I had a conversation recently with someone who was experiencing anxiety, which reminded me of a time when I had ME/CFS and experienced extreme anxiety. I remember feeling as if I could not see the light at the end of the tunnel with regard to the anxiety. A friend described it as this underlying feeling …
In this post, former ME/CFS sufferer and Coach Simon Pimenta explores how people with ME/CFS can deal with external events that can be emotionally overwhelming. I wrote this on 23 June 2016- the day that the UK voted to leave the European Union (EU), but recent events in Charlottesville and Barcelona (August 2017) prompted me to post this article. For …
In this post, former ME/CFS sufferer and Coach Simon Pimenta explores perfectionism and strategies for dealing with perfectionism if you have ME/CFS and this trait. Note: I am not suggesting that all people with ME/CFS have this trait. I don’t believe that to be the case. Having worked with many people with ME/CFS for 11 years, I observe that …
Recently, I bought a ready made salad with a dressing. As I ate it, I spontaneously started thinking about my time working on a summer camp, back in the 80s. I was curious to know where that thought came from, as it seemed to pop out of nowhere. As I pondered this, I realised that …
The Power Of Anchors: Changing Unhelpful Responses Read More »
Do you worry too much about what other people think? Perhaps you are concerned that you have upset them by something you have said. Worrying too much about what other people think can be a trait that is present in some (but not all) people with ME/CFS and in people without this condition. It can …
Maslow’s hierarchy proposes the theory that people are motivated to meet their needs in order to thrive, from basic needs; physiological needs, to higher needs; such as self esteem, self-actualization and self-transcendence (a term he added some years after the initial model he proposed). We all have needs, that if not met, will have consequences. I appreciate …
In Danny Wallace’s book, Yes Man (a very funny, daft and uplifting book), the author meets a man on a bus who tells him to say yes more, in response to hearing Danny say he has got stuck in a rut. He sets himself the challenge of saying yes to everything. It results in many …
A trait often present in people with ME/CFS is that of the helper. This is the person who is keen to help others. It can be a good trait. However it can also become an unhelpful one, that is detrimental to the person doing the helping, because they are not taking care of their own …
In this post, Coach and Trainer Simon Pimenta explores the topic of how we can shift from over-focussing on problems to being solution focussed. Some people tend to focus on and dwell on a problem, whilst others, having identified a problem, very quickly start to focus on considering solutions. One way of spotting when people are getting stuck on a problem,
In this post, former ME/CFS sufferer and Coach Simon Pimenta explores the topic of: 1. What stress is 2. A simple strategy for assessing how much stress you might be experiencing 3. How you can identify strategies to reduce stress, that may result in health and energy benefits. What Is Stress? When I ask people this question, people …
