Download the full length film by clicking here.
If you would like to receive a completely free copy of the DVD,
please send your details to caroline@TheOptimumHealthClinic.com
Freedom from M.E.
Journeys to Recovery
Freedom from M.E. tells the emotional and inspirational stories of Lindsey, Alison and Phill, all of whom suffered from M.E. for a number of years. In frank, raw, and touchingly honest interviews, these three people describe their extraordinary healing journeys. They talk about life before M.E., the devastating circumstances of their initial symptoms, their response to being diagnosed, the numerous treatments they tried, ultimately what worked for them, and what life is like now they are fully recovered.
These remarkable journeys are interweaved with the leading edge clinical team at The Optimum Health Clinic, including Alex Howard (Clinical Director), Niki Gratrix (Director of Nutrition) and Anna Duschinsky (Director of Psychology). Their groundbreaking insights and easy to understand explanations are made even more powerful by the fact that Alex and Anna both had M.E. themselves.
Because we so passionately want to share the
inspiration within this film, the first 3,000 copies of this DVD
are going to be completely free. If you have not received your
copy in the post by the first week of December, please e-mail
your details to
caroline@TheOptimumHealthClinic.com We will have less than
500 copies left by that point, so please get your order in fast.
The Making of Freedom From M.E.
I remember back in Autumn 2004 a very shy, nervous and extremely ill young man being brought to see me. He was virtually housebound with M.E., was struggling to do a few hours home tuition at school each day. In less than a year Paul went on to make a truly inspirational recovery (you can read his story in the Patient Stories section of this site). A significant turning point in Paul’s recovery had been the realisation that his true passion lay in making in films, especially those that would inspire people to live a more fulfilling life, and so at the end of treatment we discussed the idea of someday making a film together about M.E.
Over the next year or so, Paul and I would exchange occasional e-mails, he was busy studying film at college, and my life was absorbed with developing and expanding the clinic. But, earlier this year I was producing the DVD “Beat Fatigue with Yoga” and invited Paul to the two day shoot. I had to double take Paul when I picked him up from the station, I could hardly believe this was the same person I had been treating only a year earlier – it was like he had grown up five years in a year! We didn’t get much of a chance to talk during the shoot, but as we drove back to London together at the end of the shoot, the idea of “Freedom From M.E.” started to germinate in both of our minds.
As Paul had never actually filmed anything of more than a few minutes before, the conversation began with him suggesting maybe doing a short promo film for the clinic website. However, I saw a spark in Paul where I knew he would rise to a challenge, and so I told him that I thought we should spend the summer making a feature length documentary…. so, that is exactly what we did!
We fitted the filming around my teaching and patient schedule in August and had a fantastic time travelling around the UK filming. We clocked up over 1,000 miles visiting patients around the country, and almost ended up driving to France to do an interview! It was rather comical that two ex-M.E.’ers were living the schedule we were. I’d see a day of patients, and then we’d drive several hundred miles, we’d be up planning until the early hours, and then get up to try and catch a sunrise shot. Not being ones to rely on artificial stimulants, we instead got our kicks from the Top Gun soundtrack bursting out of the car stereo and Innocent smoothies (how rock and roll are we?!). Despite the gruelling schedules it was so much fun and Paul and I became great friends in the process. On a number of occasions people commented we were like brothers – we both certainly share a solid work ethic, ferocious ambition, and have a great zest and passion for life and people.
There were so many highs in the filming process… our trip to Swansea (where the photos you can see were taken) where we stayed with Gareth Tanner (a patient of the clinic) and filmed the opening sequence on the beach where I used to walk in the morning when I was ill… the first interview with Lindsey in Brighton where Paul and I realised for the first time the true power of what we were doing… and I don’t think either of us will ever forget filming the shots of me talking to camera whilst driving – lets just say we were both totally paranoid about the camera being bolted to the bonnet of the car (Paul because his most prized possession his camera was at risk, and me because I’d paid a sizeable deposit on the hired mic which was strapped to it!) – We’re working on some hilarious outtakes to have as downloads on the website ASAP!
As the project unfolded it seemed to take on a life of its own. I asked another patient to build a new website to coincide with the DVD’s launch (this is the site – thanks Lois!), and another patient, Daniel Hill very kindly let us use music from his album “Working for the Light” to go with the DVD (which you can download some tracks from for free in the Interactive section of this site). So, when I say this is has been an amazingly fun collaborative project you can see why!
I think perhaps for me personally the most rewarding part of making this film was having the chance to reconnect to patients I hadn’t seen for a while and spend a few hours sharing in the joy of their new lives. It was actually a very emotional experience for me to be able to step back as the interviews were unfolding and remember the early days of the clinic and the years of insanely hard work and pure determination. The last time I spent any real time on the beach in these photos was seven years ago. Back then it was a struggle to even walk some days. And yet, as I’d struggled to go for those walks, I’d dreamed that one day my journey could mean something. With the creation of this film and its reflection on the work that is being done at the clinic, that dream really has come true.
Whatever you do, please, please, please WATCH THIS FILM. If you have M.E., I believe it could be the most important eighty minutes of your life.
Love and warmth,
Alex Howard
