The Therapist
Hello, my name is Lyn White. I am a qualified Reverse Therapist and trained with Dr John Eaton the founder of Reverse Therapy UK.
As from June 2007 I will also be trained to work with children and young people under 16.
I had ME for three years and used a similar process to get myself well so I have personal experience of putting the process into practice.
Prior to this I worked as a staff nurse on a children’s ward. I am married with two grown sons and live in Durham.
My hobbies include swimming, skiing, pilates and walking – all of which I am enjoying again since my recovery.
I want to teach you the skills you need so you can be well too!
Testimonials
I had ME after a severe bout of shingles in Jan 1999 and recovered by the end of 2007. This recovery was due to Reverse Therapy. I had spent lots of money and time previously on various treatments including homeopathy, using a chi machine, infra-red saunas and blood tests and supplements from Dr Myhill. These all made a slight difference but I was still experiencing symptoms. The worst of these were pain, especially in my legs, lack of energy and very poor stamina. At my best I still had to spend 12 hours a day in bed at night and having rests during the day on the bed for a total of 2 hours a day. I could only go out a maximum of once a week and this had to be planned so I could rest before and after.
All the advice I was receiving was that one should not increase activity until there are no symptoms at rest and one should only do about half of what one felt capable of. I felt very frustrated as my mind seemed to feel healthy but my body kept letting me down. I also experienced the worst symptoms when I tried to rest.
Fortunately I decided to go to a talk by Lyn White on Reverse Therapy at the York ME group. I had never been before and my husband had to take me as I was not well enough to drive. It was the best thing I ever did since having ME. I found that what Lyn said made a lot of sense and the fact that she had recovered from severe ME and also was emphatic that ME was a physical, not psychological illness made me determined to try it. I was very sceptical at first until I met people who had been cured of ME by reverse therapy.
I downloaded the free book from the reverse therapy website. I had 4 sessions, the final one being 'how to stay well'. I could probably have finished after 3 sessions as I was so well.
I actually started to do more after I read the book and before the 1st session when I started to cut down on rests and instead change my activity. I think the turning point for me was being given permission to listen to my body and do what it wanted to do ie more activity, rather than curtailing activity and making myself rest for fear of relapse . I also put into practice my assertiveness skills more and dealt with things which were causing me stress. I had found this difficult to do when I felt so ill.
After the first session I felt I had been given a new lease of life and I have increased my activity levels ever since. I walked 0.4 miles the afternoon after my first morning session having struggled before to walk a few yards. After the 2nd session I walked a mile and am at almost 2 miles now. I can now manage 2 or 3 walks of a nearly 2 miles each a week and am working up to doing the race 4 life in the summer for cancer research (about 3 miles).
I had NO ill effects from the increased activity, in fact the opposite. I felt great. I felt I was better from ME after 3 sessions. Having been ill for nearly 9 years I have increased physical activities gradually.
It was entirely up to me how many sessions I had and when I stopped. I had 3 sessions a fortnight apart and the final session a month later. The first session was about one and a half hours and the others about an hour but these can be shortened if the client wishes but I was surprised how quickly the time went and by the fact that I didn't feel tired and unable to concentrate. In fact I felt invigorated by the fact that here was someone who had herself been severely ill with ME and recovered and was offering me an end to this debilitating illness.
I wish I had tried it years ago and saved a lot of money and wasted time being ill. I can't recommend it highly enough. Some therapists can do home visits and some do telephone sessions for those who are housebound and not near a therapist. The main website will give information on this.
Christmas 2007 was marvellous. The previous year I had not been well enough to go out but this time I went to a total of 3 nativity plays and 5 carol services and really enjoyed them. For the 1st time I was well enough to go to my daughter's in Derbyshire for the day. We left York just after 7 am and got home about 7 pm. It is 2 hours each way and I actually did some of the driving.
We went to see our grandchildren's school nativity plays, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. It was wonderful to be able to do that. When our daughters and their families visited for the day (4 adults and 5 children age 3-9) I was able for the first time to prepare and cook food. In the past they have always had to bring their own food.
When ill I had to have loads of rest in the day and loads of sleep so it is wonderful to have so much more time. I have started weekly pilates classes as well and practice it daily. I feel really great, healthy and 'normal' for the first time in 9 years.
I never believed I would be able to use resistance equipment at a gym like I do with the pilates. I am getting rid of my mobility scooter and may get a bike instead. I have been to a couple of art classes which lasted all day and which I really enjoyed and am going to have singing lessons soon and hope to return to line dancing in the near future.
For the first time I am able to plan holidays without the fear I may not be well enough to travel. We are planning a trip 'down south' to visit our extended family and friends which we have never done before since we moved up north so the future is very bright and I am now looking forward to it with confidence.
I do hope my experiences will encourage others to put aside their scepticism and doubts about any therapy which isn't drug based and give it a try.
S T
January 2008
I have had Fibromyalgia for over 25 years. During that time I was a full time nurse in a very busy unit & had a hectic family life.
I couldn’t understand why I had developed severe stabbing pain in my muscles, fatigue, tingling sensations in my head & spine. I also felt as though I had a virus & my immune system was not working properly.
What I also couldn’t understand was why my symptoms decreased when on holiday abroad & increased at busy times such as Christmas etc My GP said I had Fibrositis & that there was very little he could do to help, eventually I went to see a Rheumatologist who took several blood tests all of which were normal & told me I had Fibromyalgia & that there was very little he could offer apart from attending a pain clinic & physiotherapy - Fibromyalgia!! What’s that?
I decided to do some research on the internet but all the information I got was from America. However I did find out that there are millions of people with this condition, surely someone would know the answer as to what was causing these symptoms, I got the impression from the medical profession that really it was all in the head, in other words it was a psychological rather than a physical condition, how frustrating & hurtful this makes you feel.
Since then I have taken several pills & potions, kept fit by going to the Gym & read numerous books, (all American), attended a Fibromyalgia help group etc, none of which helped. In the end I felt that I had to just get on with it as suggested by my GP, so I did just that, I put on a brave face & got on with everyday painful living. In fact none of my colleagues & most members of my family knew I was unwell, I kept it all to myself & continued to help others as I had always done.
Little did I know that keeping my problem to myself & not asking for help was not doing me any good.
I had finally come to the conclusion that there really was nothing to be done until I read an article in my local newspaper of a nurse Lyn White who had ME & had recovered after having Reverse Therapy & had become a therapist. Could she do anything for me?
During the first session Lyn explained in the most simple & understandable way why we have pain & that an area in the brain called the hypothalamus goes into overdrive if we ignore emotions and symptoms sent by our body to warn us of a difficult situation we need to act upon, & how this can lead to pain, she explained also how important it was to have variety in life including having fun, something I had forgotten about long ago.
Lyn reassured me that Fibromyalgia is a physical illness based on neurological & hormonal changes & not a psychological disorder – Wow, at last I felt I was listening to someone who knew what they were talking about, she answered all my queries as to why I had all these symptoms, including why they disappeared on holiday, it really made sense.
I have completed my sessions with Lyn & although I found Bodymind difficult to understand at first, I stuck with it following all Lyn’s advice. I can honestly say that she has changed my life, I now have the tools to deal with any situation that life throws at me to help keep me keep free from pain, I feel I can now look forward to the future, it was worth every penny.
If anyone in the medical profession reads this then I strongly advise them to read John Eaton’s book. It really does make sense. Most people with CFS/ME & Fibromyalgia are not malingerers, time wasters, hypochondriacs, we need help & thank goodness someone has finally found the answer.
PJ 2007