From Housebound to Hiking: My Recovery from CFS
“How could I possibly get on an international flight?” At the time, that question felt almost absurd. I could barely leave the house to do a simple food shop.
My world had become incredibly small, confined by debilitating fatigue, brain-fog, and the constant fear of triggering a “crash” that would set me back days, sometimes weeks. Every decision revolved around conserving energy. Every step was calculated. Every plan came with a cost.
And yet, 8 years ago, in the depths of chronic fatigue, I made a decision that would change the entire trajectory of my life.
The Moment Everything Shifted
I’d been dealing with ongoing symptoms for months, trying everything to get better. I felt stuck, frustrated, and increasingly desperate for something to change. That’s when my friend Kat told me about the Lightning Process. If I’m honest, my initial reaction was skepticism. It sounded too simple, and different from everything I’d been told about recovery.
But then I looked at her. She was back at work full-time. She had her life back. She was symptom-free. And something inside me clicked. That’s what I want. I thought to myself “If she can do it, so can I”.
Taking a Leap When It Made No Sense
In 2017, there were no practitioners available in Australia. So I made what felt like an impossible decision at the time: I booked a flight to Christchurch. Even that alone felt enormous. I remember calculating the number of steps from my Airbnb to the training venue, carefully managing every ounce of energy. But my conviction was clear, I knew this was what I had to do.
So I went anyway, and that decision changed everything.
Three Days That Changed My Life
I embarked on my own Lightning Process journey and after three life changing days, I returned home a different person. Not just “managing better,” I now had a completely different outlook on life.
I went from calculating steps…to dancing salsa.
From isolation… to reconnecting with friends and life again.
From barely functioning… to hiking the Camino de Santiago 6 months later.
For the first time in a very long time, the future didn’t feel uncertain or limited. It felt full of possibility.
I finally understood what I needed to do to retrain my brain and nervous system, and more importantly, I trusted that my body could heal. I’d seen the changes in my body and felt the shift in my energy and focus. That was the beginning of a completely new chapter.
A Full Circle Moment
This week, I’m packing my bags again. New Zealand bound once more. But this time, it looks very different. Instead of fear and uncertainty, my bag is filled with thermals, waterproof boots, and excitement. I’m heading off on a 3-day hiking adventure on the Banks Track with my best girlfriends.
And I can’t help but pause and take the joy of this moment in. Because this life was once unimaginable. Back then, I was housebound, exhausted, and unsure if I’d ever feel like myself again.
Now? Pain and fatigue feel like distant memories. There’s no second-guessing my body. No fear of what might happen. Only excitement. Freedom. Strength.
If You’re Where I Once Was…
I know what it feels like to be stuck. To question if things will ever change or wonder if your life will ever feel like yours again.
But I also know this: change is possible. It can begin with one decision. A different choice, a willingness to try something different to what you’ve already done.
If you’re on your own healing journey and you’re ready to reclaim your life from chronic symptoms, this could be your moment to do something different.
Work With Me
I’ll be working with clients in Sydney and online this May.
If you’re ready to take that next step, you can apply to work with me.
Hi I’m Liz.
Health & Mindset Coach and Advanced Lightning Process® Practitioner.
I specialise in empowering people stuck with chronic symptoms with the knowledge, skills and support to reclaim their health and transform their life.
If you are ready to learn how to influence your mind-body connection, join me on my next Lightning Process® seminar, either online or in Sydney. Check out the next training dates here.
Want to know more about how we can work together, contact me for a free 20 minute discovery call.
