--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Imagine you’re diagnosed with epilepsy…" description: "\"“Imagine you’re diagnosed with epilepsy: what would you think if you weren’t referred to a specialist but taken to a psychiatrist to treat you for your..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/tanya-marlow-46119_chronic-fatigue_imagine-you-re-diagnosed-with-epilepsy-w_1855145.jpg" --- # Imagine you’re diagnosed with epilepsy: what would you… ![“Imagine you’re diagnosed with epilepsy: what would you think if you weren’t referred to a specialist but taken to a psychiatrist to treat you for your ‘false illness beliefs’? This is what happens to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) patients in the UK. They are told to ignore their symptoms, view…” quote by Tanya Marlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/tanya-marlow-46119_chronic-fatigue_imagine-you-re-diagnosed-with-epilepsy-w_1855145.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/tanya-marlow-46119_chronic-fatigue_imagine-you-re-diagnosed-with-epilepsy-w_1855145.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/tanya-marlow-46119_chronic-fatigue_imagine-you-re-diagnosed-with-epilepsy-w_1855145.jpg) > ““Imagine you’re diagnosed with epilepsy: what would you think if you weren’t referred to a specialist but taken to a psychiatrist to treat you for your ‘false illness beliefs’? This is what happens to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) patients in the UK. They are told to ignore their symptoms, view themselves as healthy, and increase their exercise. The NHS guidelines amalgamate ME and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, assuming symptoms are caused by deconditioning and ‘exercise phobia’. Sufferers are offered Graded Exercise to increase fitness, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to rid them of their ‘false illness beliefs’.”” [Tanya Marlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-marlow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patients with ME are often misdiagnosed, leading to ineffective treatments that ignore their real symptoms and cause further harm. **In simple terms:** ME patients face misdiagnosis and harmful treatment approaches. Key Takeaway Advocate for accurate diagnosis and appropriate care. Themes misdiagnosis patient rights medical ethics advocacy healthcare policy Mood concerned urgent empathetic Type advocacy informative When to use this quote - clinical consultations - policy reform - patient support groups - medical education Key Concepts Medical sociology patient empowerment clinical practice Questions to Reflect On - What steps can improve ME diagnosis? - How can patients influence healthcare policy? A Different Perspective Complex medical realities may limit simple solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chronic fatigue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chronic-fatigue/) [Chronic-fatigue-syndrome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/) [Chronic-illness-stigma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chronic-illness-stigma/) [False assumptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/false-assumptions/) [False-beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/false-beliefs/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Stigma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stigma/) ## Related quotes > [ “The most important limitation of \[clinical\] guidelines is that the recommendations may be wrong... Practices that are sub-optimal from the patient’s perspective may be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-h-woolf/the-most-important-limitation-of-clinical-guidelines-is-that-the/) Steven H. Woolf > [“In summary, patients with CFS are not “deconditioned”. Neither their muscle strength nor their exercise capacity is different from that of other sedentary members…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-c-scroop/in-summary-patients-with-cfs-are-not-deconditioned-neither-their/) Garry C. Scroop > [“CBT is a much publicised and debated psychotherapeutic intervention for ME/CFS….The premise that cognitive therapy (eg. changing ‘illness beliefs’) and graded activity can ‘reverse’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-komaroff/cbt-is-a-much-publicised-and-debated-psychotherapeutic-intervention/) Anthony Komaroff > [“(The blood vessels) must be constricted so tight in the brain that little blood gets through. Perhaps it is one of the hormones that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-bell/the-blood-vessels-must-be-constricted-so-tight-in-the-brain-that/) David S. Bell ## More by Tanya Marlow > [“To be in a long-term state of limbo, not knowing the outcome or length of time waiting, is utterly, shatteringly exhausting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-marlow/to-be-in-a-long-term-state-of-limbo-not-knowing-the-outcome-or-length/) [Tanya Marlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-marlow/) > [“In a period of extended waiting in life, it is all too easy to assume that something is wrong. We assume that 'something' is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-marlow/in-a-period-of-extended-waiting-in-life-it-is-all-too-easy-to-assume/) [Tanya Marlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-marlow/) > [“What about the claim, by the PACE trial, that Graded Exercise Therapy and CBT can treat ME? This is a trial where you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-marlow/what-about-the-claim-by-the-pace-trial-that-graded-exercise-therapy/) [Tanya Marlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-marlow/) > [“Though Graded Exercise helps some, the ME Association reports 74 per cent of ME patients are harmed by the therapy, with some made permanently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-marlow/though-graded-exercise-helps-some-the-me-association-reports-74-per/) [Tanya Marlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-marlow/) > [“To wait means you are constantly straddling two realities - the hoped-for outcome either happening, or not. Yes, or no. Yes, or no. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-marlow/to-wait-means-you-are-constantly-straddling-two-realities-the-hoped/) [Tanya Marlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-marlow/) > [ “With a strange logic, \[Rod Liddle\] asserts that because ME patients deny that they have a psychiatric disorder, this proves they have a psychiatric… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-marlow/with-a-strange-logic-rod-liddle-asserts-that-because-me-patients-deny/) [Tanya Marlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-marlow/) > [“M.E. isn't just 'exercise phobia': it is a physical illness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-marlow/m-e-isn-t-just-exercise-phobia-it-is-a-physical-illness/) [Tanya Marlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-marlow/) [Explore all 8 Tanya Marlow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-marlow/) ## More Chronic fatigue quotes > [Thankfully, I found a doctor at Presbyterian Hospital in New York, Scott Hammer, who diagnosed my chronic fatigue as the Epstein-Barr virus, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-halpern/thankfully-i-found-a-doctor-at-presbyterian-hospital-in-new-york/) [Tucker Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-halpern/) > [“The neurological/cognitive symptoms are more characteristically variable than constant and often have a distinct fatiguing component to them. Especially common are cognitive ‘fog’ or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-m-carruthers/the-neurological-cognitive-symptoms-are-more-characteristically/) Bruce M. Carruthers > [“The Wessely School rejects the significant body of biomedical evidence demonstrating that chronic “fatigue” or “tiredness” is not the same as the physiological exhaustion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-hopper/the-wessely-school-rejects-the-significant-body-of-biomedical/) Malcolm hopper > [“The renaming of ME to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in 1988, giving misplaced emphasis to “fatigue”, trivializes the substantial disability of the disease 1…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-hopper/the-renaming-of-me-to-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-cfs-in-1988-giving/) Malcolm hopper > [“The term "functional somatic syndrome" is used to describe groups of co-occurring symptoms that are medically unexplained. Polysymptomatic functional somatic syndromes frequently encountered by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-l-woolfolk/the-term-functional-somatic-syndrome-is-used-to-describe-groups-of-co/) Robert L. Woolfolk > [“Daily chronic fatigue can be an indication that something is wrong in your environment that needs to be identified and removed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/daily-chronic-fatigue-can-be-an-indication-that-something-is-wrong-in/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“We have witnessed hundreds of clients and patients damage their metabolic and hormonal health through low-carb diets. It is becoming increasingly apparent that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-whitten/we-have-witnessed-hundreds-of-clients-and-patients-damage-their/) [Ari Whitten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-whitten/) > [ “To replace ME/CFS, the \[Institute of Medicine\] committee proposes the name systemic exertion intolerance disease, or SEID. This name captures a central characteristic of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-wright-clayton/to-replace-me-cfs-the-institute-of-medicine-committee-proposes-the/) Ellen Wright Clayton > [“Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a disabling condition characterized by severe unexplained fatigue and a mixed profile of symptoms such as sore throat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-a-jason/myalgic-encephalomyelitis-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-me-cfs-is-a/) [Leonard A. Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-a-jason/) > [ “ME/CFS has a greater negative impact on functional status and well-being than other chronic diseases, e.g., cancer or lung diseases\[8\], and is associated with… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-twisk/me-cfs-has-a-greater-negative-impact-on-functional-status-and-well/) Frank Twisk > [I was sick for a long time. I had a resting headache and chronic fatigue, and many days I didn't think I would wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-brown/i-was-sick-for-a-long-time-i-had-a-resting-headache-and-chronic/) [Tabitha Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-brown/) > [“Many people confuse “chronic fatigue” (which is a symptom of many chronic conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, or lupus) or “general tiredness” (which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-free/many-people-confuse-chronic-fatigue-which-is-a-symptom-of-many/) Valerie free > [“ME has been classified as a neurological condition at least since 1968 (this should have been 1969)…however, for all these years, sufferers from this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countess-of-mar/me-has-been-classified-as-a-neurological-condition-at-least-since/) Countess of Mar > [Some days were better than others, and I knew how to fake it to look normal. But some days I wanted to sleep all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-brown/some-days-were-better-than-others-and-i-knew-how-to-fake-it-to-look/) [Tabitha Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-brown/) > [“In general, fatigue is not as severe in depression as in ME/CFS. Joint and muscle pains, recurrent sore throats, tender lymph nodes, various cardiopulmonary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-m-carruthers/in-general-fatigue-is-not-as-severe-in-depression-as-in-me-cfs-joint/) Bruce M. Carruthers [Browse all 47 Chronic fatigue quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chronic-fatigue/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Imagine you’re diagnosed with epilepsy: what would you think if you weren’t referred to a specialist but taken to a psychiatrist to treat you for your ‘false illness beliefs’? This is what happens to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) patients in the UK. They are told to ignore their symptoms, view themselves as healthy, and increase their exercise. The NHS guidelines amalgamate ME and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, assuming symptoms are caused by deconditioning and ‘exercise phobia’. Sufferers are offered Graded Exercise to increase fitness, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to rid them of their ‘false illness beliefs’.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tanya Marlow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-marlow/imagine-you-re-diagnosed-with-epilepsy-what-would-you-think-if-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chronic fatigue" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-marlow/imagine-you-re-diagnosed-with-epilepsy-what-would-you-think-if-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/tanya-marlow-46119_chronic-fatigue_imagine-you-re-diagnosed-with-epilepsy-w_1855145.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/tanya-marlow-46119_chronic-fatigue_imagine-you-re-diagnosed-with-epilepsy-w_1855145.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/tanya-marlow-46119_chronic-fatigue_imagine-you-re-diagnosed-with-epilepsy-w_1855145.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Imagine you’re diagnosed with epilepsy: what would you think if you weren’t referred to a specialist but…” — Tanya Marlow", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tanya Marlow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-marlow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Imagine you’re diagnosed with epilepsy: what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-marlow/imagine-you-re-diagnosed-with-epilepsy-what-would-you-think-if-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-marlow/imagine-you-re-diagnosed-with-epilepsy-what-would-you-think-if-you/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```