Avoidance approach vs rehab approach
Rehab approach:
This is the approach that is followed in the NHS ME / CFS services.
- Very gradually – and slowly – reintroduce activities that have been avoided.
- Focus on enjoyable activities.
- Quality of life increases.
- Mood improves.
- Fitness increases.
- Feel more in control.
- May require trial and error.
- May be difficult at first.
Avoidance of activities:
Avoidance of activities that have caused a crash in the past - very logical.
- More and more activities are avoided.
- Quality of life gets worse and worse.
- Fitness decreases.
- Mood can get worse.
- Less stimulation and eventually under-stimulation.
- Fatigue doesn’t get better and may get worse.