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

Long Covid Podcast

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:

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com
(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**

Chapters

1. 170 - Amy Mooney - "Flipping the Iceberg" - What if everything you thought about recovery is underwater? (00:00:00)

2. Meeting Amy Mooney, OT & Carer (00:01:50)

3. Journey Through Unexplained Illness (00:04:03)

4. The Caregiver's Experience & Perspective (00:10:18)

5. Redefining Occupational Therapy for Chronic Illness (00:16:13)

6. Understanding Different Forms of Exertion (00:23:18)

7. Strategies for Deep, Aggressive Rest (00:32:59)

8. Safely Increasing Activity & Avoiding Crashes (00:41:31)

9. Closing Thoughts & Gratitude (00:51:38)