Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs

Safety Retreat was developed by a team that combines medical knowledge and personal experience:

• Doc Jay brings over 25 years of medical experience and herself suffered from ME/CFS (Bellscore 10) and Long COVID from 2020 to 2022. Therefore, she can readily understand the experiences of many participants. For those affected, this means feeling understood without having to explain everything.

• Rolf Metzner , alternative practitioner and mind body coach, knows the challenges from the perspective of relatives.

• Practice-oriented structure: 24 video lessons, a comprehensive workbook and a clear didactic structure

• Instead of an information overload on social media, you get a common thread – the many puzzle pieces are brought into an understandable order.

• We combine approaches from neuroregulation with current scientific concepts in mitochondrial research – presented in an understandable way.

The program is intentionally designed so that you can implement the content in small steps . The goal is to create clarity and structure – especially when you have already gathered a lot of information and want a clear direction.

What makes Safety Retreat unique is its approach of incorporating current models of cell danger response . We therefore look not only at nervous system regulation or classic mind-body perspectives, but also at the biological and cellular connections .

Safety Retreat combines different perspectives: it was developed by Dr. Jacqueline Metzner, a physician with over 25 years of practical experience who was herself affected , together with Rolf Metzner, a naturopathic practitioner and family member. This combination is rare and shapes its unique approach.

You will gain structured access to bodily systems – from the nervous system and cellular processes to aspects such as stimulus processing and recovery. This incorporates insights from Professor Stephen Porges ' Polyvagal Theory and Professor Robert Naviaux 's Cell Danger Response concept. We were fortunate to secure the expertise of both of them to provide professional support for the relevant modules of our program.

The program is supplemented by impulses and reflection exercises based on principles of neuroplasticity, psychoneuroimmunology , and self-awareness. This provides you with guidance and suggestions on how to gradually deepen your understanding of your body and strengthen your self-regulation.

Important: Safety Retreat is a self-help program. It does not replace medical treatment or diagnosis.

The Safety Retreat is specifically aimed at people who suffer from persistent physical stress symptoms or regulatory disorders – for example, in connection with Long COVID (Post-COVID condition), ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and post-viral exhaustion.

This also applies to symptom complexes such as irritable bowel syndrome, sleep disorders, muscle and nerve pain, tinnitus, POTS, MCAS, MCS or electromagnetic sensitivity, which can often occur alongside other conditions.

Relatives of people with Long COVID or ME/CFS can participate if they want to better understand the illness and support those affected in their daily lives. They can view the content for those affected and share the information to the extent possible.

We also welcome interested individuals who are not affected by health issues to the Safety Retreat program and who want to learn more about health.

However, the Safety Lounge is exclusively for those affected and their relatives, so that they can feel safe and exchange information openly.

Participation requires that no acute or untreated underlying medical condition is present. The program is not designed as medical treatment, but rather as structured self-help. Safety Retreat does not replace medical diagnosis or therapy. If you have persistent, newly occurring, or unclear symptoms, we recommend a medical evaluation before participating.

Many affected individuals report that while they have already gathered a great deal of information, they lack a clear, overarching framework. At the same time, questions often remain unanswered, or topics have only been touched upon superficially. Our program aims to delve deeper and provide guidance: It conveys neurobiological connections – down to the cellular level – in a way that is understandable for laypeople.

The goal is to enable a better understanding of such connections, so that the content and exercises taught can be built on a clear foundation.

Safety Retreat is a guided self-help program that supports people who are ready to take responsibility for their own path, step by step. It is not suitable for situations of acute crisis —for example, suicidal thoughts, severe trauma, or massive daily overwhelm. This program is also not appropriate if you are currently unable (even partially) to watch our videos or make decisions for yourself. Participation requires a certain degree of independence, such as the ability to watch 10-20 minute videos and perform simple movements.

Furthermore, it might not be the right moment when

• You currently cannot believe that change is possible, even though we can well understand this attitude,

• If you are convinced that progress is possible for others but not for you, this can make it difficult to engage in the process.

• You are not ready to gently question your own habits or perspectives. Our approach invites you to explore old patterns of thinking and reacting and, if appropriate, to change them.

• You want an immediate solution without any effort on your part. Some initiatives can be implemented even with limited resources, but they require your active participation. Progress is individual and not always linear.

If any of these points apply to you, it might not be the right time yet – and that's perfectly fine. We're here when you're ready.

Safety Retreat is for you if you are open to learning new things and taking small steps at your own pace.

When you're ready, we'll give you plenty of inspiration, tools, and a clear structure – but only you can put it into practice. We'll guide you step by step , while you go at your own pace.

If you're currently feeling particularly exhausted or stressed, you can work through the program in small steps – in a way that suits you. Participants may initially focus on the short summaries at the end of the videos or on key insights from the workbook.

You can also use the content in audio format only, or, if needed, get support from family members who can complete the program for you or with you. The program is designed so that you can use it multiple times – with each repetition, new perspectives can open up and the content can be even more firmly anchored.

The implementation of these suggestions is entirely up to you. You decide what feels right for you, which small steps are currently possible, and at what pace you proceed. There is no right or wrong – only your own path matters.

Our goal is to offer you a safe environment where you can better observe yourself and take the first steps towards more self-regulation – even if your energy is currently limited.

It is not suitable for those experiencing severe trauma or significant daily stress. This program is also not appropriate if you are currently unable to watch our videos or make decisions for yourself. Participation requires a certain level of independence, such as the ability to watch 10-20 minute videos and perform simple movements.

This program is not suitable for acute crises or suicidal thoughts. Please seek professional help immediately.

Emergency numbers (country-specific):

• Germany: Telephone counselling service 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222 (free of charge, 24/7)

• Europe: 112 (emergency number)

International note: “Outside of Germany you can find help e.g. at https://findahelpline.com ”.

Note: This program is not a substitute for medical or therapeutic treatment. Please consult a doctor beforehand if you experience persistent or unclear symptoms.

Every development unfolds differently – even in chronic stress situations.

If you have been living with symptoms or stress reactions for a long time, you often bring a wealth of experience that can help you to categorize new impulses and make them useful for yourself.

It's not just the duration that determines how well you can implement the content. Your current state, your personal journey, and whether you're open to integrating new perspectives into your daily life are far more important.

Everyone brings something different to the table – different experiences, symptoms, and prerequisites. Over the course of the program, you will have the opportunity to engage more deeply with your body, your stress patterns, and your reactions.

You'll receive new insights that can help you better understand bodily connections – for example, regarding stress regulation, sensory processing, or energy management . You decide for yourself what you want to try and integrate into your daily life.

The program gradually leads some participants to a changed perspective on symptoms and stress patterns. Whether and when you notice this is very individual. Your path determines the pace – the program can accompany you.

Important: Safety Retreat is a companion self-help program to promote your health literacy.

Safety Retreat does not provide individual therapy or product recommendations. Some lessons offer clearly presented information on micronutrients , metabolic processes, and other complementary measures – based on publicly available, scientifically sound sources.

Part of the program is also a phase-specific concept that explains how the need for certain micronutrients can change in different stress phases .

This content is for general guidance only and does not replace medical advice.

Whether and to what extent you implement anything from this for yourself is entirely up to you and your own responsibility.

If you have any questions about dietary supplements, medications or therapeutic measures, please consult a medical professional.

Our live calls aren't about analyzing symptoms in detail or focusing on them indefinitely. We want to avoid you focusing too much on stress during the conversation – without ignoring your own experiences.

Instead, we focus on how you deal with everyday challenges: how you can sharpen your perception, recognize patterns, and expand your scope for action. The focus is on self-observation, self-regulation, and everyday stimuli – always at your own pace and without pressure.

Important: The calls are not a medical or therapeutic exchange and do not replace professional advice.

ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) is understood as a complex chronic syndrome. Typical symptoms include persistent fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), non-restorative sleep, cognitive impairment, and orthostatic intolerance, which persist for at least six months.

In medical practice, the diagnosis is usually made as a diagnosis of exclusion – based on internationally recognized criteria, such as the Canadian Consensus Criteria or the IOM definition.

For clarity, we use colloquial terms like "CFS" and "Long COVID" in the program. ME/CFS stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). "Long COVID" refers to the official post-COVID condition in this context.

Important: The diagnosis of ME/CFS should be made by qualified medical specialists. Our program content is for general information purposes only and does not replace medical evaluation or treatment.

In medical terminology, a distinction is made: Long COVID describes symptoms that persist for more than four weeks after infection. Post-COVID syndrome is generally diagnosed when symptoms last longer than 12 weeks and cannot be explained by other illnesses.

For the sake of simplicity, in some places in our program we only use "Long Covid" because more people use this term (although "Post Covid" is correct) or both terms together – aware that they are medically defined differently.

Our content is intended for general self-help in cases of persistent fatigue or symptoms of stress following infections. It does not replace medical examination or individual diagnosis.