Lying on a sofa for five years with ME/CFS, now much better after IFS and TRE
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 5 years
- Last post
- Jul 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
TRE also helped but I’ve heard it can be a nuke button if you go over even a little bit while having ME.
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
I’d been lying on the sofa for five years, doing nothing but get up to go to the restroom. I didn’t even shower back then; that’s how bad it was.
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
I’m not recovered, but I’m doing much better those days than I once did.
In context ↗
Summary
Glade 14045 had ME/CFS and spent five years lying on a sofa, getting up only to use the restroom and not showering. They were not recovered but said they were doing much better after IFS and TRE, though TRE left them in pain and fatigue for days. They later described Lamotrigine, taken years before they became ill, as making things worse.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- IFS · Helped
At some point I tried IFS and realized I had a dissociative disorder hiding the fact I was stressed and traumatized beyond belief all the time.
In context ↗ - TRE · Helped
TRE also helped but I’ve heard it can be a nuke button if you go over even a little bit while having ME. It’s definitely left me awash in pain and fatigue for days.
In context ↗ - Lamotrigine · Worse
Lamotrigine honestly made it worse for me.
In context ↗
Approaches: CBT & mindset · Trauma & somatic work
Their path
They say too little about how ill they were at each step to draw it on the severity scale, so the steps are listed as they describe them. Dates are when they posted.
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| onset | ME/CFS onsetI got on them years before I got sick, though.In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| five years into illness | on the sofa for five years, only getting up for the restroomBy that point I’d been lying on the sofa for five years, doing nothing but get up to go to the restroom. I didn’t even shower back then; that’s how bad it was.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| 2026-04-26 | doing much better but not recovered after IFS and TREI’m not recovered, but I’m doing much better those days than I once did.In context ↗ | Not stated | Trauma work (EFT, EMDR, TRE) |
Adverse events
- Trauma work (EFT, EMDR, TRE)“TRE also helped but I’ve heard it can be a nuke button if you go over even a little bit while having ME. It’s definitely left me awash in pain and fatigue for days.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Lamotrigine (Lamictal)“Lamotrigine honestly made it worse for me.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
It’s definitely left me awash in pain and fatigue for days.
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
Other times I’m sore for days.
In context ↗
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