Mostly in bed with ME/CFS, now much better after leaving an abusive relationship
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 3 years
- Last post
- Jan 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I said in the post I don’t think it’s me/cfs, but I was officially diagnosed with it.
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
still able to work part time but that was the only thing I left my bed for
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
but I feel alive again and that’s pretty damn close
In context ↗ - Began after: stress or burnout
ADHD and stress caused vicious cycles that made me sicker and sicker
Summary
At 20 she moved from South Africa to Scotland and became progressively ill over a year, spending most of the day in bed apart from part-time work, and was diagnosed with ME/CFS. She blames compounding stress, untreated ADHD and an abusive relationship. After leaving him and moving home to South Africa in 2025 she improved steadily, with occasional crashes from pushing too hard, and now feels alive again though still fearful of relapse.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- journaling · Helped
things like journaling and putting aside specific time to organise my thoughts helps me
In context ↗ - move home · Helped a lot
Away from an abusive bf and the relentless stress of the life I’d built for myself in Scotland my mom finally convinced me to move home
In context ↗ - ADHD medication · No change
I still haven’t found a medication that has an affect on my ADHD
In context ↗
Approaches: Mould avoidance
Their path
What they say at each step doesn’t fit the worst point or outcome above on the severity scale, so the steps are listed as they describe them. Dates are when they posted.
| When | What happened | After |
|---|---|---|
| age 20 | moved from South Africa to Scotland; became progressively ill over a yearSlowly over the course of a year I started feeling more and more sick, no social life, no energy, no hopeIn context ↗ | |
| 2.8 y | in bed apart from part-time work, weeks without showering, crying constantlystill able to work part time but that was the only thing I left my bed forIn context ↗ | |
| early 2025 | crashed after pushing too hard once back homeat the beginning there were instances of pushing myself too hard and becoming sickIn context ↗ | |
| 2025 | left the abusive relationship, moved home to South Africa, felt better and betterover time I just felt better and betterIn context ↗ | Relocation and environmental change |
| January 2026 | alive again, but alone, homesick and afraid of getting sick againI feel alive again and that’s pretty damn closeIn context ↗ |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
at the beginning there were instances of pushing myself too hard and becoming sick
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I only get insomnia if I’m stressed
In context ↗ - Light & noise sensitivity
tv having too many colours: tears, flatmate talking to loudly: tears
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I was so overwhelmed I was crying constantly
In context ↗ - Brain fog
a brain that struggles or remember to brush my teeth
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
Cfs and pots are both incredibly stressful
In context ↗
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