Knowledge is Power

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Recently, I made a rather big decision of suspending my university course in order to try a year of therapy to help manage my condition. Whilst that was really difficult for me I was looking forward to my first group session. When you go through a two year investigation into your illness, you will grasp at any help you can get and this was my first leg up. 
I arrived on a rather windy November morning to a full waiting room. I was instantly intimidated as I signed in and was so glad I'd had the forethought to ask my mum to come with me. Very soon after that a lady called all the CFS/ME patients forward and I was surprised how many of us there were, as we headed up the stairs to a very stuffy, warm meeting room. The first thing that struck me was that I was the youngest there by a lot and that we were all women. We learnt later on that CFS/ME affects people aged 20-40 the most and women 4 times as much as men! Noone knows why, but then with this condition you learn that noone knows a lot about anything to do with it; causes, symptoms or even management. 
However, there is research being done and studies which makes me very hopeful for the future. Throughout the session we learnt about the condition, its history and how it affects us individually. I know this sounds strange, but it was very reassuring having someone nod in agreement or even say a symptom you have. I wasn't crazy after all! We had good discussions about how the condition affects social, psychological and physiological aspects of life, how others react to it and coping mechanisms. After the 2 hour long session (which was pleasantly interrupted by tea and biscuits) the gave us all an information sheet, booklet and activity diary to complete and send back. I felt so positive after going; I felt as if there is hope and I can get better. Once I send the diary off I know it will take 8-9 weeks to get an individual appointment, but I've always had to fight and I'm not about to give up now. 

 I think that sometimes you say you have a condition and people either think that that's it for you or that you can be magically cured. However, I know i will have to live with CFS for the rest of my life but I now know that it can't stop me. I have the power to control my symptoms and not let them control me. With relaxation techniques and graded exercise therapy I can prove people wrong and become anything I want to. I will fight universities who tell me I'll never cope; I will fight lecturers who tell me I'll never get the career I want and I will fight anyone who says that I should just give up or deal with it because I am my own person. I didn't ask for this, none of it is my fault so why should I apologize to anyone who chooses not to understand.  
Take care
x


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About Me

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" Hi! I'm a 21 year old student, and this blog is here to document my thoughts, feelings and events that happen in my life. I hope you'll enjoy reading them and get some comfort from knowing that you're not alone. So sit back, grab a cup of decaf tea and join me on this journey we call life.

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