In bed with ME/CFS, worse again while pacing around EMDR and journaling
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 2 years
- Last post
- Sep 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I’ve realized my CPTSD is at least in part contributing to my ME/CFS.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
Sometimes I can do okay for several months despite working/exercising.
In context ↗ - Now: Relapsed
Symptoms have fluctuated, being almost gone last summer but returning in the fall. During the winter they began really ramping up.
In context ↗ - Began after: stress or burnout
My symptoms started 2 years ago when I suddenly started feeling incredibly fatigued, coinciding with returning to a workplace that caused me significant anxiety.
- Says they never had: Flu-like symptoms
I never had cold/sore throat/lymph node symptoms
Summary
Tundra 49558's fatigue and autonomic symptoms began two years before their May 2026 post, after returning to a workplace that caused them significant anxiety, with a reactive EBV IgM noted. They kept working and exercising between crashes that came after several weeks of sustained exertion or stress, and a winter worsening ramped up their symptoms; they had been in bed for the past month. By September 2026 they were pacing around EMDR and JournalSpeak journaling, still troubled by ME symptoms.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- antihistamine · Helped
I started an antihistamine at one point due to extreme itchiness all over my body, which we then found out also really helped with my brain fog.
In context ↗ - pacing · Helped
has helped me pace emotionally stressful things
In context ↗ - exercise activities · Worse
I started trying to improve my physical health by exercising and now if I do that it’ll make me worse
In context ↗ - Apple Watch · Not said
I have an Apple Watch but I know data is pretty limited on those.
In context ↗ - EMDR · Not said
I’m doing EMDR but after a particularly strenuous session, my therapist suggested spacing sessions out a bit more.
In context ↗ - journaling (journalspeak technique) · Helped
which feels like a smaller load and helps with maintenance between sessions
In context ↗
Approaches: Brain retraining
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 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | fatigue and autonomic symptoms began after returning to an anxiety-provoking workplaceMy symptoms started 2 years ago when I suddenly started feeling incredibly fatiguedIn context ↗ |
| summer 2025 | symptoms almost gone over the summerbeing almost gone last summerIn context ↗ |
| fall 2025 | symptoms returned in the fallbut returning in the fallIn context ↗ |
| winter 2025-26 | symptoms ramped up over the winter, a month lying in bedDuring the winter they began really ramping up.In context ↗ |
| 2026-09-02 | pacing emotional strain around EMDR and journaling, still symptomaticeven when I’m feeling a ton of ME symptomsIn context ↗ |
Adverse events
- Trauma work (EFT, EMDR, TRE)“after a particularly strenuous session, my therapist suggested spacing sessions out a bit more ... I know I get really tired after each” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
It’s usually after a sustained several weeks of exertion/stress that I seem to get a really bad crash.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
poor body temp regulation, nausea, frequent GI upset, and brain fog
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
lightheadedness when upright, an episode of fainting
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
heat intolerance, poor body temp regulation
In context ↗ - Gut problems
nausea, frequent GI upset
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
periodic sternum, SI, back, and foot pain
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
my CPTSD is at least in part contributing to my ME/CFS
In context ↗
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