(ME and FM) through education, research, support and advocacy.
The National ME/FM Action Network is a Canadian, registered charitable organization of volunteers since 1993, dedicated to spreading awareness for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis & Fibromyalgia.
11/15/2025
The Invisibility Cloak I Wear as a Disabled person
By: Dr. Amy Kenny
Dr. Kenny relates you want to camouflage yourself to get away with something illegal, but on days when one is visibly disabled, strangers may come up to you to offer unsolicited advice.
In this article, Dr. Kenny explains what is the reality for those who are sometimes visibly disabled and other times not.
To read Dr. Kenny’s article, please go to:
"If I perform my pain, will it seem more real to you?"
11/05/2025
When Chronic illness Turns you into a Spectator of Your Own Life
By: Kat Harrison
The author, Kat Harrison, was sitting in a parking lot and relating what is going through her mind and all the questions she is asking herself. A very relatable condition for anyone with a chronic illness.
In Kat’s case, she has been ill for 19 years.and she expresses her feelings and the questions she asked herself. She’s hoping by telling her story, it may help someone else also.
To read Kat’s story, please go to:
"I am ridiculously tired of watching my life like it's a movie."
11/01/2025
No Evidence Supports Using Graded Exercise for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Miriam E. Tucker
October 31, 202
Studies examining the effects of activity-based interventions haven’t required post-exertional malaise as a core criterion for the now-termed ‘myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.’
10/30/2025
ME/FM/Lyme/Long COVID Patient Healthcare Experiences and Priorities in BC
This report, conceived and commissioned by four BC organizations, presents the results of an on-line survey of ME, FM, Lyme and Long COVID patients in BC conducted during the winter of 2024-25.
The survey asked people to give their perspectives on strengths and weaknesses of the existing health care system and to identify opportunities for improvement. Just over 1,000 people in BC participated in the survey.
The survey shows that respondents have had some good and many bad experiences in the health system. Bad experiences included being dismissed, disrespected or disbelieved, getting wrong diagnoses or harmful treatments, and receiving little help with financial applications. It is notable how appreciative the respondents were of good experiences, even when the experience was as basic as being believed.
Here are three specific take-aways from the survey:
• Despite all their bad experiences, the respondents said that they want one-on-one care from doctors. People understand that they need individualized, on-going, informed medical care.
• The health system has a role to play in helping patients access financial and social programs. For some patients, this is very important.
• Emergency rooms can be very difficult for these patients.
Full report click 2025_Community_Survey_Report This report, conceived and commissioned by four BC organizations, presents the results of an on-line survey...
10/21/2025
7 Lessons for Recovering Your Spirit After a Health Crisis
By: Carolina Vergara M.
Caroline relates that when you’re chronically ill, everything changes in your life, including your habits. Something much more important to you that’s not your body.
In this article, the author explains what she has learned about the importance of staying you and what that means.
Please remember that there is no wrong way to help you manage a chronic illness but only what will work for YOU.
To read Caroline’s story, please go to:
"These experiences are not making me lose parts of myself, they are only changing me."
10/05/2025
ICANCME CANADIAN
COLLABORATIVE CONFERENCE ON
MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS
NOVEMBER 4-6, 2025, 1-5 PM EASTERN
2025 ME Conference Home Research 2025 ME Conference Canadian Collaborative Conference on ME Nothing About Us Without Us Please join us for three (3) half-day sessions where researchers, healthcare professionals and individuals affected by myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) come together to share up-to-d...
09/20/2025
When Chronic Illness Turns You Into a Spectator of Your Own Life
By: Kat Harrison
Kat has a chronic illness and also has a rare disease for 19 years.
She learned that there two modes of existence i.e. either in an acute, heightened state or in a stable routine state. As a result, she feels like a ‘professional patient’ and asked herself how to break out of that state and pinpoint what she is actually experiencing.
In order for her to pinpoint what she’s actually experiencing and why it matters, she has put together questions which helps her to live her life to the best of her ability.
To read Kat’s story, please go to:
"I am ridiculously tired of watching my life like it's a movie."
09/04/2025
When It Feels Like You’re Starting Over With Chronic Illness
By: Annie Basil
Annie advises not to be afraid to start over because this time you wouldn’t be starting from scratch. She points out that the fear of not knowing what will happen next terrified her as she was afraid she would never recover.
In Annie’s article she relates that due to her husband’s job, she had to move from an area where she had developed ways of coping that were not available in her new location.
To read Annie’s article about how she copes and handles obstacles in her way, please go to:
"Will the life I've struggled to rebuild come crashing down again?"
08/26/2025
What I Actually Mean When I Say I’m ‘Tired’
By: Sarah Scarisbrick-Rowe
Sarah was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis and since then that word has become a constant in her vocabulary.
In this article, Sarah explains what ‘tired’ means to her.
To read Sarah’s story, please go to:
"For me it has almost become a code word, or shorthand, for the millions of other words I keep trapped in my mouth."
08/17/2025
The High Physical and Psychological Cost of Chronic Illness Burnout
By: Amelia Blackwater
Most of us know about being burned out in one’s professional life when you are working for a living.
Amelia relates that it’s important to recognize burn-out when you are chronically ill as it is a special kind of burnout which can be extremely dangerous to a person
In this article, the author explains that this type of burnout is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion by dealing with chronic illness and medical issues which can put one’s life in jeopardy.
To read this article, please go to:
"I stopped fighting to get the care I needed until I eventually ended up in the emergency room."
08/08/2025
8 Ways Imposter Syndrome Shows Up in Life With Chronic Illness
By: Sarah Wells
Sarah’s article is rather lengthy but at the same time it expresses very much what an individual with a chronic illness goes through.
Sarah relates how someone with a chronic illness or disability experiences different stages of a chronic illness. At first, juggling work and hiding being ill from everyone.
Then there comes the time that the doctors tell you that all your blood test results are normal which makes you feel like a phony. We’ve been made to believe that if you test negative then it must be all in your head. This in turn makes one not only doubt oneself but also that you must be imagining your symptoms.
No matter how long you may have been ill, Sarah’s article validates what a person with a chronic illness or disability goes through.
To read Sarah’s article, please go to:
Have you experienced this?
07/28/2025
Yes, You Are ‘Disabled Enough’
By: Christina Irene
The author points out there are varying degrees of being disabled but that does not exclude anyone with a disability.
Christina quotes the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) that being disabled is defined as when one’s disability “significantly impacts one’s daily activities.”
To read Christina’s article, please go to:
"It doesn't matter if some people have it 'worse.'"
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Founded in June 1993, The National ME/FM Action Network is a Canadian registered charitable organization dedicated to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Fibromyalgia. (ME/FM) through research, information, advocacy and support.
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QUESTION: Why is the Canada Goose in the logo of the National ME/FM Action Network?
ANSWER: When the Canada Geese fly South for the winter, they fly in "V" formation. As each bird flaps its Wings, it creates an Uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range, than if each bird flew on its own.
Geese honk from behind to Encourage those up Front to keep up their Speed. Please remember that none of us can go it alone, we need your encouragement in the manner that you are able to do so. For some it may be financial by becoming a member, for others it may be helping of another sort. All we ask is that you help in whatever manner you are capable of so that we can keep up our Speed.
