Welcome to Mickel Therapy

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ME and Fibromyalgia
– The 'Long Awaited Cure'

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I sometimes reflect on my journey through life and wonder at the decisions I made and how they came about - none more so than my choice of career to become a Doctor and then a Therapist. I enjoyed a good secondary school education without ever considering what I was going to do when 'I grew up'. I had contemplated Veterinary Medicine but this was probably more due to a romantic interest in the James Herriot novels than any real vocational drive. The thought of training to become a Doctor did not ever cross my mind until I was ready to leave school - it took me by surprise as much as it did my family. I remember clearly the day the University application forms were to be returned. I was sitting at the kitchen table throwing different course suggestions into the room at my mother who was now becoming tired of being my sounding board. ‘French and zoology? French and business? Law …or what about…..?’ Then it happened. I heard or rather felt the answer coming from deep inside me – Medicine! Where that came from I was not sure. I have developed many beliefs since this time and I now know this was what people would term ‘my calling’. It pervaded my whole being and though Medicine had never crossed my mind before this moment, I knew my decision had been made there and then.

Still slightly bemused at my own decision I headed to Aberdeen to start my studies in Medicine at the University there. I spent a fruitless year trying to find 'My Self' but instead found myself red faced in front of the Dean and his Board of advisors trying to persuade them to let me back into the Faculty, having messed up my first exams. As fate would have it, they agreed to let me try again and eventually I completed my studies with no further hiccups.

The world of Medicine was fascinating to me and I took well to my various hospital jobs and the responsibilities that came with them. The 100 hours plus per week were bearable due to the interest I had in learning about physical diseases and the advanced treatments there to deal with them. I eventually decided to venture into General Practice and following a couple of years as an itinerant Locum Doctor I found a Practice in Elgin in the North of Scotland.

My initial enjoyment in General Practice was high. The hours were long and the paperwork barely tolerable but it was a privileged role. I was at the centre of family life dealing with the physical, mental and social disorders people experience from birth to death. This was both very challenging and rewarding - but something didn't feel right about the orthodox medical approach to healthcare. My days were spent prescribing medication for conditions and then counter prescribing to help ease the problems caused by side effects associated with the first medication – this became a never-ending spiral. Leaving aside all the political issues that filled me with frustration and despair, I was beginning to realize there had to be more to the promotion of health, the causes of illness and how we should treat them.

I began to get interested in alternative or complimentary health approaches. I read copious books on acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal medicine, Ayurveda, Reiki, hypnosis, and much about Spiritual healing.<