ANZMES Supports "Therapeutic Landscapes" Exhibition: A Window Into Living With ME/CFS

On Friday, 1st August, ANZMES President Fiona Charlton and Vice President Ange Robinson attended Massey University researcher and artist Jessica Philbrick’s thought-provoking exhibition, “THERAPEUTIC LANDSCAPES: Paintings on Living with ME/CFS.” The exhibition is open to the public, running throughout August at the Square Edge Community Arts Centre. ANZMES proudly funded this unique exhibition as part of our 2024 Research Grants and Scholarships, reflecting our ongoing efforts to support creative and educational initiatives that raise awareness about ME/CFS. It features a series of original oil paintings, offering a window into the unseen daily struggles of individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Exhibition Details:

• Event Dates: 31st July - 31st August
• Location: 47 The Square, Palmerston North
• Additional Information: Further resources for education on ME/CFS will be available at the exhibition.

Jessica Philbrick, aged 29, has lived with mild-moderate ME/CFS since her teenage years and is currently completing her Masters in Arts (Psychology). She has combined her background to create original oil paintings based on interviews with people living with ME/CFS in New Zealand.

Jessica Philbrick's exhibition features five original works that illustrate how home environments serve as therapeutic spaces for symptom management and emotional well-being. Through paintings accompanied by personal stories, the exhibition explores the profound emotional, physical, and psychological complexities of living with ME/CFS. This work not only fosters understanding and dialogue among the general public but also offers valuable insights for health professionals on better supporting those with ME/CFS and other chronic illnesses.

Jessica says, “I am so thankful for the generous support from ANZMES towards exhibiting paintings. The sponsorship from ANZMES was incredibly helpful in disseminating the findings of my research and the stories from my participants out into a community platform. These paintings are about sharing experiences but also encouraging hope by opening a conversation around how the home can be used to be supportive, safe, enriching and healing.”

It was Fiona and Ange’s pleasure to attend the exhibition's opening to represent ANZMES’s commitment to engaging with the ME/CFS community and sharing these vital narratives with the broader public.

Fiona says “It’s a privilege for ANZMES to sponsor this powerful art exhibition and to attend opening night. We are especially proud to support the extraordinary artist, Jessica Philbrick, whose work shines a light on this invisible illness—raising awareness while contributing to therapeutic research.”

We encourage the public to attend, learn, and engage in meaningful conversation about the challenges faced by those living with ME/CFS.

To learn more about Jessica's Masters project and read the findings which provide insight into the lived experience, visit: https://www.j-philbrickartist.com/

Understanding ME/CFS and long COVID
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a long-term, multi-systemic illness affecting the nervous, endocrine, autonomic, cardiovascular, and immune systems. It is often triggered by a viral illness and involves overwhelming fatigue and other symptoms that range in severity. Patients experience severe fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), unrefreshing sleep, cognitive impairment, and orthostatic intolerance (to list a few). With over 100-200+ potential symptoms, the condition's impact can vary greatly, making diagnosis and management highly individualised. Roughly 25% of all ME/CFS cases are categorised as mild, 50% as moderate-severe (housebound) and 25% as very severe (bedbound).

Long COVID (LC) is characterised by persistent, unexplained symptoms following infection with COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) lasting more than 12 weeks and not explained by an alternative diagnosis. Both conditions share symptoms such as extreme fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE), with up to 50% of long COVID cases fitting the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS.

COVID developing to ME/CFS

Using data from a long COVID research initiative run by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), the incidence of ME/CFS is now considered 15 times higher than pre-pandemic levels, and that people with a history of COVID are almost eight times as likely to develop the chronic condition.

Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM)

Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM), also referred to as post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE) in the context of long COVID, is a debilitating response to normal, every-day activities in people with ME/CFS. For individuals with severe-very severe ME/CFS or LC, this can be triggered by sensory overload, such as exposure to light or even simple conversations. Repeated episodes of PEM can exacerbate these already severe symptoms, and even minimal exertion can lead to significant setbacks for the patient’s health and wellbeing.

About ANZMES
The Associated New Zealand ME Society is the National Advisory on ME/CFS. Established in 1980, ANZMES has been at the forefront of research, representation, and education for ME/CFS in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The organisation’s expertise comes from its reputable medical team of advisors, which includes a world renowned expert and MNZM recipient, a fellow of the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) and a network of academic researchers, clinicians, and representatives from the ME community.

The organisation is a registered provider of continuing medical education with the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) and is dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by ME/CFS, long COVID, and associated conditions.

ANZMES is a founding member of the World ME Alliance, and a member of the Neurological Alliance NZ, NZ Carers Alliance, long COVID Alliance, Disabled Persons Assembly NZ (DPA), and Access Matters. ANZMES is affiliated with: Aotearoa COVID Action, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes Aotearoa New Zealand.

The organisation’s vision is to live in a world where Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), long COVID (and associated conditions) are recognised, supported, diagnosed early, treated effectively, and cured.

The vision focuses the organisation’s mission as the trusted leader to fund and generate robust Aotearoa research, represent the global voice, and educate through best practice to improve outcomes.

The vision and mission drive the organisation’s purpose as the leading National Advisory to produce and deliver quality, reputable, authoritative, evidence-based information, data, research, and education. We represent the needs of the community to ensure best outcomes are the primary focus of healthcare, legislation, and services that affect people living with ME, long COVID, fibromyalgia, and dysautonomia.

© Scoop Media