Allyson
Senior Member
- Messages
- 1,684
- Location
- Australia, Melbourne
Welcome to Phoenix Rising!
Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of, and finding treatments for, complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.
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There are also various aids and products available that can assist in providing a quiet work environment, free from visual distractions which may be helpful in improving the ability for workers to focus their attention. Examples include:
On the job strategies
- aim to schedule the early part of the working day for attention demanding tasks or activities
- break down job tasks into small steps and use visual prompts for each step in order to assist workers to refocus and continue with tasks if they forget what comes next, for example, use a pin board or white board displaying task flow charts
- establish a buddy programme with a co-worker to provide extra support for workers who experience memory problems
- incorporate the use of acronyms (abbreviations typically using the first letter of words) and mnemonics which can be short poems or sayings used to remember information
- provide workers with daily to do lists which can be ticked off as completed to help with remembering where they are up to
On the job strategies
There are a number of strategies that can be utilised within the workplace to assist in controlling or modifying the temperature of the work environment or protect the body against heat. Simple strategies may include:
- closing windows and blinds directly around the workspace
- allowing for flexible work schedules such as working from home or attending the workplace only during the cooler times of the day
- providing a workspace for heat sensitive employees in the coolest part of workplace
- if working outside, provide areas of shade for rest periods and have a task rotation schedule between cooler and hotter tasks to minimise effects of heat
- providing adequate drinking water supply
- providing work vehicles with air-conditioning
- organising for more physically demanding tasks to be done during the cooler part of the day
- considering ventilation, insulation and roofing materials of workspace and whether they can be improved.
Stress management helps counter the various effects of stress. Stress management refers to the techniques employed by psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, and therapists, besides others, who help stressed individuals to relieve their stress, tensions, and resume their lives in a normal, stress-free way. The various techniques that can be employed in stress management include relaxation, interaction, biofeedback, cognitive behaviour therapy, exercises, such as muscle stretching exercises, yoga, meditation, time management techniques, and many more (Stress Management 2001).
Yes, a lot of the issues appear to be a failure to understand the disease, but even so its a vast improvement over something like what we hear from the CDC. Other issues like the buddy system are just impractical. I could work if they also hired a buddy to do the work for me ... seriously?
Yes, a lot of the issues appear to be a failure to understand the disease, but even so its a vast improvement over something like what we hear from the CDC. Other issues like the buddy system are just impractical. I could work if they also hired a buddy to do the work for me ... seriously?
What companies really would follow all the recommendations such as this so a ME person with these symptoms could maybe work? Realistic? Obviously a lot of thinking has gone into getting us back to work.
Some workers may require disability specific equipment within the workplace as a means of conserving energy and remaining productive throughout their shift. Workers with disability requiring equipment or workstation changes specific to their disability may be eligible to apply for funding under the Employment Assistance Fund:
From my personal experience, I'm afraid to say the government doesn't even follow these recommendations.
I was forced to quit my job in the public service recently after being told by the government's doctors that I had to treat my CFS with GET and CBT. They also advised I had to work more hours in the office than I was physically able to do. This triggered a severe relapse which took over a year to abate.
In my case not once surprisely, did any of the gov depts tell me to do GET or CBT.. but maybe I didnt get told to do CBT as I was already having counselling over the stress I was having over trying to work and really failing in that. I was an emotional mess due to it all.
The only place Ive seen CBT mentioned and its only mentioned once, is under the
"Dealing with stress and psychological demands" (which is only a little part of the whole thing on CFS and its strageties
That's very surprising! I saw 6-7 government doctors (mainly occupational physicians and psychiatrists) during the period I was working and had CFS and every single one of them recommended GET and CBT.
As an aside, one of the psychiatrists asked me if I had been bullied at school, abused as a child, suffered from bad relationship breakups etc. He explained to me that these experiences "cause CFS".
'As an aside, one of the psychiatrists asked me if I had been bullied at school, abused as a child, suffered from bad relationship breakups etc. He explained to me that these experiences "cause CFS".
This sounds like the same Dr I saw in Adelaide who stated women get CFS (I have M.E.) because women are more likely to be sexually abused than men! Given that 1 in 5 kids are abused, pretty poor effort to explain the origins of CFS me thinks....I cant be bothered with mainstream doctors in Adelaide because they dont even know the difference between CFS and M.E. and dont want to know and how dare we challenge them...they are the Dr.!
This sounds like the same Dr I saw in Adelaide who stated women get CFS (I have M.E.) because women are more likely to be sexually abused than men!