Full Transcript 0:02 Hi, my name is Rachel. Before I started 0:02 Hi, my name is Rachel. Before I started feeling unwell, I was in my early twenties. I had
Early Life and First Job 0:05 feeling unwell, I was in my early twenties. I had 0:05 feeling unwell, I was in my early twenties. I had gone to university. She had 0:08 gone to university. She had 0:08 gone to university. She had studied English Philology. I have always 0:10 studied English Philology. I have always 0:10 studied English Philology. I have always loved reading and theater. 0:11 loved reading and theater. 0:12 loved reading and theater. I had my first job in 0:16 I had my first job in 0:16 I had my first job in local government and I exercised a lot back then 0:18 local government and I exercised a lot back then 0:18 local government and I exercised a lot back then , which I believe was 0:19 , which I believe was 0:19 , which I believe was a determining factor in my 0:21 a determining factor in my 0:21 a determining factor in my starting to feel unwell. 0:22 starting to feel unwell.
Illness Begins After Infection 0:23 starting to feel unwell. Yes, yes, I led a 0:24 Yes, yes, I led a 0:24 Yes, yes, I led a pretty busy life, but I also had a 0:26 pretty busy life, but I also had a 0:26 pretty busy life, but I also had a lot of fun and enjoyed my 0:27 lot of fun and enjoyed my 0:27 lot of fun and enjoyed my work and my things. So I caught 0:29 work and my things. So I caught 0:30 work and my things. So I caught a virus, a respiratory infection. I 0:33 a virus, a respiratory infection. I 0:33 a virus, a respiratory infection. I really didn't stop. I was on a 0:35 really didn't stop. I was on a 0:35 really didn't stop. I was on a weekend getaway to Italy at the 0:37 weekend getaway to Italy at the 0:37 weekend getaway to Italy at the time. So I went ahead with that. And it 0:40 time. So I went ahead with that. And it 0:40 time. So I went ahead with that. And it took me a while to get over it, which 0:41 took me a while to get over it, which 0:41 took me a while to get over it, which was unusual, and I realized that 0:43 was unusual, and I realized that 0:43 was unusual, and I realized that when I was in classes at the gym, it had 0:45 when I was in classes at the gym, it had 0:45 when I was in classes at the gym, it had affected me and I had dedicated myself a 0:47 affected me and I had dedicated myself a 0:47 affected me and I had dedicated myself a lot to exercise. So I noticed the 0:48 lot to exercise. So I noticed the 0:48 lot to exercise. So I noticed the difference in my physical condition. Then 0:50 difference in my physical condition. Then 0:50 difference in my physical condition. Then I had appendicitis. Well, yes, it came out
Appendicitis and Ongoing Fatigue 0:53 I had appendicitis. Well, yes, it came out 0:53 I had appendicitis. Well, yes, it came out of nowhere and I think it may be 0:55 of nowhere and I think it may be 0:55 of nowhere and I think it may be related to respiratory viruses and 0:56 related to respiratory viruses and 0:56 related to respiratory viruses and things like that. And then, yes, 0:59 things like that. And then, yes, 0:59 things like that. And then, yes, from that moment on I was never able to return to 1:01 from that moment on I was never able to return to 1:01 from that moment on I was never able to return to normal. I just felt bad in 1:03 normal. I just felt bad in 1:03 normal. I just felt bad in general. Headaches and things like that 1:05 general. Headaches and things like that . Some pain in arms and legs. 1:08 . Some pain in arms and legs. 1:08 . Some pain in arms and legs. But yes, fatigue, that fatigue, was the 1:10 But yes, fatigue, that fatigue, was the 1:13 predominant symptom that consumed me 1:13 predominant symptom that consumed me completely in every aspect. I 1:14 completely in every aspect. I 1:14 completely in every aspect. I was having problems at work 1:15 was having problems at work . And I was working more and more from home 1:17 . And I was working more and more from home 1:17 . And I was working more and more from home and we had a flexible schedule. So I was 1:19 and we had a flexible schedule. So I was 1:19 and we had a flexible schedule. So I was working fewer hours, but I had 1:21 working fewer hours, but I had 1:21 working fewer hours, but I had a large deficit of hours that I owed to 1:23 a large deficit of hours that I owed to 1:23 a large deficit of hours that I owed to my job, which was quite 1:24 my job, which was quite 1:24 my job, which was quite stressful. So it really
Work, Social Life, and Physical Limits 1:26 stressful. So it really 1:26 stressful. So it really affected me at work. I missed out on many 1:28 affected me at work. I missed out on many 1:28 affected me at work. I missed out on many social activities with friends. I had to 1:30 social activities with friends. I had to 1:30 social activities with friends. I had to cancel many plans. I had to 1:31 cancel many plans. I had to 1:31 cancel many plans. I had to cancel my vacation because of the time I 1:33 cancel my vacation because of the time I 1:33 cancel my vacation because of the time I spent with my family and friends in 1:35 spent with my family and friends in 1:35 spent with my family and friends in meetings, and maybe I only had an 1:36 meetings, and maybe I only had an 1:36 meetings, and maybe I only had an hour and then I had to go and rest. 1:38 hour and then I had to go and rest. 1:38 hour and then I had to go and rest. Obviously, I didn't stop going to the gym 1:40 Obviously, I didn't stop going to the gym 1:40 Obviously, I didn't stop going to the gym completely. I stopped exercising 1:41 completely. I stopped exercising 1:42 completely. I stopped exercising because it made me much worse. But 1:44 because it made me much worse. But 1:44 because it made me much worse. But even when walking, if we were going somewhere 1:46 even when walking, if we were going somewhere 1:46 even when walking, if we were going somewhere , I had to time how long I 1:48 , I had to time how long I 1:48 , I had to time how long I was standing and walking. So it 1:50 was standing and walking. So it 1:50 was standing and walking. So it was very restrictive. Fly was someone 1:52 was very restrictive. Fly was someone 1:52 was very restrictive. Fly was someone who dedicated himself to finding anything that 1:53 who dedicated himself to finding anything that 1:53 who dedicated himself to finding anything that could be helpful, taking all 1:55 could be helpful, taking all 1:55 could be helpful, taking all kinds of supplements and trying 1:57 kinds of supplements and trying 1:57 kinds of supplements and trying different things to see if they would 1:58 different things to see if they would 1:58 different things to see if they would work for him. Well, the first
Searching for Solutions 2:02 work for him. Well, the first 2:02 work for him. Well, the first videos you can get for free, I 2:04 videos you can get for free, I 2:04 videos you can get for free, I saw them a couple of years before I made 2:06 saw them a couple of years before I made 2:06 saw them a couple of years before I made the program properly. And by 2:08 the program properly. And by 2:08 the program properly. And by then, since I had probably been 2:10 then, since I had probably been 2:10 then, since I had probably been feeling unwell for three or three years, I was 2:12 feeling unwell for three or three years, I was 2:12 feeling unwell for three or three years, I was initially much more 2:14 initially much more 2:14 initially much more open-minded. You were thinking: well, how is 2:16 open-minded. You were thinking: well, how is 2:16 open-minded. You were thinking: well, how is this going to help me? And I incorporated the 2:19 this going to help me? And I incorporated the 2:19 this going to help me? And I incorporated the recommendation of meditation simply 2:21 recommendation of meditation simply 2:21 recommendation of meditation simply because I had seen it, and that helped 2:24 because I had seen it, and that helped 2:24 because I had seen it, and that helped my health to some extent on its own. 2:26 my health to some extent on its own. 2:27 my health to some extent on its own. But then, when things like
Meditation and Early Coping 2:29 But then, when things like 2:29 But then, when things like a cold or something like that came up, it wasn't 2:30 a cold or something like that came up, it wasn't 2:30 a cold or something like that came up, it wasn't enough. It helped me, but it didn't really 2:32 enough. It helped me, but it didn't really 2:32 enough. It helped me, but it didn't really prevent me from continuing to have 2:34 prevent me from continuing to have 2:34 prevent me from continuing to have setbacks and other things like that. So 2:36 setbacks and other things like that. So 2:36 setbacks and other things like that. So I had various ups and downs, but it seems to me 2:38 I had various ups and downs, but it seems to me 2:38 I had various ups and downs, but it seems to me that during the pandemic everything was, 2:40 that during the pandemic everything was, 2:40 that during the pandemic everything was, naturally, a 2:42 naturally, a 2:42 naturally, a very stressful situation. It was 2:44 very stressful situation. It was 2:44 very stressful situation. It was very stressful for me to think that I was at 2:46 very stressful for me to think that I was at 2:46 very stressful for me to think that I was at greater risk. And I remember telling 2:47 greater risk. And I remember telling 2:48 greater risk. And I remember telling people that if I got blood clots, it 2:49 people that if I got blood clots, it 2:49 people that if I got blood clots, it could set me back a year, two years, 2:51 could set me back a year, two years, 2:51 could set me back a year, two years, for life. That's how I saw it at the 2:53 for life. That's how I saw it at the 2:53 for life. That's how I saw it at the time. I was very worried. It was right 2:56 time. I was very worried. It was right 2:56 time. I was very worried. It was right at that moment that I felt I should 2:58 at that moment that I felt I should 2:58 at that moment that I felt I should try to do something different and more 3:00 try to do something different and more 3:00 try to do something different and more structured, and somehow 3:01 structured, and somehow 3:01 structured, and somehow put my trust in it. I
Pandemic Stress and Choosing a Program 3:03 put my trust in it. I 3:03 put my trust in it. I had already researched the different 3:05 had already researched the different 3:05 had already researched the different programs available, but GU's 3:07 programs available, but GU's 3:07 programs available, but GU's particularly appealed to me. So yes, 3:09 particularly appealed to me. So yes, 3:09 particularly appealed to me. So yes, I decided to try it. So I realized right away that 3:12 I decided to try it. So I realized right away that 3:12 I decided to try it. So I realized right away that , at the beginning, it 3:14 , at the beginning, it 3:14 , at the beginning, it calmed me down. So I felt a 3:17 calmed me down. So I felt a 3:17 calmed me down. So I felt a little calmer and more comforted 3:19 little calmer and more comforted 3:19 little calmer and more comforted watching the videos and stuff, and feeling 3:22 watching the videos and stuff, and feeling 3:22 watching the videos and stuff, and feeling that there were other people doing the 3:24 that there were other people doing the 3:24 that there were other people doing the same thing. Yes, it was a great support, 3:26 same thing. Yes, it was a great support, 3:26 same thing. Yes, it was a great support, obviously, because of the way it was 3:27 obviously, because of the way it was 3:27 obviously, because of the way it was presented. But then, with the 3:29 presented. But then, with the 3:29 presented. But then, with the Seventh Step process, as soon as it was introduced,
Seventh Step Brings Relief 3:31 Seventh Step process, as soon as it was introduced, 3:31 Seventh Step process, as soon as it was introduced, I discovered that I actually began to 3:33 I discovered that I actually began to 3:33 I discovered that I actually began to alleviate some of my symptoms 3:34 alleviate some of my symptoms 3:34 alleviate some of my symptoms quite quickly. So, even within 3:37 quite quickly. So, even within 3:37 quite quickly. So, even within a couple of weeks, I felt like I had 3:39 a couple of weeks, I felt like I had 3:39 a couple of weeks, I felt like I had largely overcome the slump I had been in 3:41 largely overcome the slump I had been in 3:41 largely overcome the slump I had been in , which was 3:43 , which was 3:43 , which was amazing, and obviously, having that 3:46 amazing, and obviously, having that 3:46 amazing, and obviously, having that response gave me a lot of faith in 3:48 response gave me a lot of faith in 3:48 response gave me a lot of faith in it. So, yes, I did notice less fatigue 3:50 it. So, yes, I did notice less fatigue 3:50 it. So, yes, I did notice less fatigue very quickly, but I was in a 3:51 very quickly, but I was in a 3:51 very quickly, but I was in a particularly bad place, and I think 3:53 particularly bad place, and I think 3:53 particularly bad place, and I think I did feel, yes, a greater sense of 3:55 I did feel, yes, a greater sense of 3:55 I did feel, yes, a greater sense of calm, more relaxed about 3:56 calm, more relaxed about 3:56 calm, more relaxed about things, and I was able to take a different mental approach 3:58 things, and I was able to take a different mental approach 3:58 things, and I was able to take a different mental approach to being unwell and 4:00 to being unwell and 4:00 to being unwell and see myself as someone who 4:02 see myself as someone who 4:02 see myself as someone who was recovering rather than someone 4:03 was recovering rather than someone 4:03 was recovering rather than someone who was sick. And I think that 4:05 who was sick. And I think that 4:05 who was sick. And I think that made a big difference. It took me 4:08 made a big difference. It took me 4:08 made a big difference. It took me about a year or almost 9 months to 4:10 about a year or almost 9 months to 4:10 about a year or almost 9 months to reach that 80% mark and shortly 4:12 reach that 80% mark and shortly 4:12 reach that 80% mark and shortly after we went on vacation and I
Recovery, Return to Work, and Exercise 4:15 after we went on vacation and I 4:15 after we went on vacation and I felt great and able to walk and 4:18 felt great and able to walk and 4:18 felt great and able to walk and hike without worrying about 4:20 hike without worrying about 4:20 hike without worrying about it. I think it has been very 4:22 it. I think it has been very 4:22 it. I think it has been very liberating for me to be able to go 4:24 liberating for me to be able to go 4:24 liberating for me to be able to go hiking or do some 4:25 hiking or do some 4:25 hiking or do some similar activity and not have to think that 4:27 similar activity and not have to think that 4:27 similar activity and not have to think that I can only walk for 20 minutes and 4:29 I can only walk for 20 minutes and 4:29 I can only walk for 20 minutes and then have to stop and that's the 4:30 then have to stop and that's the 4:30 then have to stop and that's the end of it, with no other option than that. 4:32 end of it, with no other option than that. 4:32 end of it, with no other option than that. Yes, it's been great. And more 4:35 Yes, it's been great. And more 4:35 Yes, it's been great. And more recently, I've returned to 4:36 recently, I've returned to 4:36 recently, I've returned to full-time work. Obviously, that has 4:38 full-time work. Obviously, that has 4:38 full-time work. Obviously, that has been a milestone. For years, the only 4:42 been a milestone. For years, the only 4:42 been a milestone. For years, the only exercise that has concerned me has been 4:43 exercise that has concerned me has been 4:43 exercise that has concerned me has been walking and working on it, because it is 4:45 walking and working on it, because it is 4:45 walking and working on it, because it is an extremely practical activity and 4:46 an extremely practical activity and 4:46 an extremely practical activity and is very useful for 4:47 is very useful for 4:47 is very useful for everyday life. But, more recently, I've been 4:49 everyday life. But, more recently, I've been 4:49 everyday life. But, more recently, I've been able to exercise more simply for the 4:51 able to exercise more simply for the 4:51 able to exercise more simply for the sake of it. So I've 4:52 sake of it. So I've 4:52 sake of it. So I've started playing badminton. So that 4:54 started playing badminton. So that 4:54 started playing badminton. So that 's pretty big.
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