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Occupational model for preventing ME

Old Bones

Senior Member
Messages
808
Recommended for the wrong reasons:

With the risk of starting today's controversial thread, I found this article from "Personnel Today -- Occupational health and wellbeing":

Dispelling the myths about chronic fatigue syndrome

http://www.personneltoday.com/hr/dispelling-the-myths-about-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/

"The level of misinformation about the causes and trajectory of these illnesses leaves sufferers at the centre of employment tribunals and challenging HR situations. This is undesirable and avoidable."

"The Chrysalis Effect is a model that aims is to demystify and redefine the way organisations can approach these conditions via a model of recovery and by embedding a culture of awareness and prevention among leaders.

In thousands of health profiles globally it is clear that those employees or business owners most susceptible are the high fliers who will be unaware of the early warning signs until it is too late."

"On the surface sufferers appear strong, goal-focused and capable, naturally able to excel at whatever they do. The drivers of that behaviour emanate from a person who is actually highly sensitive physically and emotionally."

"When a conscientious driven person, who has perfectionist tendencies, is beginning to experience these unexplained symptoms they are somewhat in a double bind. They do everything to try to cope and fulfil their role, yet secretly they are struggling, which is why these conditions develop unnoticed by their colleagues."

"We also see cases where there is evidence of “secondary gain” or a payoff for being ill. This has to be addressed in the right way, as it is often borne out of fear and avoidance and is largely unconscious rather than deliberate."

"Along the way they will visit websites, online forums or read literature about these conditions. When they start to look for answers they find conflicting definitions with potentially bleak outcomes."

"It is for these reasons that people end up becoming defined by their illness."

"These illnesses are a combination of predisposition, physical constitution and specific contributory and environmental factors. Many of those factors are stress related, and need to be addressed systematically via an informed multi-disciplinary approach."

"For many, what lies at the heart of their “disease’” is the internalised effect of the environment they are working in, the lack of joy in their work, the impact of challenging work relationships and the unhealthy lifestyle that develops as a result of self-medicating."

Ouch! So glad to now know it was my fault I became ill. What a shame I didn't hear about the Chrysalis Effect model 30 years ago.
 
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You read all the exciting websites @Old Bones ... ;)

About Elaine Wilkins
Elaine Wilkins, BA (Hons) PGCE ILM CMI, is an accredited wellbeing coach, founder and author of The Chrysalis Effect recovery programme. She is a practitioner in training of integrated corporate wellbeing initiatives and workshops. She was the winner of the APCTC Courage to Change Award 2015. For more information, go to The Chrysalis Effect.

Ah well, as long as she is an accredited wellbeing coach, she'll know all about the biomedical underpinnings of ME o_O

And if anybody is inspired to, comments can be left via Disqus, Facebook, Twitter or Google
 

Snowdrop

Rebel without a biscuit
Messages
2,933
Of course the author is a hard driven achiever yadda yadda but SHE would never succumb to this illness which is why she is so well placed to advise us all on our short comings.

Add yet another one to the book of patient shame/blame. Will it ever end?

Where are all the courses/programs/therapies on/for smug moral superiority?
 
Messages
2,158
She's not dispelling the myths, she's reinforcing them and creating more.

:bang-head::bang-head::bang-head::bang-head::bang-head::bang-head:

Edit to add: She is not describing ME, she's describing burn out due to stress at work. (With a little mention of secondary gain thrown in).

She's invented a silly title for her stress management program she's obviously selling to companies for their stressed execs. And all based on a study with a sample size of one - herself.
 
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Snowdrop

Rebel without a biscuit
Messages
2,933
I went to the Chrysalis Effect website.
Thank heaven I had my computer on mute.
Otherwise -- :vomit:

Sadly, the UK is awash in this nonsense.
Nice how they use purple for their theme colour.
A different purple from MEA but the initial first sight acts as a kind of response.
 
Messages
2,158
Of course the author is a hard driven achiever yadda yadda but SHE would never succumb to this illness which is why she is so well placed to advise us all on our short comings.

Actually, if you read the whole article, she developed her mad theory after suffering from something she thinks was ME herself. Great money spinner, I'll bet, since she's targeting wealthy businesses.
 

Snowdrop

Rebel without a biscuit
Messages
2,933
Yeah, the real problem for us is associating whatever health issues she's dealing in with our disease.

And I'm happy to hope this will end when a biomarker rolls out in the near future.
Then she can go on treating whatever. And those left with CF can sort out what to do with her.
 

Old Bones

Senior Member
Messages
808
The more I investigate, the "sketchier" this program sounds. From the Practitioner section of the Chrysalis Effect website:

". . . hundreds if not thousands of therapists and practitioners struggle with a number of challenges in our industry. Ultimately it boils down to finding a client base that comes back time and time again . . . .

The Chrysalis Effect is renowned for the importance we put on supporting practitioners in building successful businesses. The situation is, we find many courses . . . leave out the vital components that ensure a practitioner attracts and retains clients.

Would you agree that a common experience for so many in our complementary community is the inconsistency in the number of clients seen each week? This worry affects your ability to focus on what you do best . . . "

The shift from worrying about how many clients will book this week to being able to attract a stream of clients, is actually very simple and Chrysalis Effect practitioners who embrace it are simply amazed. Their referrals and reputations are soaring.

I am very excited to share with you how I have helped practitioners change all that by creating the specialist model that is transforming their retention rates and results whatever their client base."


So, now we know who Elaine Wilkins is really trying to help -- not those who are struggling with illness, but rather, practitioners who are struggling with their businesses.

http://www.thechrysaliseffectpractitioners.com/
 

Mohawk1995

Senior Member
Messages
287
"When a conscientious driven person, who has perfectionist tendencies, is beginning to experience these unexplained symptoms they are somewhat in a double bind. They do everything to try to cope and fulfil their role, yet secretly they are struggling, which is why these conditions develop unnoticed by their colleagues."

This maybe the only quote I might agree with at least in part. Yes if you happen to have these personality traits and come down with ME, it can be very difficult. Well it can be very difficult no matter what your personality is. I will have to say that our son did fit into this category as a student-athlete and yes his strong willed temperament may have made it difficult at times, but was also likely part of why he kept going and has improved.

"We also see cases where there is evidence of “secondary gain” or a payoff for being ill. This has to be addressed in the right way, as it is often borne out of fear and avoidance and is largely unconscious rather than deliberate."

Let me just preface my remarks by saying in all my years as treating Physical Therapist I am positive I had real face to face encounters with more injured workers than all of the Chrysalis people combined. That being said, the percentage of injured workers that immediately after being injured had any secondary gain issue is way less than 5%. This was consistent throughout my entire career and in varying occupational areas. There just were very few people with "primary" secondary gain issues. In addition, most of the "secondary" (came later after the injury) secondary gain issues were related to poor relationships with their employer or mis-management from a medical standpoint. The only other problems arose from people who lacked coping or support mechanisms (which can be helped and improved). In the case of ME, why would anyone want to "develop" the disease and even more why would someone want to "sustain" it???

"These illnesses are a combination of predisposition, physical constitution and specific contributory and environmental factors. Many of those factors are stress related, and need to be addressed systematically via an informed multi-disciplinary approach."

I thought these illnesses are unexplained? The writer then explains them??? Not that some of those factors are not contributory, but we still do not understand the mechanism. I do agree that a patient with ME would be best treated in an "Interdisciplinary" setting (which means multi disciplines work "Together"). One in which all members have an up to date understanding of the disease and are interested in the patient's well being first and foremost. Multi-disciplinary just means you see a bunch of people who treat you based on their perspective.
 

TiredSam

The wise nematode hibernates
Messages
2,677
Location
Germany
She's invented a silly title for her stress management program she's obviously selling to companies for their stressed execs.
She could be selling to companies who want to be seen to be doing something for their stressed execs and also want an excuse to boot out non-compliant execs - "You've got ME have you? Well we've offered you a solution, but if you won't co-operate and take advantage of our expensive program ...".

Just another way to make money and enable the abuse of ME sufferers.
 

ukxmrv

Senior Member
Messages
4,413
Location
London
https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/the-chrysalis-effect-ltd-a14-280250.html


Ad description

Claims on www.thechrysaliseffect.com, which advertised a recovery programme for sufferers of ME, stated "Attention: Sufferers of ME, CFS or Fibromyalgia Finally, A Guided Map That Steps You Through All 8 Areas Essential For Your Complete Recovery From These Life-Debilitating, Fatigue Conditions Get The Crucial Support You Need To Permanently Get Your Life Back". Further text in the ad read “The Chrysalis Effect program was borne of my passion to get this information into the hands of others currently suffering through these conditions, and help them cut short the long journey that I went through to recovery. Before we go any further, I want to be completely honest with you There is No magic bullet There is No claim here of a ‘cure’ There is No quick fix What we are offering here is a Guided Map to your recovery. Our program takes 6 - 9 months minimum. I know if you are like I was, you will want your Life back NOW! I wish I had a magic wand! It is a step-by-step journey that will guide you through all 8 elements essential to recovery".

Issue

The complainant, who understood that there was no cure for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (formerly ME), challenged whether the claim that the advertiser could enable customers to achieve "complete recovery" was misleading and could be substantiated.

Response

The Chrysalis Effect Ltd said their organisation was founded and run by people who had a medical diagnosis and had made a full recovery. They said they had been working with sufferers for five years and could provide testimonials from users of the Chrysalis Effect programme who had regained their health after receiving a medical diagnosis. They maintained people could and had recovered from those conditions and they were currently undergoing an evaluation process for the NHS to see whether the recovery programme could be offered to patients at GP stage. Chrysalis Effect provided a report of the recovery programme, which included an example Symptom Impact Questionnaire form, designed to monitor patient progress, and four patients' results.

Assessment

Upheld

The ASA understood that the Chrysalis Effect was a support programme, which included videos, audios, downloadable content with meditation and relaxation techniques, advice, including from nutritionists and energy therapists and access to other online material, including a supporters’ forum, blog, news updates and inspirational stories from sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

While we noted Chrysalis Effect provided an example of a self-reporting questionnaire, including the results recorded by four patients, which recorded some improvement in the symptoms experienced by the participants, we were concerned that they had not provided robust evidence, such as clinical trials or studies, to support their claims that the programme would enable consumers to achieve "complete recovery" from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Chrysalis Effect maintained they were in the process of collating evidence to substantiate the claims, however, we reminded them of their obligations under the CAP Code to hold appropriate evidence to substantiate claims prior to publication. We considered that testimonials from individual sufferers did not constitute a suitably robust body of evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Chrysalis Effect programme in offering "complete recovery" from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Because we had not seen any evidence to demonstrate the efficacy of the Chrysalis Effect programme for treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, we concluded the claims were therefore misleading.

The ad breached CAP Code rules 3.1 (Misleading advertising), 3.7 (Substantiation) and 12.1 (Medicines, medical devices, health-related products and beauty products).

Action

The ad must not appear again in its current form. We told Chrysalis Effect Ltd to ensure they held substantiation before making similar efficacy claims for the programme.

CAP Code (Edition 12)

12.1 3.1 3.7
 

user9876

Senior Member
Messages
4,556
Chrysalis Effect maintained they were in the process of collating evidence to substantiate the claims, however, we reminded them of their obligations under the CAP Code to hold appropriate evidence to substantiate claims prior to publication

Given this was Nov 2014 have the managed to collect the evidence they claimed they were? I've not seen anything.