8th September 2025 – Clarification Regarding the ANZMES Statement Released on 20 August 2025
We want to acknowledge the concerns raised in response to our recent statement. It was never our intention to cause confusion or distress, and it is regretful that some members of the community interpreted the statement as an endorsement of specific techniques or providers, including the Lightning Process or therapies based on it. We want to be clear: ANZMES does not endorse the Lightning Process, any therapies based on it, or any non-evidence-based intervention.
All members of the ANZMES Executive Committee are directly impacted by ME/CFS—either personally, through loved ones, or professionally. We care deeply about the ME/CFS and Long COVID communities. We walk alongside you in these challenges, and our advocacy is rooted in lived experience, compassion, and a commitment to scientific integrity.
As the National Advisory on ME/CFS, ANZMES remains committed to:
- Upholding international best practices, including the NICE 2021 guidelines
- Providing evidence-based education and resources
- Supporting all members of our community, regardless of the paths they’ve explored
Why the Statement Was Made
The original statement was created in response to reports that a provider and some community members had received defamatory, abusive, and threatening messages. This behaviour is unacceptable and could lead to the sender facing police or legal action. We want to reiterate:
- ANZMES does not condone abuse, threats, or harassment—towards anyone, inside or outside the ME/CFS and Long COVID communities
- Mentioning a provider does not imply endorsement or alignment.
- We do not endorse the Lightning Process, any therapies based on it, nor any technique that lacks a robust evidence base.
- We support the sharing of all experiences—including recovery, improvement, harm, and decline—as part of a balanced and inclusive narrative.
- We are committed to supporting all members of our community, regardless of the techniques they’ve tried or the outcomes they’ve experienced.
- We remain committed to correcting past misinformation and protecting the reputation of our communities as reputable sources of our own experience, research, and knowledge.
Our Position on Improvement or Recovery Stories
We recognise that commonly agreed upon international statistics, report a small percentage of people (~5%) show genuine improvement or recovery but from no single identifiable intervention.
However, these stories (alongside accounts of worsening or decline, or no change) when shared respectfully and transparently, can provide a balanced perspective that may contribute to a broader understanding of ME/CFS and Long COVID. However, ANZMES is not making recommendations in favour of any specific treatment, technique, or provider.
We encourage individuals to:
- Do their own research
- Consult ME-aware health professionals
- Make informed decisions based on international best practice
We will continue to share robust evidence-based up-to-date information on best practice guidelines and support all members of our community—regardless of the choices they make or the outcomes they experience.
21st August 2025 – Statement:
ANZMES supports our members and community in sharing both their stories of improvement and recovery or the harmful effects, regardless of the type of treatment or approach that has helped or not helped them. We believe people should be able to share these experiences openly and without fear of retaliation or rejection.
As an organisation ANZMES recognises and follows the NICE October 2021 guidelines and does not rely on any methods that are not evidence-based. Whilst we do not make broad recommendations, we do however, respect the right of our members and community to seek out their own treatments and to share their personal stories.
We welcome hearing about improvement and recovery experiences. We do not support and we condemn any bullying, negative commentary, doxxing, spamming, or abuse directed towards individuals who choose to pursue these techniques, or towards the providers offering them.
We ask that respect be extended to those who have experienced recovery. Their journey is personal and valid, and their story deserves to be heard without judgment. At the same time, we encourage individuals sharing recovery experiences to do so with sensitivity, acknowledging that ME/CFS affects people in diverse and complex ways.
Choosing not to pursue a particular treatment or approach does not reflect a lack of desire to recover—it simply represents a personal decision based on individual circumstances, health status, lived experience, and the valuing of evidence-based methods and international standards.
We strongly reject gaslighting or dismissive comments such as “they must not have been sick” or “they must not have had ME/CFS” in response to someone’s recovery. These statements are harmful and ignore the heterogeneity of the condition. It is important to remember that ME/CFS includes multiple subgroups, and while a small percentage of individuals may recover to near pre-illness levels, many more do not, despite trying numerous interventions. We celebrate improvements where they occur, while holding space for those whose journey continues with ongoing challenges.
We also welcome feedback and experiences where the outcomes of any techniques or treatments produce a worsening of functional capacity. This is to ensure a scientific approach, where all experiences, regardless of outcome, are received, to produce a well-rounded understanding of subjective outcomes.
ANZMES also wishes to clarify that, in the past, we published that Mel Abbott is a Lightning Process practitioner. This is no longer the case. The Switch, run by Mel Abbott, through her private business: Empower Therapies, is not affiliated with the Lightning Process, according to Mel Abbott. While the provider considers The Switch to be distinct, ANZMES maintains its position: we do not recommend any technique that is not evidence-based, and we adhere strictly to the NICE 2021 guidelines.
By sharing this statement, we aim to protect our community’s right to speak openly about their personal journeys, uphold respect across all discussions, and ensure that misinformation is corrected.
ANZMES is NOT endorsing any technique or treatment, but rather, is making it clear that we do not condone bullying, harassment, or threats.
ANZMES Executive Committee.