I had been suffering from ME for five years and had tried numerous different things to get me better including changing my nutrition, a course of cognitive behavioural therapy, and had also spent lots of time doing yoga and positive affirmations. But even though these things had helped to a certain extent, I was still very ill and felt lost, alone, and feared I would never recover. I came across Alex’s book ‘Why ME?’ at a time when I was virtually housebound and even watching TV was a major struggle. I read a few lines of Alex’s book at a time, because that’s all I could manage, but I could relate to every bit of it. My instincts told me that if anyone could help me it would be Alex, so I made an appointment to see him at his clinic on Harley Street. I must admit, I questioned whether there was anything Alex could do to help me, he specialised in NLP and Hypnotherapy. After all, ME was a physical illness and I believed I had addressed all the psychological issues I needed to when I was in therapy before. But something inside me urged me to go and see him.
I felt comfortable with Alex from the first moment I met him. It almost felt as if I was talking to an old friend, this was so different to what I had experienced with previous therapists. It really helped that I knew he had been through ME and an, ‘Inner journey’ like I had, and managed to come out the other side.
As Alex told me his theories on what he believed had caused my ME and what was stopping me from healing, things started to fall into place. What he was telling me really made sense. Using various techniques we began working with my patterns of thinking, to serve me in a way that would help me to heal, rather than hinder my recovery as it had been doing previously. I had four sessions with Alex over the course of three days. During our last session, Alex taught me to break a piece of solid wood in half with the power of my mind. He went forty five minutes into his lunch break whilst we were doing this, and I kept saying ‘There is no way I can do this Alex, you may as well go and get your lunch!’ but, as always, he had total faith in me and I managed to do it in the end. It proved to me how strong the power of your mind is and that things I had previously believed to be impossible (such as my chance of recovery form ME) were possible after all.
When I left the clinic I felt like such a different person to the one who had walked into Alex’s office three days earlier. I felt hopeful and empowered.
I had to continue with the techniques I had learnt when I got home. It wasn’t just a quick fix. But, I was committed. Alex and I still talk on the phone a few times a week to keep me on track and I often feel like a new person after talking to him. One of the main things that makes Alex such a fantastic therapist is his eternal belief in me. He never doubts my ability to recover and lead the life I want to lead so desperately.
I am not yet fully recovered but I am on the right path. I am now driving again and going out just about every day. A few weeks ago I travelled down to London on my own and attended a full weekend course with Alex. My life is so different to the life I was living only three months ago. I know Alex will not give up on me until I get where I want to be, fully healthy and happy!
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