Phil Parker and the origins of the Lightning Process

When Phil Parker was 19, he had an accident, which resulted in him severing the ulnar nerve in his left arm. The ulnar nerve is also known as the Musicians nerve, as it connects the brain to fine movement in the fingers. As a trainee Osteopath and aspiring Rock God guitarist, being able to use his left hand was vital. Doctors told him that he would not be able to move his fingers again, and would have a ‘claw hand’.

However Phil kept asking experts of their prognosis. The response he got was the same negative prognosis. He kept asking until he found a physiotherapist who said that he had a good chance of full recovery, which is exactly what happened.

This tenacity and questioning mind influenced Phil’s approach to questions of health and recovery, so that when he was told that people couldn’t recover from ME/CFS, he didn’t accept this way of thinking, and started exploring ways in which these people could be helped. Consequently he developed the Lightning Process, which has thousands of people report has helped them regain their health!

Simon Pimenta

Is ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome real?

I came across a comment about someone who had written to Action for ME claiming that ME/CFS was not a real condition.

This flies in the face of the facts: the World Health Organisation recognises ME/CFS as a real physical condition.

I don’t know what motivates this person to make these sort of comments. It could be that:

They like to make controversial statements.

They genuinely believe that their opinion (lets be clear it is an opinion, and a misinformed one at that) to be true.

They simply cannot grasp the idea that someone could have this kind of condition, so that they choose to dismiss it.

The question that I am interested in is how do you deal with someone who makes these sorts of comments? For someone who is experiencing this condition, these comments can be hurtful and offensive. I would suggest you consider the following:

How would you respond to someone who told you that your hair is green? Unless it is actually green, you would laugh, or perhaps think they were a bit strange. You hopefully wouldn’t wasted any breath trying to persuade them that your hair wasn’t green because there is no doubt in your mind that your hair isn’t green. 

Consider that this is the appropriate response to someone who makes such statements. Trying to convince them that they are wrong is probably going to be a waste of time, so it is better to accept that you have a different point of view, and focus your energy on the task of getting well.

Simon

Lightning Process and Anxiety: Part 2

If you have a health issue and are also experiencing anxiety, are you aware that the anxiety may be inhibiting your recovery? Anxiety triggers the fight or flight mechanism, which suppresses your immune function; this is the system for healing the body.

I had ME/chronic fatigue syndrome for 8 years. Anxiety became a daily experience; I worried constantly about my health, for instance whether doing something like going for a walk, or going out for a meal would make me feel worse. I didn’t realise that the worry itself was getting in the way of my recovery.

The Lightning Process is designed to teach people how to interrupt these unhelpful patterns and calm the fight or flight response through specific steps using movement, posture, coaching. By practicing these steps, it is possible to break these patterns and to generate calm, which enhances the body’s capacity to heal.

Simon Pimenta

Lightning Process Pregnancy News Update!

Kimberley, who did the Lightning Process in November 2010, and subsequently became pregnant, sent me an update. She says:

"Jack came into the world on the 29th July weighing 6lb 13oz and has been ruling our family ever since!  We're completely smitten of course. I did the LP between every contraction and was apparently very quiet/well-behaved in labour.  No mean feat considering it was a 31 hour labour!!"

Fantastic news Kimberley!

Simon Pimenta