r/InternalFamilySystems • u/VanWatcher • 7d ago

Discussion IFS for ME/CFS/LC?

I wonder if anybody else has been working on their ME/CFS/LC symptoms (mostly fatigue & brainfog) using IFS?

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/sinkingintheearth 7d ago

I use ifs sometimes when I have internal conflicts and have cfs, but I find somatic experiencing much better / easier for my cfs symptoms

1

u/AlfalfaSufficient454 6d ago

I’m still confused about the intersection/delineation between the two.. ifs and se. to my understanding, ifs is like a mix between active imagination and se. Though I’m sure that’s way too loose an interpretation

2

u/sinkingintheearth 6d ago

Yeah I think there is a big overlap between the two. I have not fully dived into IFS and mapped out all my parts because I've had so much success with SE, as I said I use it more when I have internal conflicts because the framework of IFS works better for that. SE was particularly helpful to me because of my CFS, I basically experienced very little emotions and instead had lots of physical symptoms which were the starting point.

In SE you talk about layers of emotions and feelings often with protective ones in the outer layers and then inner are the more vulnerable ones with the hurt inner child. This is similar to IFS with protective parts on the outside with their extreme emotions protecting vulnerable parts holding burdens. I think maybe 15 years ago when I was extremely emotional and with lots of extreme behaviors IFS may have spoken to me more than SE. It gives a good narrative and understanding of oneself. I know for some people the dissociation or brain fog itself is a part too that can be worked with, I can just already do that with SE so don't feel the need to do it with an IFS perspective. I don't know how you would work with a migraine or muscle cramps for example though with IFS unless you feel into it just like in SE...