks. It felt like emerging from a long, dark tunnel into the warmth of hope.”
Liz needed to rest every day and easily got exhausted and brain fogged. Three months after finishing the course, she went on a filming trip through Spain and Morocco.
“Before the course I needed to rest every day and easily got exhausted and brain fogged. There was quite a bit of stress and hard work during our travels but I kept up doing the process whenever I could feel myself starting to dip. I managed it, and returned happy and more confident in my abilities.”
ME/CFS had left Lucy constantly aware of the threat of doing too much, worried that any activity would make her ill. The six weeks after the course included renovating a new flat over Christmas and returning to work at the same time.
“I’m able to rush about and get things done without worrying about getting ill. In fact, I would say I’m the healthiest person I know at the moment!”
Luke was bed-bound, confused, and unable to pursue his career as a chef. He had tried multiple doctors, alternative therapies, pills and potions, with no lasting results.
“The symptoms that used to run my whole day just don’t anymore, and I finally understand why. It’s a different way of approaching it, once you know how.”
For nine months, Sammy had been unable to socialise or exercise and had taken a long leave of absence from work. She described losing all excitement about life.
“Six weeks ago I wouldn’t have dreamed that any of this could be possible for me. Using the tools I learned on the Energy Excellence Course, it’s made such a difference already. I am eternally grateful!”
Mike’s girlfriend expected to find him on the sofa every evening. Social plans were impossible. A previous panic attack had meant cancelling a flight home, he’d had to make the journey by coach instead.
“I have been so happy with the results, that I have been trying to raise the awareness of the course. Thank you for giving me tools I actually use every day.”
Molly had navigated ME/CFS for nearly four years. The first two were largely bed bound, simple tasks like washing her hair felt nearly impossible. In her third year she was also hospitalised for six weeks.
“I would wholeheartedly recommend this approach to anyone who wants to be well. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I hadn’t done it. I now love my life and feel confident about my future!”
Nicole had been suffering with ME/CFS for 2.5 years and had been off work for a year. Having heard that others found the course transformative, she had high expectations, which, she says, turned out to be a hindrance to her own progress.
“It isn’t just how I feel day to day, my whole outlook on life feels different too.”
Lucile had spent roughly twelve years managing ME/CFS by constantly calculating how much rest she had or would need. She had to rest up the day before babysitting her grandchildren and would suffer afterwards. She had been unable to make social plans without anxiety about cancelling.
“I feel better physically and mentally than I have for about 12 years, which is a huge relief. I no longer wonder if I will be well enough to undertake anything, I just assume that I will be.”
Rachel could barely walk around her own home. She kept a high stool in the kitchen because standing long enough to cook a meal had become impossible.
“I am actually the fittest, healthiest and strongest that I have ever been in my life and fatigue no longer runs my life the way it used to.”
Rachel sent this update four years after completing the course.
“Four years on I’m still fighting fit thanks to your help. I’m working full time helping teenagers overcome barriers to learning and Loz and I got married last year, so good news all round.”
Rachel
Sarah was living with the physical pain, frustration, hopelessness and fear of M.E. By last summer, she could barely walk. She was searching for something that would make sense of her experience and offer a way forward.
“The life that I was living before the course seems a dim and distant past now.”
Libby spent most of her time in a recliner chair, either watching television or reading. She had become, in her own words, “seriously institutionalised” in her home and could only leave the house with her husband’s help.
“Previously, the only choices I had were, bed or chair, book or television. Now I can choose from all my old favourite activities.”
Solvi had been living with ME for seven years. She had been following a strict diet avoiding gluten, wheat, dairy, and caffeine. She was unable to make plans ahead of time, never knowing how she would feel the next hour, let alone the next day.
“The most important difference is that I am not concerned anymore.”
Sophie had been unable to manage full working days, needed a shower stool just to get dressed in the morning, and had adapted her entire home routine around conserving energy, all while doctors offered little more than pacing advice.
“It is so exciting feeling this much better after being so ill. Many people have commented on how well I look now, and really, I feel more like myself than I have for a long time, perhaps ever.”
Vicky had been living with ME/CFS and was managing just one minute of mini trampolining at a time. She had given up singing with a choir three years earlier, and pain was a daily presence in her life.
“I feel lighter, have tons more energy, my head feels clear, I wake up feeling as though I’ve slept, am more conscious of the moment, more appreciative of the moment.”
Curious? Watch the Free Mini-Course“If any of these ME/CFS experiences feel familiar, the free mini-course is a no-pressure place to look at the same approach for yourself.”
