Just Saw New Documentary about ME/CFS: UNREST

I just saw UNREST, a new documentary about ME/CFS by Jennifer Brea, who is suffering from this illness. You'll be able to see this film in the UK and the U.S. shortly (I live in Los Angeles). I can't tell you how powerful this movie is. Jennifer turns the camera on herself, and you actually see her crawling up the stairs, or going to an event as she's feeling pretty good, and then collapsing afterwards. The film also shows others struggling with ME, and tells their stories. I was lucky to get to a showing where Jennifer and her husband, Omar, conducted a Q&A session after the film. I've been so isolated with this illness for over 15 years, it was very powerful to be sitting in an almost sold-out theater with others whose lives have been so affected by ME. I think the medical community, and various governments worldwide, have insulted us, telling us it's all in our heads, and then abandoning us by not providing money for research and eventual treatment. I think the PACE trial in the UK, resulting in recommendations for CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and GET (Graded Exercise Therapy), has done immeasurable damage to our community. This trial used terrible science to come up with a terrible result. I believe a grassroots movement is needed, by the 17 million of us throughout the world who are suffering and being ignored. I believe we need to learn from how the gay community successfully responded to the AIDS epidemic when they were similarly ignored and derided. I think UNREST can be an important step in helping us to get our voices heard.

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