Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A recording for one of those days when managing chronic fatigue syndrome gets hard. Embrace chronic fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and
cognitive impairment described as “brain fog” (Deumer et at., 2021) that creates restlessness and isolation.

Transcript

Chronic fatigue can be very hard to handle.

Even when the severity level is as low as to allow listening to this recording,

It can be very isolating.

We are often found overcompensating tiredness by keeping busy,

Physically or mentally.

Rushed into getting the energy levels higher.

And often it works the opposite way.

Today I would like to invite you to lean into the fatigue.

I'm right beside you with all of the other meditators going through a similar experience.

Notice your body.

Describe the fatigue.

Is it heavy?

T4?

Weak?

Tense?

Nauseous?

Sleepy?

Painful?

Sick?

And if you're going through flare up,

How's your body's temperature?

Where's pain?

In your head?

In your throat?

In your muscles?

In your joints?

Take a moment to appreciate how much is your body holding right now.

Which part of it is feeling the most fatigue?

Which part of it is feeling the least fatigue?

Focus on that spot to support the rest of the body.

And take three deep breaths with me.

Breathing in.

Breathing in.

Breathing out through past lips as if to create an air pillow in your mouth.

Breathing in.

Breathing out through the air pillow.

Breathing in.

Breathing out through the air pillow.

Now fully aligned with the fatigue,

Say to yourself,

May I be safe?

Unless embrace restlessness in a desire to take a break,

Imagine yourself in a soothing place.

Where would you be?

In a forest?

See yourself there held by a blanket,

Nature,

Tranquility,

Arms of a kind human being.

Feel that embrace.

Is it warm?

Calm?

Relaxing?

Slow?

How's your breathing when you're there?

Stay in that place for as long as you need.

Breathing the air of acceptance and compassion.