Something different: Apparent real recoveries from Toby Morrison's CFS Health Centre in Australia

[Hutan]

And I can't resist...
Look out for the bit towards the end of the video where Toby reminds us not to be angry and 'spitful'.

Ah, that must be why I'm still sick - too much spit.

 

[MeSci]

And I can't resist...
Look out for the bit towards the end of the video where Toby reminds us not to be angry and 'spitful'.

Ah, that must be why I'm still sick - too much spit.

All you need is love.

 

[Revel]

I do hope that the aspects of Toby's programme that we are expected to pay for are a tad more, dare I say, insightful?

If this video is an example of his methodology, it's not just "love" that he's full of . . .

 

[grizz39]

The online program he runs is a total scam! Save your money or put it towards something that will actually help you improve.

 

[Snow Leopard]

The online program he runs is a total scam! Save your money or put it towards something that will actually help you improve.

You must be feeling quite angry to sign up to post this as your first message!

What you are saying might be true*, but I must admit I am a little skeptical since this is your only post on the forum so far. Feel free to introduce yourself, perhaps explain why you believe the online program is a scam and we might start to see your point of view.

*(As my previous comments in this thread suggest, I think this program is overhyped and blaming this illness on stress or HPA-axis dysfunction is highly questionable).

 

[cb2]

i have thought about doing his program but i can't afford it. and as far as spending money on getting well..none of the lyme dr's here were i live offer a money back guarantee.. and they charge alot more. I think his idea of doing restorative movement as one is able is a good idea. and he talks about the importance of sleep.. although i dont know what he suggests as far as how to "get good sleep" that alludes me.

 

[student]

There seems to be more sources to do freee stuff. http://www.arationalapproach.com/ like this.
An intro video about him: http://www.cfshealth.com/about-toby-morrison/
story: http://tobymorrisonhealth.com/about/ other videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/TobyTVCFS/videos

http://cfsunravelled.com/dan-neuffers-cfs-recovery-story/
planet thrive http://planetthrive.ning.com/ is a forum that supports this thinking. They call it retraining (gupta / DNRS )
and other methods.

 

[RUkiddingME]

From the comments on here it looks as though non of you are actually doing Toby's program?
I signed up to the online program a few months ago I'm in the UK and it cos about £250 which gives you access for life to all the material.
The program is a good, honest structured way to focus on your recovery. It's not based on GET although there are exercises and stretches in it you can do at your own pace and level if you are able. There is advice on nutrition and mindset which are informative and helpful and encouraging. The program covers all aspects you need to recover holistically and healthily.
Toby himself is a genuine, honest, realistic and encouraging guy. Everyone who does his program loves him and his attitude and approach. He does not profess to have an overnight miracle cure like some therapies do. In many ways the program is similar to that offered by the NHS ME/CFS clinics if you have one in your area. Luckily I do and Toby's program complements the treatment received from that. Many however do not have a clinic, any guidance or anywhere to turn in their recovery. Toby provides this in bucket loads!
Please don't knock something until you've tried it. He is a great inspiration to many and supports and believes in all his clients and the work he is doing to help them. Long may he continue to encourage and inspire others in an illness where many are simply abandoned

I was just going to say the same thing! I have been a member of this forum for years, have seen the top doctors and taken the toxic anti-viral so. Toby's program is the best thing that has happened to me since getting sick seven years ago. I only wish I had found him sooner!!! His Less is More approach has already helped me so much and I am actually making progress!!! No one should be dissing his program when they know nothing about it! I'm rebuilding my body from scratch. The restorative movements have changed my life!! Yes exercise can make you much worse but at one rep a day??? This is incredibly slow progress but my crashes are less, my body is getting stronger etc. I started with two wall push ups every second day in August and now I am up to 8 daily, on an angle against a stair railing. YEs folks that's six months later. No this is not GET, it's restorative movement. Very different!! I also started reading a couple of pages a day and I am. Is up to 20, I meditate everyday, I have a schedule and a chart I log everyday with my activities and I haven't been bed ridden one single day in the last two months, that's unheard of! Even working on a jigsaw puzzle five minutes a day. You have to do everything slowly and find your baseline so you don't crash. I could go on and on, the best program ever!!!

 

[cfsStevew]

I have tried a lot of the 'Guru' type treatment programs and Toby Morrisons is my least favorite...that includes:
Optimum Health Clinic
Reverse Therapy
Mickle Therapy
Lightning Process
Gupta Program
ANS Rewire

On PR they are all unpopular but I think some of them have some value for a percentage of patients. But Toby Morrisons program is the least scientific and dense in terms of any theory, of them all. I think Toby has had almost no scientific or medical training at all. He did a nutrition course.His varient of chronic fatigue is that one that can crop up where a younger person has over-exercised and become exhausted, also due to some other mental factors. I think he has been successful because he comes across like a 'nice guy' and is an attractive young man giving positive encouragement where patients are mostly women, in an area which is generally extremely dry and discouraging.

If you read his book it is almost laughable. I remember the tables for charting how many press ups and sit-ups you were going to do in the day. It was an obvious reflection of the ego issues Toby has, and the mild-ness of his experience, given he is worrying about press-ups, when many patients are worried about getting to the toilet or food to eat. If you watch some of his video interviews he also has nauseating flirtations which don't appear to be well received.
The 'recovery' concepts are extremely simple. Basically sort your diet out, improve sleep, stop over-doing it and slowly work your activity levels up. Just done through the prisim of a 'freindly' face.

You have to wonder though how friendly he really is, if he is prepared to go on national TV saying his therapy has found the cure, and ignore those people who are so ill they are close to dying or taking their own lives, who would not be helped by his methods and likely have tried this extremely simple stuff since day one. Maybe he is too stupid and naive to realise, but I do think people with his level of research, experience should not tread into this sort of territory.

Like them or loathe them, Phil Parker, Alex Howard, Dan Nueffer, Ashok Gupta etc - have done far more research into the condition than this guy and do not appear to have the obvious ego issues he does. They also have much more involved programs to try to help the condition. If anyone was inspired to try one of these Guru programs I would put Tobys on the bottom of the list.

 

[Tella]

Loool nothing changed on this forum since this old thread.
ya’ll. He’s NOT saying it’s a cure. He DOES say it’s not a push yourself program or exercise stuff (only when and if u can). I’m sorry to see many of u sick for years but are still denying and ignoring the SCIENTIFIC fact that mind and body ARE one and influence each other A LOT. why should he give his whole bag of tricks to u for free? U can pay him as much as u paid one of the ‘specialists’ who only demeaned u and then see what he advises. And yes there is a money back guarantee. And pls stop talking about viruses etc. I had a virus too. Point is, cfs happens when an overload to your body happens. The virus is just the last straw. Any prolonged chronic stress equals cfs for some. So yes many of these programs help many people as they get that one needs to calm the nervous system down in the first instance to recover.
Now I see why some say all these forums are negative......really? Nobody gets what cfs is? That’s why the initial infection or whatever is different in us all! Ugh......

 

[Julie A]

Hello all,
I found this forum through googling Toby Morrison as it all sounded too good to be true.
He posted yet another success story in his public facebook group.
I responded with something like, it's great to hear these success stories. Could you please let me know what proportion of people make a reasonable to good recovery?
My post has been removed.
I think I have my answer!

 

[Andryr]

My post has been removed.
I think I have my answer!

The fact he now charges a lot more also means something:
"The cost of the Recovery Program is $500 AUD per month for a minimum of 6 months."
It makes about $2000 in USD.

 

[RupertBear]

@Sharon1402 Toby Morrison aside, I'm still reeling from the fact that you found your NHS CFS Clinic helpful!

My GP looked into the track record of our nearest one and found it to be so dreadfully poor that he felt it would be a waste of my precious energy attending. The 2 hour round trip alone would have sent me into a tailspin from the sensory overload of moving traffic. All so I could discuss with an occupational therapist how best to manage my condition. Hmm. . .

With regard to Toby Morrison, I am unclear what you are getting for your money.

If the nutritional information isn't tailored to your individual needs (via blood tests, medical examination, etc) what makes it so different from the free information available online? Likewise, the exercises.

As for 'mindset', probably the best coping tool in my armoury has been the practice of mindfulness. I downloaded the methodology and exercises, some for pennies, others for free.

Eating well, keeping yourself as physically active as your condition allows and cultivating a positive mental attitude is nothing more than common sense (works for "normal" people too!).

Bear in mind that, being 16 at illness onset, Toby was already statistically more likely to improve over time, regardless of his "journey of discovery". That said, if anyone feels better for following his guidelines then I am sincerely glad for you.

However, based on the information presented so far, there is "nothing new under the Sun" here, if you get my drift. Forty years of CFS and counting, I continue with my nutritious diet, exercises and positive mental attitude, but still remission eludes me. Maybe I just don't want it enough . . .

I completely agree with you. I, too, have found nothing on this website thag you cannot get for free elsewhere. I watched one of his vids on youtube where he was talking about gratitude. Well, I am grateful for every little thing and realise I am lucky not to have severe ME/CFS but it never improved my symotoms. No other chronic condition would be talked about in this way!

 

[RupertBear]

I was just going to say the same thing! I have been a member of this forum for years, have seen the top doctors and taken the toxic anti-viral so. Toby's program is the best thing that has happened to me since getting sick seven years ago. I only wish I had found him sooner!!! His Less is More approach has already helped me so much and I am actually making progress!!! No one should be dissing his program when they know nothing about it! I'm rebuilding my body from scratch. The restorative movements have changed my life!! Yes exercise can make you much worse but at one rep a day??? This is incredibly slow progress but my crashes are less, my body is getting stronger etc. I started with two wall push ups every second day in August and now I am up to 8 daily, on an angle against a stair railing. YEs folks that's six months later. No this is not GET, it's restorative movement. Very different!! I also started reading a couple of pages a day and I am. Is up to 20, I meditate everyday, I have a schedule and a chart I log everyday with my activities and I haven't been bed ridden one single day in the last two months, that's unheard of! Even working on a jigsaw puzzle five minutes a day. You have to do everything slowly and find your baseline so you don't crash. I could go on and on, the best program ever!!!

Raelan Agle has a youtube channel which says the same as Toby Morrison. She has written a very insightful book too which sounds no different to what he recommends. It is great that it helps you.