Dear Amir - Thank You!

No matter how much I told myself I could get better, I never 100% believed it was possible. However, I did make 100% commitment to myself that I would put everything I learned from you into practice and not give up. I never thought I would get to write this email, but I am.

I feel better mentally and physically than I can ever remember. After I spoke to you before Christmas I was in a major depressive episode, then preceded to have 3 kidney infections, which took away my faith in getting better even more, although I kept persisting with what you taught me.

I have been on seroxat since 2003 and it obviously wasn't working anymore, so my GP wanted to wean me off it so that I could start a new anti-depressant. I have reduced from 10ml of seroxat and I am now only on 3ml, but here is the catch, the wonderful catch...

I am not depressed anymore, in fact I am not even starting a new anti-depressant, I don't need to! My GP is delighted too. It seems as if the anti-depressant was actually stopping me from feeling happy, as although I was reaping a lot of benefits from coming to see you, that the full strength of the trainings impact was not being allowed to get through.

Now I wake up at 8.30am every morning and am so excited about what the day has to bring. Sometimes I find it hard to get to sleep but it's because I am so looking forward to the next day.

Last week I had really bad insomnia, probably withdrawal effects from coming off the seroxat, but what you taught me stopped me freaking out and over analysing it and now I am sleeping 1am - 8.30am consistently. Not only am I staying awake all day every day, but it's not even an effort, I don't even want to go to sleep in the day.

I am also half-way through the book you recommended me, Stop Thinking, Start Living, and it is definitely a sacred text as far as I am concerned, and fully supports and compliments what you taught me.

All the way through typing this I have been crying tears of joy. I honestly thought I was going to be the exception to the rule, and when I spoke to you before Christmas I was lower than I had ever been and sleeping so much. Now I really do have a life I love and I know that it's only going to get better!

I hope my story inspires other people for who the results are not as quick as for others, life is complicated, but by persevering with what you taught me and using it to support me, I am now shining.

Thank you, so much for believing in me Amir, even when I didn't. I haven't got my old life back that I had pre M.E. and I don't want it, I now have a new wonderful life that is better than anything I've had before.

- Alieshia

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Update 2008

I have now graduated from university with 2:1 BSc Psychology and I am now working full time as a support worker for adults with learning disabilities and mental health problems, as well as training in Tae Kwondo.

What you taught me has enriched my life, and I continue to use it when I feel symptoms creeping up on me occasionally. Also the book you recommended - Stop Thinking, Start Living by the late Dr Richard Carlson has also been a great inspiration to me, I have recommended it to many friends and members of my family, in fact my Mum and I have invented a new verb, if we catch each other procrastinating over something we say to each other 'stop that, Richard Carlson that thought!'

I wish you many success in the future, and hope to stay in contact. I was one of the more complicated recoveries, what with the problems created by my anti-depressant medication, but my life is now so full of happiness and energy, I have completed nearly everything on my 'when i am well list' that you got us to create, the last thing I want to achieve is ski-ing and the only thing stopping me is finances, but it is something my boyfriend and I would both like to do in the future.

There are several people I have recommended to you, and your treatment worked wonderfully for them. I am sure you will continue to help many more people, with your healing and positive personality.

Positive Wishes,

Alieshia Wilson