170 - Amy Mooney - "Flipping the Iceberg" - What if everything you thought about recovery is underwater?

Apr 2, 2025

Amy Mooney, an occupational therapist with 25 years of experience and a caregiver to her daughter with ME-CFS, shares transformative insights on recovery. She emphasizes the importance of 'aggressive rest' as an active strategy and discusses various forms of exertion—physical, cognitive, emotional, and sensory. Amy also highlights the necessity of personalized support systems, preemptive resting, and prioritizing joyful activities for quality of life. Her deep understanding of chronic illness sheds light on managing symptom patterns and navigating recovery.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Navigating Chronic Illness: Insights and Empathy

01:33 • 23min

Understanding Individual Needs in Long Covid Recovery

24:28 • 3min

Navigating Exertion in Chronic Fatigue

27:47 • 12min

Navigating Individuality in Recovery Strategies

39:37 • 3min

Navigating Recovery: Pacing and Adaptation

42:19 • 6min

Navigating Recovery: The Importance of Gentle Steps

48:34 • 2min

Amy Mooney shares her unique perspective as both an occupational therapist and caregiver to her daughter with ME-CFS, revealing essential insights about rest, recovery, and meaningful approaches to chronic illness management.

• 25 years of occupational therapy experience transformed by caring for her daughter with ME-CFS for the past decade
• Learning to see "beyond the iceberg" - what practitioners miss when they only observe patients during clinical visits
• The concept of "aggressive rest" as an active strategy rather than simply doing nothing
• Understanding different forms of exertion: physical, cognitive, emotional, and sensory
• How each person has different "buckets" for various types of exertion and unique symptom patterns
• The importance of preemptive rest before activities and recuperative rest afterward
• Creating personalized support systems that address individual symptoms and priorities
• Safely testing boundaries rather than pushing through prescribed exercise protocols
• Why prioritizing activities that bring joy and meaning is crucial for quality of life
• Being cautious about delayed responses to increased activity - sometimes PEM hits 3 days later

Amy has been working with Bateman Horne Center to provide education and resources to medical providers, helping ensure patients receive appropriate care focused on true rest rather than harmful exercise regimens.

Links:

Amy's private practice: www.OT4ME.com
Bateman Horne Center's rehabilitation professional resources and videos: https://batemanhornecenter.org/providers/mecfs/diagnosing-managing/rehab-professionals/
Peer-to-peer Facebook group (for therapists only) - PT, OT & SLP Resources for Treating ME/CFS: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1EEnAJvf6v/

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(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

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**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**