by Fred Diamond

Chronic Lyme disease presents one of the most complex challenges in modern healthcare. Its symptoms are relentless, its impact profound, and its treatment often elusive.

For those searching for answers beyond conventional medicine, author Amy Scher’s story offers a beacon of hope. She’s the author of the “How to Heal Yourself” books.

A survivor of chronic Lyme, Amy has dedicated her life to helping others heal. In this week’s Love, Hope, Lyme podcast, Amy shares her philosophy on healing and actionable techniques that have helped her and thousands of others reclaim their health.

A Decade of Suffering and a Path to Recovery

Amy’s battle with chronic Lyme lasted over ten years, during which she endured severe neurological symptoms, full-body pain, and debilitating anxiety.

“I was bedridden for some of those ten years,” Amy recounts. “I had nerve damage, nerve pain, exhaustion, problems moving my muscles, using my hands, walking—all of the things.”

On top of these physical struggles, anxiety played a significant role in her illness. “We go into fight, flight, or freeze when dealing with a chronic illness,” she explains. “That alone can create anxiety, even in a physical way, beyond just being scared or fearful.”

Despite the overwhelming symptoms and setbacks, Amy remained persistent. “One of my worst months ever was right before the month that I started feeling better. I remind people about that because you never know when you’re going to turn a corner.”

Now, more than a decade after her recovery, Amy remains symptom-free. She credits her healing to a combination of physical treatments and deep emotional work, which led her to develop her own self-healing methods.

Addressing the Root Causes

A pivotal moment in Amy’s journey was realizing that chronic Lyme disease is more than just a physical condition. “If treating the body alone doesn’t solve the problem, then the body alone isn’t what created it,” she stated. This insight led her to explore the connection between emotional trauma, stress, and physical illness.

Amy observed that many people battling chronic illness have deep-seated emotional patterns—such as people-pleasing, perfectionism, or bottling up emotions—that place additional stress on the nervous system.

“There’s some misalignment between your body and your spirit that is just trying to show you: we can’t live like this anymore.We can’t be in harmony when we live like this.”

The Role of Trauma in Chronic Illness

One of the most striking revelations Amy shares is the role of unresolved trauma in chronic Lyme disease. Many doctors and researchers have pointed out that trauma—whether from childhood, stressful life events, or suppressed emotions—can keep the body in a constant state of stress, making healing nearly impossible.

“Trauma burdens the immune system and blocks it from doing its job,” Amy says. “What I discovered was that what’s considered traumatic and what actually traumatizes you can be two totally different things. It could be something as simple as being forgotten at school or a comment from a boss—things we push away and minimize.”

She urges Lyme survivors to look beyond what they think should be “big enough” trauma and instead explore what their body might still be carrying. “The trauma that really gets stuck is the stuff we pushed away,” she emphasizes.

Energy Psychology: A New Approach to Healing

Amy’s work falls under a field called energy psychology, which addresses the subconscious beliefs, emotions, and energy imbalances that contribute to chronic illness.

“Energy psychology is really working with emotions, thoughts, and beliefs in a way that’s more than just talking—it’s about releasing them from your energy system, mind, and body.”

She uses a variety of techniques, including Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping, subconscious reprogramming, and her own self-developed methods like the Sweep Technique and Thymus Test & Tap.

“These methods help release stored trauma, balance the nervous system, and realign the body with healing,” she said. “Because knowing something isn’t enough. We need to actually shift it.”

One of the simplest ways to start, she suggests, is to slow down. “Just doing things more slowly—walking, chewing, speaking—sends a signal to the body that there’s no emergency, that we can calm down. That’s where healing begins.”

Practical Steps for Healing

For those wondering how to integrate these practices into their lives, Amy emphasizes consistency over intensity. “Twenty to thirty minutes a day is enough, and it doesn’t even have to be every day,” she advises. “The goal is to support the body, not overwhelm it.”

She also encourages Lyme survivors to work on the core belief that they are safe. “This deep-seated sense of not feeling safe is where so much of nervous system dysregulation comes from,” she explained. “I have a free guided energy clearing on my website that helps reprogram the body to release stress and feel safe again. That’s a great place to start.”

Healing from chronic Lyme can be an isolating experience, but Amy stresses the importance of finding the right kind of support. “Connecting with others is crucial, but it needs to be in a structured, positive environment,” she warns. “If you’re just in a group where everyone is stuck in their illness, no one moves forward.”

Instead, she recommends attending webinars, classes, or groups led by practitioners who foster a supportive and hopeful environment.

“You want to be around people who are at different stages of healing, or who have a broader perspective, rather than only surrounding yourself with those who feel as stuck as you do.”

Hope is Always on the Horizon

Amy’s final message to the Love, Hope, Lyme audience is one of hope. “I always tell people that the month before I turned a corner was the worst month of my life. If I had given up then, I would’ve missed my healing,” she says. “Your healing is always trying to meet you—it’s always on the way.”

For those feeling lost in their journey, her advice is simple: “Keep going. Healing happens in ways we can’t always predict. But if you persist, you will get there.”

To explore Amy’s techniques further, visit her website for free resources and guidance on beginning your own healing journey.

Click here to listen to all episodes of the Love, Hope, Lyme Podcast or on YouTube.

Fred Diamond is based in Fairfax, Virginia and can be contacted via Facebook. His popular book, “Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know” is available on Amazon. The e-version of the book is always free to Lyme survivors. PM Fred on Facebook or LinkedIn for your copy.