Fully recovered from ME/CFS: A Pole dancer's incredible recovery story

The speaker, Mara, describes her harrowing experience with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), which left her bedridden and in severe pain. She talks about the loss of control over her body and the extreme panic and anxiety that came with her illness. Mara shares her journey from being a very active person to someone who couldn't even move without great difficulty. The narrative introduces Toby Morrison, the founder of CFS Health, who hosts a recovery success story episode featuring Mara's recovery from CFS.

Mara recounts her life before falling ill with CFS, which was filled with stress, anxiety, and a search for identity. She describes her transition from a chaotic period of trying different studies and dealing with mental health issues to discovering dance, which became her passion. However, the stress of building a career in dance and health struggles, including infections and fatigue, exacerbated her condition. Eventually, a vaccination and a series of events led to her body breaking down with CFS.

In this paragraph, Mara details the depths of her suffering with CFS. She describes the physical and mental torment, including brain fog, extreme exhaustion, and the inability to perform basic tasks. Mara also discusses the emotional toll, such as the fear of dying and the loss of hope for recovery. She talks about her initial attempts to seek help, which involved going to hospitals and doctors without finding any solutions, and her feelings of isolation during the pandemic.

Mara shares her initial steps towards recovery, which included researching CFS and finding a community of people who had similar experiences. She talks about her first encounters with the concept of recovery and the initial skepticism she had about various treatments. However, she held onto the hope that there must be someone who has recovered, which led her to search for healing methods. She discovered a program that resonated with her, and although she doesn't detail the program here, it's implied that it played a significant role in her recovery process.

Mara discusses the importance of acceptance in her recovery process. She shares her realization that fighting against her condition only led to more suffering and that acceptance was the key to healing. She talks about the process of giving up the fight, which allowed her to stop experiencing panic and start gaining a sense of control over her life. This acceptance led her to a new understanding of her body's needs and the importance of listening to them.

The speaker emphasizes the significance of the Baseline concept in her recovery, which helped her understand her limits and build a healthier routine. She also mentions the importance of letting go of perfectionism and the value of having a daily planner to set intentions and track progress. Mara highlights the transition from focusing on symptoms to focusing on health, which was a turning point in her recovery journey.

Mara talks about the gradual increase in her physical activity, starting with short walks with her dog and slowly building up her strength. She emphasizes the importance of consistency and doing things appropriately without rushing the process. The paragraph also discusses the struggle with wanting to rush recovery and the importance of patience and discipline in the healing process.

In this paragraph, Mara shares her progress from being able to dance for only five minutes a day to teaching dance classes for hours. She talks about the challenges she faced, such as comparing her current self to her past self and dealing with the frustration of recovery. However, she also discusses the importance of finding joy in small victories and the role of community in her recovery, including meeting others in the program who inspired her.

Mara emphasizes the importance of discipline and diligence in her recovery, choosing activities that brought her joy, such as pole dancing, to aid in her healing process. She talks about the need to connect with the activity and enjoy the process of recovery, rather than focusing solely on the end goal. The paragraph also touches on the importance of community support and the role it played in her journey.

Mara shares her incredible transformation after recovering from CFS, opening her own pole dance studio called Vanilla Sky. She talks about the challenges of building a business, dealing with stress, and the pressures of running a studio. However, she also expresses her happiness and satisfaction with her life, choosing to embrace the challenges as part of her journey towards success and freedom.

The speaker discusses the feeling of overwhelm after recovering and opening her studio, dealing with new challenges such as rent, marketing, and managing a team. She talks about the importance of recognizing that life comes with its own set of hardships and that it's essential to choose the problems you want to solve. Mara emphasizes the importance of making choices and taking responsibility for creating the life you want.

In the final paragraph, Mara shares a message of hope and encouragement for those who are currently in the mentorship program and those who are not. She advises people to find structure and routine, let go of symptoms, and focus on what they can do. She also encourages people to commit to a program or a structured guidance that can help them recover and to make choices that will lead to a better life.