Esther Rantzen Feb 07 - Lighting Process

Leonie Gough Jan 07 - Lightning Process
 

Zena Gibson Nov 08 - Lightning Process

Chris Marques - Dec 08 - Lightning Process

LIGHTNING PROCESS PARTICIPANT STORIES

Emma Bond  - Age 44 (Former Depression/Anxiety Sufferer)

LP Seminar – October 2008

I went on the Lightning Process Course with Sally-Ann as I had struggled with anxiety and depression for many years. Someone recommended that I try the course as I had found that nothing had worked for me in the long term and I kept returning to an anxious and depressed state. It was interfering with my life on every level, my relationships were suffering, my work was also suffering and I had reached a point at which I no longer felt like leaving the house. After day one of the course I started to realise that something was happening inside me, changes were taking place, after the second day I had stopped being anxious altogether. Shortly afterwards I stopped taking my medication and when I returned home after the course I felt like a different person. I now have energy, enthusiasm for life, I want to socialise, I feel optimistic, and more importantly I do not feel like I am a slave to the negative feelings I suffered from for so long.  I have been given the tools to manage how I feel and to feel great!  Sally-Ann was wonderful, professional and positive and has a great sense of humour.  She made me feel that I was able to get better, and I have done!
 
Thank you Sally-Ann, I will heartily recommend you to anyone I come across who needs help with anxiety and depression.

Pauline Robertson – Mother of William Age 12 (former ME sufferer)

LP Seminar - December 2006

"William had an active full day yesterday  went to cadets in evening didn't get home till 10p.m...went to bed happily...fine this morning just gone out to get the Christmas tree with Dad...he is living the life he loves!!! what can I say ...I spent yesterday a nervous wreck but kept it from William had to go out a few times to talk it through with a couple of close friends as I found it so hard to take in that it has happened so quick!! I feel great today!! it is real!!!

If you ever want me to talk to anyone who may feel nervous about doing the Lightning Process I would be happy for you to give them my contact details. In the words of my 16yr old daughter  if Lightning Process  is so effective why isn't it offered by the NHS!!!

Thanks again and have a good Christmas!! you have given us our best Christmas present!!"

Update - November 2008 - William is very well . He is leading a full and very active life and will be 14 next week.He is top in his year for maths, enjoys football every lunchtime attends St. John Cadets (regularly on first aid duty at Aldershot's home football games) and plays table tennis at almost league level. Those dark days of ME are far behind us and all down to the wonderful Lightning Process. I am convinced he would still be struggling now if we had followed NHS advice. Please keep up the good work and thanks for still thinking about us. Best Wishes Pauline.

Lauren McLeish  Age 15 ( Former ME Sufferer)
LP Seminar  March 2008
It's Lauren McLeish from the lightning process in March 2008. I just thought I would let you know how I am getting on. Since the lightning process I have done my GCSE’s and I passed all of them, I am now doing a level 2 CACHE child care course at school in sixth form which includes 2 days work experience in a nursery. It is really nice being able to go to school all day every day and feel like everyone else. I have been feeling very well since March and feeling a lot more positive! Thank you very much for making me feel better!!!   Love from Lauren. x
 

Kate Lovell - Age 33 (Former ME sufferer)
LP Seminar  March 2007
"I just wanted to send you an update on my progress as I am SO incredibly pleased . . . .  I went for a bike ride along the seafront on Saturday (after a 'refresher course' from my Husband). This is the first exercise I have taken for ages!!!  On Sunday I went out for a few drinks with our friends which was fab, and yesterday I helped my Hubby with some decorating . . . amazing . . . . I really feel like I have got my life back . . . thank you SO MUCH." Update - October 08 - I can't believe how much energy I have (apart from the usual tiredness that all new Mums have!) - James has given me even more of a boost and when people ask me "how is your illness now that you've had James" I get quite cross and say "I don't have an illness anymore!!".  I walk a long way each day pushing him in his pushchair and have to remind myself that not so long ago I wouldn't have been able to manage a short walk to the shops!!! - I still won't ever "do ME" again.
 

Sarah Wrann - 48 (Former ME sufferer) January 2008
LP Seminar - November 2006
"I would call it life changing as it really seemed like one minute I had ME and the next I hadn't. But obviously there was a process involved..... I had been ill for nearly 4 years when I came to see Sally-Ann on the 15th November 2006, having gone through all the pacing-type treatments, vitamins, dietary changes, all of which helped to a limited amount. Pacing in particular I found to be anxiety provoking and seemed to make my symptoms worse. I also tried Reverse Therapy which really lifted me out of my 2005 relapse and helped me to listen to and understand my symptoms. However, it did not cure me.  The Lightning Process has really highlighted for me how much negative thought patterns were keeping me ill and how much a part of my life they were both before being ill and indeed a huge contributory factor behind me getting ill in the first place and particularly during my illness. The process is easy to learn which means anyone can do it. Unlike personal therapy it doesnt keep you harping on about how difficult everything has been in your life but helps you to make the changes for yourself. It has empowered me so much.  I am now starting work and enjoying being part of normal life again. I am working on my stamina which is improving all the time. I now know what it feels like to experience normal tiredness again. I have also met a wonderful man and am getting married in the summer! Take a leap of faith and try this amazing life enhancing experience. It will be with you for the rest of your life." 
 

Zena Gibson ( 58 -  Former ME sufferer) - May 2007

LP Seminar - January 2007

"I had ME for 12 years, diagnosed in 1995 but now I no longer have It - I am better. Throughout those years my life was severely restricted and eventually I came to terms with the fact that I would not get any more improvement and would have to manage it for the rest of my life. I was very skeptical about any "cures" so when a friend  informed me that two of her relatives regarded themselves as cured by the Lightning Process I was not impressed, However, the following week a newspaper article gave more details of the LP and explained the link between ME and high levels of adrenaline. As I had noticed  for some time that my symptoms always worsened when I became excited and enjoyed myself or was stressed about anything I had considered the link between my ME  and adrenaline. As a result I enrolled on a LP course with Sally-Ann North. In reality I felt the course would only help me cope with the ME, possibly. I did not dare to think it would go because I had been disappointed so many times before. Sally-Ann assured me that I would get better.

I turned up on the first day and Sally-Ann guided me through the LP .Strangely I was not tired when I got home. Each day I felt better and when the course was completed I was determined to make it work. The next morning I woke up normally - I did not just "come round” as I had previously. Every time I felt a symptom or thought about ME I practiced the LP sometimes 30-40 times a day at first. My energy started to flood back and I started walking longer and longer distances. As the week progressed I noticed so many changes, my eyes were not dazzled by TV or computer screens, colour came back to my cheeks and my eyes sparkled. I read a book, did sudokos and crossword puzzles in fact anything I wanted. With the LP you get extra phone consultations but I only rang Sally-Ann to tell her how wonderful it all was! I am overjoyed .I have given up Prozac after 12 years, with no effort, and feel just normal again. I have 4-5 extra hours in the day and that has taken a while getting used to! I regard it as little short of a miracle and have recommended Sally-Ann and the LP to several people and not only those with ME. I felt so encouraged by Sally-Ann and secure in her experience. She is down to earth as well as inspirational and knows that anyone who truly wants to get well will do so. It is now 4 months since my ME went and I now go dancing every week and see friends and go out when I want not just when I can my life really is enjoyable again. (I did find Phil's CD invaluable it kept me on course at the beginning.)".

Update October 2008 - I am fine - just celebrated my 60th! I had a wonderful time lots of friends and no ME. Regarding the ME I have learnt a great deal about the nature of ME in the last 20 months. Yes the Lightning Process works but at times of stress if you let them your ME symptoms can return. This has happened twice in the time I have been well. I want to emphasise that ME does not come back YOU allow it to return by letting yourself worry about the possibility that it will. As soon as you realise that you are" doing ME "start the LP and take practical steps to alleviate any problems. I have only had two occasions when I have wobbled and within a week or less I have regained control and my symptoms have gone. Do not take on too much and if you do and you fell stressed then take control. I am back taking dancing lessons each week and go social dancing for 3 hours per week .I have cooked lunch for 72 elderly people and help run the local youth group as well as walks by the sea most days.
 

Lucy Treibel (27 - Former ME Sufferer)  June 2007

LP Seminar - November 2006

Between the ages of 18 and 26 I was a chronic-fatigue sufferer, and my daily life was limited by the boundaries of my energy, which were hugely varied depending onwhat I had done, or tried to do. I went through the cycle of being well for a few days, then unwell for weeks, more times than I can count. I had the loving support of my family and boyfriend, later fiancé, Thomas, and usually tried to make the best of the situation, but could not ever reconcile myself with being ill forever. I was unable to work or socialise regularly, and sometimes unable to do such basic things as make my own dinner or take a shower.

When I heard about the Lightning Process, and researched it a little, I was suddenly so excited I couldn't sleep for three nights in a row. (Perhaps not so helpful for someone with chronic fatigue!) As a committed Christian I spent time praying about it and became convinced it was going to make me better. And... It did. After the three-day course last November with Sally-Ann, I returned home and immediately went out with Thomas for dinner and drinks in central London. We had never done that before - and I will never forget his face as it dawned on him, at about midnight, that I really was being healed. I was already so much better that we had to go home because HE was tired!

I have now been completely well for about seven months and still cannot quite believe how different my life is. A couple of weeks' work for a new life! My gratitude for it all grows daily. Thomas and I got married recently and, not only could I fully enjoy our wedding day, but we've started out our lives together without the constant restriction of my health. I'll be spending this next year studying for a long dreamt-of MA and we are so excited about the possibilities for our future. I continue to tell people about the way in which I became well, and recommended the LP wholeheartedly whenever I'm asked about it.

Update - October 2008

I've just finished my Masters in African Studies at SOAS (the School of Oriental and African Studies, in central London) and that went really well - it was wonderful to be able to bury myself in books for a year, and to study something in which I am just so interested. Thomas and I even flew out to Malawi for a ten-day research trip last June, before I wrote up my 10,000 word dissertation. We had a fantastic time, made many new friends and hope to be able to return soon. Now, we are house-hunting around west London, which seems to be taking up rather a lot of my time! I'm also job-hunting: I'm looking for part-time positions, for a variety of reasons. This has been an important realisation, as it will stop me from going down the 'over-doing it' path again in the future and allows me to use my full health for more important things, such as spending time with my husband and our friends, voluntary work, lots of church activities, and simply taking the time to enjoy each day a little more and count all of those little blessings.I have been in touch with more people than I can count about the LP since I did it almost two years ago. Thank you so much.

In June 2007 I came from Norway to Sally-Ann in Farnham to learn LP. A few Norwegians had successfully recovered from ME by learning LP, and I wanted to try this training as well. When I left Norway, I had not been outside my parents' house for 9 months (except to see my GP and go to the hospital a few times). I had been laying in bed at least 20 hours a day for 9 months, and my daily goal was to be able to sit up for 15 minutes to eat dinner with my family (with a 60 minute rest in a dark room before and after).

I came to England with a friend to attend the course. The day we left Norway, I could not sit up for any prolonged time as usual, so I was laying down in the car to the airport. I was sitting in my wheel chair through security, I was laying waiting by the gate, and I was laying on the plane with an extra seat. A chauffeur drove us from the airport to Farnham, so that I could lay down in his car.  

The training course started the next morning, and as usual I could not sit up, so I was laying on a blanket on the floor, listening to Sally-Ann. At 1pm we went back to the hotel to practice what I had learnt. By 3.00pm I was able to go for a 30 minutes walk around Farnham with my friend. I had no symptoms, no fatigue, and it felt like ME was so far away. That was just amazing! Later that evening we went for dinner and for another long walk, and I felt healthy (except from extremely sore legs)! And I could not even sit up a few hours earlier! 

The next two days we learnt more about the process, and I really felt like I did not have ME anymore. The last day we walked around in London all day before going back to Norway. My parents came to meet us at the airport, and for them it was like meeting another person. Three days earlier I could hardly sit up, now I was pushing my own wheel chair! I had a long lasting flu when I came back to Norway, and I was worried, but Sally-Ann helped me through.

Now, four months later I am doing fantastic! I am studying, living in a shared apartment, working out twice a week, seeing friends, going to concerts and parties, playing in an orchestra, and living a normal student life! Laying in bed all day and night seems so far away, and I am extremely thankful. It is possible to recover from ME, but you have to take the challenge!  Thank you so much for teaching me this fantastic tool, Sally-Ann!

Update October 2008:
Now it has been 15 months since I learnt LP from Sally-Ann, and all I can say is that ME is not part of my life anymore. I am a healthy, totally recovered person living a normal life. I am finishing my master thesis this year, working part-time, travelling, playing in the orchestra, going to parties etc. ME seems really far away, and I am so grateful that I learnt this tool.

I have had ME for a year and a half, and have tried numerous treatments and specialists and doctors and no one could find a cure for my ME. After trying so many different things I gave up on any hope of being normal again.

I had been chatting to an old friend who had ME a wile a go and told me about the Lightning Process and I was very determined not to do it - this was over a year ago. In September I became very ill and was basically bed bound by ME, I became so frustrated that I had to find some thing to do, my mum suggested to look at the Lightning Process again because there was a slot for me in a couple of weeks. I began to research it and found that maybe it was the thing for me. It was in a group and I was not sure about being with other people but I was assured that you got the same results as you did in a one to one. You went there for only three days and for three hours a day. I went with my mum to Farnham and stayed in a hotel while we did the training, I went with a very open mind about the whole thing.

On the first day we turned up and met everyone and by the end of the first day I could see a change in the way I was physically and mentally around a 40 to 50% change. Then by the end of the three days I was not resting and was out in Farnham for hours, out to supper and lunch some days. I was now ready to leave Farnham behind and get on with the life that I want to live, I was worried about what people would think that I could not possibly be better in three days but who cares -  it is your life not there’s.

After leaving Farnham I have been to stay with my Granny and Grandpa, which I have not done in months, one of the biggest steps was going to see my Headmaster at my new school but it was so encouraging that I hade nothing to worry about. Every where I go people complement me on how well I look and it gives you such a buzz and a real confident boost.

I would highly recommend to anyone even thought it is not proven, all the people in my group are on their way to a life that they want to live, and it did not just help with my ME but my confidence and constant worry.

My name is Lauri and this is how I feel after taking the Lighting Process:

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HEHEHHEHEHEHehehHeHeHeHe !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Life Now:

I am doing so well now, amazingly well, unbelievingly well! It is so exciting to think of all the things I get to enjoy now without CFS.  To say the lightning process has changed my life is too small a statement.  It has opened my teacup to an ocean of experience -- full with currents, and tropical fish, and magical things that you can only dream about. I got healthy, but that is only a beginning. I took the Lightning Process (LP) to be healthy and I am. Now I am using it to stay healthy, to gain confidence, to relax (not do stress), and to be happy.

All the symptoms that went along with the fatigue of CFS are gone. Now, I can eat any food under the sun; chocolate, milk, cheese, junk food :), green beans, a nice steak, risotto. The list goes on.  When I was doing CFS, I couldn’t eat dairy, red meat, rice, or certain fruits and vegetables because I had food sensitivities. Now I can go anywhere without fear of collapse, fatigue or doing a CFS crash the next day.  Over my Christmas holiday from school, I travelled by plane and by bus for 7 hours to a ski resort to visit a friend; BY MYSELF! (From Montreal to Banff, Alberta in Canada). I could never have dreamt of managing that before I learnt the Lightning Process. And I did more than manage it. I went downhill skiing, out to bars dancing, walking around town being a tourist. And I felt great!

New doors are now open to me. It’s exciting to think that I can do anything; I am not being held back by CFS. I won’t have to live at home with my parents forever. I can go to school full time, get a job, move out, marry and raise a family. I now know that I will have a future. Before taking the L.P., I was afraid that my future would be very limited.

Three months after taking the LP, my life has drastically changed. I am going to school full time now. I drive everywhere! To and from school (1/2 hour drive) with the music blaring in morning traffic. I take a full day’s worth of classes, hang out with students on my breaks, do homework, drive home. And I have the energy to wake up and do it all again! (No crashes). I have weekends free for clubbing downtown, for going to the gym 2-3 times a week ( I am building muscle that I lost!), for seeing friends, shovelling snow off our roof, shopping, skiing, traveling. I can easily so a month worth of pre L.P. social activity in a weekend. And wake up feeling rested.

My Life ‘doing’ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS):

I had CFS for 6 1/2 years from the age of 15-21. I went through all the gammit of doctor’s visits trying to understand what was wrong with me, them not believing me. I went to holistic healers: naturopathic doctors, acupuncturists, Reiki, reflexology and learned to PACE myself.  I survived.  I found pleasure in the smallest of teacups that were open to me.  I was bed ridden and house bound for most of the 6 years, with ups and downs in between. I lost nearly all of my friends, had no social life. I could walk slowly for maybe 10 -15minutes a day.  I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. If you are reading this you probably know what it's like. So here's my message. Do the Lightning Process. This weird, too good to be true, "how can it possibly work?" thing. Hopefully I can answer some of your questions.

Taking the Course:

The LP is an amazing thing. But do not think that someone magically waves a wand over your head and it happens. It IS a training process!  It does require work.

I'm a Fine Art student, and taking the LP course is like taking a drawing or painting class. For the first 10 minutes of each class, the teacher does a demonstration, showing a technique he wants us to learn. Then we go to our work stations and for the rest of a three hour class we draw. We work to learn how to do the technique the teacher has shown us. He will go around and give suggestions and help if you are lost or off track, but mainly it is up to us to do the work. For me, the lightning process was the same. Each day for three days for only three hours, I went and learnt the technique from Sally-Ann. Then it was up to me to go home (or out shopping, or for a walk, because right away I had energy) and to practice and apply the techniques. During each session, Sally Ann patiently and expertly guides however it is up to you to do the work that's needed.

Sally Ann is a professional, open, kind person who really wants everyone who takes the LP to succeed and start living a life he/she wants. Her positive outlook made taking the course really fun!  And best if all, the effects were immediate! The first day we came into the room not knowing each other, sitting down and tired (it was early for someone who sleeps 1/2 the day!), by the second day we all came in happy and chatting, and standing up drinking tea and talking on the break. 

If you are contemplating taking the course and have questions, please ask Sally Ann for my email address or telephone number. It was a big help to me to talk to someone who had taken the course and recovered.  I know you can too!

Lots of love to anyone going through this journey,

Update September 2008 - This is Lauri Lidstone, I took the LP course with you last November (2007). I guess you heard from Kirsty and me on your answering machine from sunny Spain! Wasn't that fun!
We were so excited to talk to you, and to share how great we were doing, and the cool thing that we had kept in touch and I had come all the way from Canada, and her from England to meet up in Spain. I had a wicked time! We swam in the Mediterranean Sea and in a river in an oasis in the desert hills! It was beautiful, adventurous, and more than my dreams come to true. During the Lightning course I had talked about how after it was all over I wanted to do the confidence to travel the globe solo. And I did! :) I spent 6 weeks this summer bouncing around the continent of Europe. I went to Germany, Belgium, Holland, France, and Spain. It was fabulous! I stayed with friends and family most of the way and even spent a blissful week in Paris by myself!  I thought I'd share with you some photos and the great news. I can't thank you enough. You are the gateway through which I walked and found my health, my life, and myself.
I have a huge smile on my face as I write this to you!

I am enrolled in full time CEGEP (school level between high school and university here), and I have a part time job as the school sports photographer -which is amazing. I took 600+ digital photos at a football game today. :)

I am just writing to tell you how incredible the Lightning Process has been for me. I finished the lightning process a day before my 13th birthday on the 8th June 2007, now a year on I just wanted to give you an update on how the last year has been.
Before the lightning process I had to be home educated as school was too much work, I was always miserable and I couldn’t fully partake in any holidays or sports (in and out of school).
But since the day I started the Lightning Process things have changed, and I am going to give you a quick rundown on some of the things I have been up to…

• I rejoined the school hockey team as Goalkeeper, and after a hard struggle against a countless number of schools, we won the final National Tournament! We are now the U14 National Champions.

• I finally managed to go on the CU weekend away with school where we did an amazing number of team activities in the Isle of Wight. A few weeks after I also went with my youth group (outside of school) to another activity weekend away near the Devils Punchbowl.

• I went on holiday to Cornwall with my best friend from school and got up to lots of things, including a 12 mile bike ride, horse riding, bonfires on the beach, daily walks to town and a very competitive visit to the local sports centre.

• I went to the Lake District with my friend from school and did horse riding and had a go at clay pigeon shooting. We also went for many walks around the lakes and hills with the dog.

• And finally I am back at school full time, and loving most of it (apart from the work bit!) right now I’m about to do my end of year exams, and next year will be preparing for my GCSE work.

I have got my life back and I just wanted to thank you again, even though I have my down days, the Lightning Process helps me out of it incredibly quickly. And I’m now looking forward to living my life to the full and being able to do whatever I want to (within reason of course)!

THANKS AGAIN!  Charis Hardy xx

 



Thomas Jones – Age 32 (Former CFS Sufferer)
LP Seminar November 2008 

Tom Oct 08                                                        Tom Dec 09
 

Tom arrived at the Lightning Process course with his two walking sticks and shades on. He wore his shades throughout the first day of the course and lay on the floor on cushions. Life was pretty miserable before Tom walked through that door. He was virtually house-bound and could not walk any distance at all even with his sticks. He used a mobility scooter to get out of the house on the rare occasions he felt well enough and would come home exhausted wondering if the trip outdoors had been worth it. He used to say he only lived for his family and didn't feel like living for himself. He had no life other than the joy of watching his children enjoy themselves but would feel frustrated that he didn't have the energy to be the type of daddy that he wanted to be.
 

After day one of the Lightning Process Tom's life changed immediately. He ditched his sticks and his walking got better by the day. He walked his girls to school for the first time since his ME started and they were so excited that it made our eyes fill with tears. His whole outlook on life has changed and he now enjoys living for himself. He has the energy to be out and about daily and can now play with his children and take them swimming and on walks. The other day he took them sledging and joined in too, a task that would have been impossible before the Lightning Process. He now walks his children to school most days and never takes life and health for granted. He's still got a little way to go but he's now living a life that he loves. Sally - Ann has been a total inspiration and is a fantastic coach. She has enhanced our lives tremendously and is still always there for Tom should he need a bit of extra encouragement and support. We can't begin to thank her enough.