ME/CFS
Severe → no benefit
Severe ME/CFS and on disability, still no overall improvement with pacing and rest
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill for
- Not stated
- Last post
- Jul 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
She was the first provider to ask if I’ve heard of ME/CFS—it was another 18 months from then before an actual doctor diagnosed me.
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
I’m severe and my biggest PEM trigger is emotional stress.
In context ↗ - Now: No benefit
I’m severe and my biggest PEM trigger is emotional stress.
In context ↗
Read from 26 of their posts and comments; links to the 15 this page draws on
Summary
They are severely ill with ME/CFS and on disability, diagnosed only after a psychologist first raised it and 18 more months passed; emotional stress was their biggest PEM trigger. They relied on pacing, radical rest and a health psychologist, and said aripiprazole helped their depression while a switch to venlafaxine mildly eased pain. An acupressure mat helped pain and sleep. They described themselves as severe in their posts.
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What they tried
Also tried
Health Psychologist/Pain Psychologist· HelpedPacing· HelpedGarmin watch· HelpedBearable app· HelpedRadical rest· HelpedWeed· HelpedKlonopin· HelpedVenlafaxine (after Prozac)· HelpedVenlafaxine (after Prozac)· HelpedOTC sleep meds· Helpedaripiprazole· Helpedart therapy support group· Helpedacupressure mat· Helped
Their words about each treatment
- Health Psychologist/Pain Psychologist · Helped
I’ve been working with a Health Psychologist/Pain Psychologist for 2 years ... she has helped me with this illness more than any other provider has.
- Pacing · Helped
learn pacing strategies to prevent PEM
In context ↗ - Garmin watch · Helped
my Garmin watch is a fantastic tool!!!
In context ↗ - Bearable app · Helped
I use the Bearable app for daily tracking of symptoms, activity, mood, energy, meds, food, and sleep.
In context ↗ - Radical rest · Helped
Every time I put in those few days of REALLY resting, it brings me back to baseline so much faster than if I tried to rush the process.
In context ↗ - Weed · Helped
Weed. Klonopin.
In context ↗ - Venlafaxine (after Prozac) · Helped
I made a similar move from Prozac to Venlafaxine for the pain benefits of an SNRI over an SSRI.
In context ↗ - OTC sleep meds · Helped
I use OTC sleep meds to force naps.
In context ↗ - aripiprazole · Helped
I started aripiprazole for treatment-resistant depression ... I noticed a difference in my depression, but I’m not sure if I can point to a reduction in other symptoms.
In context ↗ - art therapy support group · Helped
I also attend an art therapy support group for people with chronic illness, and it’s restorative
In context ↗ - acupressure mat · Helped
My acupressure mat has been crucial for falling asleep on many a night.
In context ↗
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, in the order they describe; they don’t give enough times to place each step. Hover or tap a point. 1 step says too little to place on the scale and is only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | ME/CFS onset; trigger not statedit was another 18 months from then before an actual doctor diagnosed me.In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| 2025-10-10 | two years of work with a health psychologist on pacing, ACT and supportshe has helped me with this illness more than any other provider has.In context ↗ | Severe | CBT and psychotherapy |
| 2026-04-07 | switched from Prozac to venlafaxine; pain eased slightlyIt has the same effect on my mental health symptoms as the Prozac used to, and it mildly takes the edge off the pain.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| 2026-05-01 | aripiprazole lifted treatment-resistant depressionI noticed a difference in my depressionIn context ↗ | Severe | Low-dose Abilify / aripiprazole |
| 2026-05-24 | still severe; emotional stress the biggest PEM triggerI’m severe and my biggest PEM trigger is emotional stress.In context ↗ | Severe |
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodHeadaches & migraineLight & noise sensitivityPOTS & dysautonomiaPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problems
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I’m severe and my biggest PEM trigger is emotional stress.
In context ↗ - Light & noise sensitivity
I sometimes put on my blackout sleep mask to listen to shows that are familiar or that I don’t need to follow visually.
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
Learning to tuck my tailbone when positioning myself ended up saving me a lot of pain.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
my resulting sleep is particularly non-restorative
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I started aripiprazole for treatment-resistant depression
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
Yup, what everyone else said, BUT I know for me that it’s very uncomfortable, if nothing else.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
Good for headaches and calming myself down, too.
In context ↗