Pathways to Improvement is a step-by-step guided program for people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Environmental Sensitivities. This program was created by Dr. Eleanor Stein, who has 30 years of both personal and professional experience with these difficult-to-treat biomedical diseases/illnesses.
According to Dr. Stein “After years of illness and failed attempts at improvement, many with ME/CFS, FM and ES lose hope that improvement is possible. Not so. It is possible to improve your energy, sleep, thinking and pain, to be more joyful, more resilient and to be able to enjoy more of the things you love.”
About Eleanor Stein MD, FRCP(C)
“As a medical specialist in psychiatry, I have dedicated my practice to ME/CFS, FM and ES for the past 20 years. I got into this field after developing ME/CFS, FM and MCS in 1989. My health symptoms limited my ability to work and function every day for over 28 years. Then about three years ago many of the symptoms, including disabling fatigue, lifted. Why do I think this happened?
Over the past seven years I have been intensively studying and practicing methods of change based on neuroplasticity. Many people, including myself, who stabilized their health with self-management are reporting improvements with these new strategies. The science of neuroplasticity teaches us how to create change. By sharing what I have learned with you, I hope your pathway to improvement will be faster than mine.
People tell me that the experience of being in a group with others who “get it” can be life changing.”
The online course consists of 8 fortnightly 1.75 hour live zoom sessions plus 1 Q&A session starting May and October each year). The goal of the course is to provide tangible practical steps that people with ME/CFS, FM, & ES can do to experience improvement in their lives through symptom reduction and enhanced quality of life. Topics include:
- Biology of Change – which covers neuroplasticity aka the ability for the brain to retrain/learn/change
- Diagnosis
- Sleep
- Energy and activity
- Diet
- Pain
- Environment
- Emotions
For each topic there are several short videos and an exercise that is meant to be carried out over the two weeks prior to each live session. The exercise is a form of self-monitoring to increase self-awareness, identify patterns or triggers, and provide insight into areas that if altered, may result in change to symptoms and the lived experience. For example, turning off electronics an hour before bed can improve sleep. There is also a manual “Let your light shine through” written by Dr. Stein.
The live sessions involve a short recap by Dr. Stein of the most important points from the course videos. There are breaks and opportunities to interact with other course attendees in breakout rooms with questions to answer and discuss together. The 3 moderators then present a summary of discussions back to the whole group. Finally the chat is opened up for questions which Dr. Stein answers.
An ANZMES executive committee member attended the May 2021 online course so that ANZMES has a first-hand experience with it. We do not recommend treatments however we believe Dr. Stein to be a reputable health professional. We believe this program may be ideal for the newly diagnosed, for those who have not previously come across symptom management techniques, or for those that have tried a few things and feel stuck and are seeking a fresh take. Dr. Stein has a wealth of knowledge and experience, having worked closely in group and 1-on-1 sessions with people with ME/CFS for over two decades, and teaching self-management strategies that worked for her. Dr. Stein’s empathy, insights, and expertise are invaluable.
It’s roughly $NZD335.00 ($CAD279 + GST).
The next course is October 26, 2021 and you can find out more here: https://www.eleanorsteinmd.ca/pathways
NOTE: ANZMES does not benefit from registration in the course.
ANZMES does not take responsibility for the outcomes experienced by those who choose to partake in the Pathways to Improvement online program.
ANZMES does not recommend any treatments and it is stressed that the diagnosis of ME/CFS relies on clinical description/presentation and on exclusionary medical testing. It is imperative to seek qualified medical advice for evaluation. Any advice, either explicit or implied, is not intended to replace qualified medical advice. ANZMES does not accept any responsibility for any treatment undertaken by readers of this website or for any error or omission in connection with information shared here.
