Rethinking Post Exertion Malaise and the Limits of Pacing

The Myth of Pacing and Graduated Exercise in Fatigue Disorders

Have you ever been advised to manage fatigue conditions like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia, or Long Covid by pacing your activities or gradually increasing exercise? If so, you're not alone. This advice is deeply ingrained in conventional treatment protocols. However, there’s a fundamental misunderstanding at its core.

Where Conventional Methods Fall Short

Pacing and graduated exercise therapy presume that fatigue symptoms are primarily physical or psychological and can be overcome by slowly building up activity levels. The assumption is that fatigue is something to be controlled or managed through gradual exposure and discipline. This approach overlooks a critical element: the deeper, causative emotional signals from your Body Consciousness.

The True Meaning Behind Fatigue

At Mickel Therapy®, we recognise fatigue symptoms as signals sent by the Body Consciousness when emotional energy becomes blocked. Commonly, the blocked emotion is one of boredom or a lack of fulfilment—your Body’s way of telling you it needs genuine joy or purposeful engagement, not forced activity.

Imagine this: if your emotional system sends boredom signals because your life lacks joy, your Body is literally asking you to engage in something meaningful. Merely pacing or gradually increasing meaningless activities won't solve the root issue. Instead, it might even deepen the fatigue because it fails to provide the emotional reward your Body is craving.

The Importance of the Emotional Reward

The real issue with "pushing through" fatigue without addressing emotional signals is the absence of a meaningful reward or positive emotional experience—the emotional carrot. Without joy or genuine fulfilment as a goal, the Body sees no reason to lift its symptoms. Your fatigue is not an enemy to be fought; it’s an intelligent messenger guiding you towards greater fulfilment.

Post-Exertion Malaise (PEM): A Misunderstood Phenomenon

A commonly misunderstood symptom is Post-Exertion Malaise (PEM). Traditionally seen as a physiological crash following exertion, Mickel Therapy views PEM differently. It’s not your body punishing you for activity; rather, it's your Body Consciousness reacting negatively when it anticipates returning to boredom or unfulfilling routine after experiencing enjoyment or meaningful activity.

Consider this scenario: after a fulfilling day spent enjoying activities that genuinely nourish your soul, your Body Consciousness expects more joy ahead. When it sees nothing similarly rewarding planned for the next day, it signals disappointment with symptoms often mistaken as a crash or PEM. In reality, your Body is expressing dissatisfaction, pushing you to continue pursuing fulfilling activities.

The Mickel Therapy Approach

Rather than imposing strict pacing schedules or pushing through fatigue aimlessly, Mickel Therapy teaches you to understand and respond directly to the blocked emotional signals your Body Consciousness is sending. By prioritising genuine joy, fulfilment, and meaningful engagement, you naturally restore your energy and well-being.

Listen to Your Body, Not the Myth

Ultimately, fatigue disorders require an approach that addresses underlying emotional needs rather than superficial or misguided treatments. Reconnecting with joy and purposeful living is the true path to recovery—not pacing and graduated exercise built on outdated myths.

It's time to start listening deeply to your Body Consciousness and letting it guide you toward a life full of vitality and authentic engagement.