Jen's FULL recovery from Severe CFS

New CFS Recovery Programs Guide: healwithliz.com/programs-guide/ Jennifer Mann, who lives in London, describes her recovery journey from severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and explains what helped her heal (...and the things that didn't help) in our interview. Interview starts: 0:23. TIMESTAMPS BELOW:
OVERVIEW:
Jennifer Mann was a former professional ballet dancer. She was living an extremely fast-paced life and pursuing a medical degree in her mid 20's, when her health began to unravel. Then one day it all came crashing down.
Her former symptoms included severe chronic fatigue, persistent fever, post-exertional malaise, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, blurry vision, dysautonomia, anxiety, heart palpitations, IBS-D, acne everywhere, hair loss, POTS, and many more.
Pacing and a diet shift helped take her from bed-bound to housebound, but it was a balancing act. She then found life changing physical improvement with a neuroplasticity program. However, when triggered, her CFS symptoms would reappear. When she incorporated a new method to heal unresolved trauma, she was able to get to the root and break free. Watch our interview to learn what specific methods helped her heal, those that didn't help, and what she learned along the way!
Friendly disclaimer: Nothing I share is medical advice nor meant to be prescriptive. We are sharing our stories for information and inspiration only. Sending you our support.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:25 Introduction
1:42 Jen's purpose for sharing her story
2:05 Jen describes her life pre-CFS, and how things began to unravel.
4:03 Jen talks about a pre-existing condition. She notices when she found herself in this situation, her symptoms worsened.
6:36 The biological triggers that knocked Jen fully down (and the final trigger 7:40)
8:19 First approach her doctors took and what she actually thought it was
9:54 Getting a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosis
10:44 Jen describes her key symptoms (with photos)
12:56 Jen describes the support she got from her partner
13:49 Jen wanted her family and friends to understand she did not have This
15:28 Why Jen rejected just resting. How trying graded exercise therapy then BACKFIRED.
17:30 The mitochondria support / supplement route - we share how many we actually took!
18:15 Jen makes This diet change and how it helped.
19:35 Jen tries pacing -- gets her from bed-bound to housebound. SHE USES THIS METAPHOR.
21:37 Jen discusses anxiety / coping patterns stemming from childhood trauma.
24:50 A shift in paradigm begins.... how very gentle Qigong gave her more "space" (I attempt a Qigong move.)
27:29 How Jen first came across the Lightning Process. She was not initially convinced, until this.
30:36 Jen describes her experience with the Lightning Process.
33:23 Doing the LP in the supermarket aisle.
34:10 I share why I think it's not a fit for certain people and provide an example. Jen explains why it was a fit for her, and we talk about why pushing DOESN'T work.
37:15 I share my own experience of what I did before neuroplasticity (didn't mean to hog the interview!)
38:16 We talk about healthy boundaries and resilience. Jen explains why the LP was not enough for her and describes the thing that triggered her symptoms to reappear. Jen talks about past trauma patterns.
40:39 Jen discusses somatic trauma healing & how it's different than traditional talk therapy
42:13 Jen describes somatic experiencing.
47:34 Jen explains what parts work is.
48:48 Healing our own way and seeking balance
50:01 Jen's life and health now
52:43 Jen's mission in life and how she's now working with the person who helped her to help others.
56:10 The REAL work is THIS. (I thought this was inspiring.)
58:08 Jen wrote a letter to CFS
[Note: We recorded this back in December 2021.] After healing from CFS last year, Jen, now 30, continues to thrive and has some recent very happy news!
Follow Jen on Instagram at / iamjenmann for insightful wisdom and life updates.
For written transcripts of interviews (and more recovery insights), visit my blog healwithliz.com/.
If you valued our interview, please like and leave a comment! It would be much appreciated.
*New: CFS Recovery Programs Guide by Heal With Liz & Lindsay Vine*
healwithliz.com/programs-guide (A review of Jen's new program CFS School with her somatics teacher Karden Rabin is included in our guide!)

[@hillsofwi]

I appreciate how professionally you conduct your interviews, Liz. Allowing your guests to relate their stories without interrupting is first class. These recovery stories give me hope. So thanks!

[@HealwithLiz]

Thank you ❤so much for your kind words.

[@ezza1236]

Cfs is the body’s way of telling you to change youre lifestyle People like us don’t know when to stop or take a break, cfs is the best thing ever I love it, it saved my life. For me Liz, I have felt complete emotionally trapped in a job, being a care taker. For years and years feeling guilt, fear of not being able to work. Etc etc, that was a massive thing I had to get out of, I reduced my work load and reduced the type of clients I work with that make me feel trapped and I instantly felt better

[@katieemmaw2001]

Jen, you struck a chord with me when I discovered you about a month ago. I’ve seen a drastic shift in the way I’m dealing with CFS and I actually truly believe I can heal. I’m starting to befriend my nervous system which I didn’t know I needed to do but it’s the best thing ever. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!❤️

[@justbecauseican1410]

Ah Liz I laughed so hard at the kill and boost the mitochondria phrase!! I am now currently watching at my cabinet with my kill and boost herbs :D. It is so suprising that even tough we are different people and have different backgrounds and symptoms, most of us go trough the same route of fails and challenges.

[@HealwithLiz]

LOL ❤❤❤

[@sadeem8866]

😂😂😂 so do I although I’m a total different lady in terms of the language + colour + environmental nature + ethnicity + culture & living in a very far place from you all , but it’s so interesting that we share the same condition so the same way of transitional thoughts and actions, the same sequential routes, fails , challenges and stages. Currently, I’m at “killing and boosting mitochondria” stage 😂🤣. Thanks Liz and Jennifer for the inspirations you spread within us❤️💕. So powerful talk ❤️.

[@pauletteharris6765]

Life altering stuff girls, thank you so much :-)

[@sophiependragon2467]

One of my favourite interviews! Thank you Liz! Thank you Jen! And Jen, you were fantastic, you explained it so beautifully. Love your letter ❤

[@nicolettenatale7261]

Wow what an absolutely beautiful recovery story. Gives me inspiration that I can achieve this alignment too. Thank you for sharing this!

[@__OL__]

Great interview. Thank you both 🙏

[@HealwithLiz]

❤ Thank you so much for your kind words!

[@sublimestudi000]

Thanks for posting Liz. Looking forward to hearing more recovery stories :)

[@HealwithLiz]

Thanks TJ!

[@deion312]

You go girls. Great interview. Thank you Liz and Jen :)

[@HealwithLiz]

❤❤❤

[@sm-hl9oy]

Great interview! Thank you to you both. Very interesting.

[@HealwithLiz]

Thank you, really appreciate it.

[@meaganbrettle6000]

Thank you so much ❤

[@HealwithLiz]

❤

[@ich.werde.gesund]

Thank you, Jen and Liz for this amazing interview! Ahh, l feel a positive energy in my heart. I will get well too! 💚

[@HealwithLiz]

❤Yesss! Sending my support and good vibes from California.❤

[@glazieledasilva32]

I love the interview. Thank you 🙏🏻. I am suffering myself. I cried at the end . You are beautiful

[@HealwithLiz]

💕💕💕 Sending you support, encouragement, and 💕 Glaziele.

[@jackiegroden416]

Jen I felt an amazing calm Listening to you and your journey

[@HealwithLiz]

❤

[@RK-qk7ow]

I relate to Jennifer's experience very well and feel a pull to taste somatic experience to solve issues at their root level. Did Jennifer mention name of her somatic practitioner? Blessings, Ruta. Oh, Liz, I love your personality, your interviews are very engaging. Thank You xxx

[@janegee5562]

Thankyou both,a very helpful interview. Is it possible to book a session with the practitioner who does the somatic work on zoom?

[@inmalikp]

Thank you both for this interview, I think it's one of the most interesting CFS recovery stories I've listened to ♡

[@HealwithLiz]

❤ Glad it resonated Imma ❤

[@FreshAgenda]

The somatic tracking reminds me of the books "the way out" and "the intelligent body ".... this really does seem to be key in any chronic illness. Get out of your head and into your body in a curious way.

[@HealwithLiz]

Thanks for sharing those resources ❤!

[@Mamoo777]

Wonderful!

[@HealwithLiz]

Thanks Dianne ❤!

[@tamaragenar2636]

Spot on..

[@ljon008]

That letter is powerful!!! I felt it and relate to it 💯 because I my self is on my journey but in my mind I am fully recovered already. I am just finishing some of the last lessons CFS is teaching me so I can live my TRUESELF going forward/future. Liz & Jen 🙏🏼 and to all the my CFS warriors someday you will fly 🦅 again.

[@HealwithLiz]

Yes! Fly like an Eagle!!!! 🦅🦅🦅

[@skinscapetattoo]

Superb

[@becoming_a_betty]

Gosh, Jen & Liz I can't thank you enough for this amazing interview 💕🙏💕 So much of Jen's story and recovery have resonated for me. I'm currently in IFS therapy (sounds similar to somatic experiencing from what Jen described) hearing Jen's experience has compounded how wonderful these modalities are and has encouraged me to trust in my journey. She so gentle and eloquent, such a pleasure to listen to. I'm so happy to see and hear how well she is now 😊 big hugs xx

[@HealwithLiz]

💕💕💕 That sounds wonderful. And you are very welcome. Sending you my support and encouragement along your journey! 💕💕💕

[@forisma]

Thank you for sharing. The interview inspired me but also made me a bit sad. I can't do all the things, all the programs at once, and I am focussing on the ones I have chosen for now. But there's a fear, what if I've chosen wrong. But who knows, maybe I will have space to add something. I just easily get overwhelmed, and I don't know what's best. In any case, I thank you very much for sharing. I am grateful for the advice you gave me Liz in the comments section at your previous video, to hydrate, move and meditate first thing in the morning. It seemed doable and I've been trying to do this as often as possible, and I really like this, it's a good way to start my day. Maybe I can add some visualizations instead of meditation sometimes :) Someone has an advise which visualizations to choose? I don't have much experience. I use Insight Timer, but another sources are welcome too. ❤

[@HealwithLiz]

Hey Forisma, you're actually doing it right.❤ If you notice, none of us did everything at once. And there is no wrong way only learning opportunities for self discovery. Many of us tried the wrong things in the beginning, but we learned about ourselves from it. Jen realized one modality was very helpful, but wasn't the full answer so later found another at the right time for her. She didn't initially find everything immediately. For visualization ideas, write in a journal what lights you up. Is it dancing to music with friends? Is it a private concert with your favorite singer? Bonding with friends in the beauty of nature? Dancing at a close friend's wedding? Singing around a campfire? Hiking in nature? Swimming with dolphins? A physical activity. For athletic stuff, it's often helpful to not pick high-adrenaline things but definitely good to pick things that you enjoy and convey thriving... like kayaking and skiing (but not double black diamond.) The goal can be to create the sense of thriving, joy, and serenity. It can also be about embodying your values (connection? adventure? family? joy?). It's what makes you come alive. Some people prefer somatic tracking of symptoms with calm reassurance to create a loving presence of acceptance and non-resistance (so the body feels we're safe even in the presence of symptoms). Others prefer mainly or only focusing on using the imagination and somatic felt sense to embody thriving and joy (like what LP and DNRS teach). It sounds like Jen found both helpful.

[@forisma]

@@HealwithLiz thank you so much, this is very helpful! It's interesting, what you're saying about high adrenalin. When I was doing visualizations at the end of the Gupta technique, they might have been giving me adrenaline as I evoked a lot of excitement within myself. If you could make a video on visualizations some time, I would be glad to the moon :-) I'm going to try something based on what you told, and I would greatly appreciate details on how often and so on. Kind regards, Julia.

[@SplendidlyBright]

This is quite possibly the best recovery and informative interview around healing from me/cfs! Covers all the information and points that are required to heal, I myself after many many decades and searching for answers and cures for recovery have also independently arrived at neuroplasticity, brain retraining, somatics, trauma work and internal family systems parts work (dick schwartz) connecting with Self and connecting with personal joy and passions as what is required to heal, and am on my way! I wish everyone with cfs could see this interview! Well done ladies, just brilliant, this is the path out! 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@KatieBarboza]

How are you doing now ? Hopefully it’s helping

[@johnny_kim441]

hi liz , i wonder when you were doing dnrs did you booked coach session?

[@dommccaffry3802]

i am a long time sufferer. i did LP and it did'nt work. i now realise it is all trauma. i am on welfare so sadly cannot afford one on ones. i had saved little bits of money to do irene lyon's 21 day tune up course on trauma. when i finally bought course i was refused because i had no credit card ( i have visadebit card which is always fine) i begged irene's staff to let me make a bank transfer or get a friend to pay on their card. they were so intransigent and determined not to help me. i was devastated and suicidal and disillusioned. ir seemed like the courses were only for middle class professionals . so, even though i know trauma and somatic work is the direction for me, i do'nt know what to do.

[@HealwithLiz]

Hi Dom, I can understand that would be really frustrating. Most of the expensive programs have two-factor authorizations requiring a passcode sent to email, and most people are suspicious of wire transfers because that is how sketchy people get your info to commit fraud. These policies are in place because unlike you there are bad people out there, but it's unfortunate that it hurts good people like I truly sense you are. Anyway, you are here now. And I think I might know something that might be useful to you.... maybe it was fate you reached out. I was literally talking about how I wish there were more affordable options for people with less money this weekend. And I think Facebook must have heard me (I swear they listen ha) because I saw a sponsored post about Deb Dana LCSW for a program called Finding Safety in Your Nervous System on Sounds True Transformation Labs for 79 us dollars. I'm pretty sure can use a debit, since it's a one time purchase. The ones that require credit card seem to be subscription based. I actually bought it myself and so far it is very digestible and she has a nice calm voice and has good wisdom. She goes into the polyvagal techniques and the somatics. Hope that helps. Also, there is a person on KZbin called Jim Prussacks who has free somatic tracking meditations that two people I know recommended.

[@dommccaffry3802]

@@HealwithLiz thank you so much for taking the time to reply. And thank you for this useful information. You are very kind. I did have a valid visadebit card for irene lyon's course , and it was only 200 dollars. But her team made me feel so bad. I always try to stick up for the underdogs ! It always amazes me where people with M.E find money for these more expensive courses. I saw your interview on chronic comeback which is how i got on your site. It rang so many bells for me. I also have mold issues i am sure as i am so much better when it is not cloudy. But i live by the sea in uk and there is damp in most house here. I will start having saunas again. I had no idea they were good for mold. I used to have them years ago, and they helped. Now i know why. Thanks again for the information, it means a lot when people are kind X

[@siobhanchristine-bligh183]

Gentle self yoga can be really good for somatic body therapy and EMDR can help as well. Obviously only if you ME is mild enough to do those things

[@treecek]

Jen, Did you ever do repetitive exercise..like biking? or Eliptical machine? prior to onset?

[@AlexMentalGrowth]

Hi, I m stuck with CFS for months, nothing helped (bell 20-30). Does anyone has the contact details of this practitioner for the inner (child) work she talks about from min 45 onwards? Really would appreciate

[@HealwithLiz]

They actually now joined together to make a beautiful top-down and bottom-up nervous system regulation and trauma healing program called CFS School. His name is Karden Rabin.

[@AlexMentalGrowth]

@@HealwithLiz there is their program…theGupta…the lighting process…and DNRS. Just wondering which one to pick, any advice?

[@HealwithLiz]

@@AlexMentalGrowth I actually spent 7 months interviewing people who did these programs with Lindsay Vine from the Post-Viral Podcast, and we built a guide analyzing the different programs based on participant feedback. It's available on my heal with liz website. If you decide to get it, and struggle with brain fog or just want a simple overview, be sure to add (using the plus sign) the free add-on Short Version in the checkout cart. The main version is very comprehensive going over 25 or so different Lifestyle and Nervous System Regulation programs (including all you listed). Lindsay also works 1 on 1 with people to help them find the right program, for people who want some more guidance. If you do decide to get the guide, let me know via the confirmation email if you have any feedback or questions! Sending my support!

[@loquacious_lisa]

Removing my comment is disgusting !!

[@HealwithLiz]

Hey Lisa, I didn't remove your comment. Sometimes KZbin automatically doesn't post them if they include links? Maybe that was it. That's happened to me on my own channel. Sending a hug!

[@traiandanciu8139]

May be was hipertiroidism ?