People with ME/CFS are encouraged to become listeners, learners, researchers, active managers, participants (not spectators), honest self-evaluators and flexible operators. Most importantly, they are encouraged to maintain and strengthen their self-esteem in the face of their health.
| People with ME/CFS are encouraged to: | ME/CFS Australia (SA) Inc to provide: | |
| Knowledge | learn about their condition (and are encouraged to become self-researchers. | a range of options for members to access information about ME/CFS, research and coping with ME/CFS. This may be through the Internet, books, publications, meetings and handouts; and to provide validation to their situation with a view to empower members to make informed choices. |
| Taking reponsibility / control | own life and experience – to have the courage to change what they can, and accept what they can’t. | positive role models and firmly encourage members to take responsibility for their own lives – both what they do and how they feel. |
| Management | actively manage their condition: to consider different management options and understand how they might help; to make good choices based on the information before them. They are also encouraged to develop skills in dealing with family, friends and health practitioners. | information about different management options, evaluations of management options and referrals to health practitioners who are able to undertake them. Also, to provide self-management courses. |
| Self-reporting / listening | develop good skills in evaluating emotional / physical experiences – with a view to living a proactive not reactive life. | information on coping with ME/CFS, becoming more self-aware and honest in self-evaluation. |
| Adaptation | experiment and change what is not helpful in their lives, and to learn to be flixible and change priorities given different circumstances. | information / direction on being flexible given the fluctuations of health people experience. |
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Copyright ME/CFS Australia (SA) Inc
Reprinted from http://www.sacfs.asn.au/