Whether you’re answering this question in a job interview, on your resume, or in a college application interview, it’s important to know how to describe yourself in a way that’s honest and authentic. Choosing words that are meaningful to you and reflect your values will give a stronger, more positive impression to the person you’re talking to. However, there are certain adjectives that you should avoid using to describe yourself, as they can leave a negative impression or make it seem like you’re exaggerating your abilities.
If you’re suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis, commonly referred to as ME, you may have difficulty explaining the severity of your symptoms to others. But there are ways to improve your quality of life and get better care through advocacy.
ME is a neuroimmune disorder with debilitating symptoms including fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), unrefreshing sleep and cognitive impairment. The cause of ME is not fully understood, but it can be triggered by infections and is believed to involve genetics, immune system problems and hormone imbalances.
Many people with ME also experience comorbidities, such as fibromyalgia (widespread muscle pain), POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, increased heart rate upon standing) and gastroparesis/irritable bowel syndrome (bloating and constipation). ME/CFS can have serious consequences for people’s lives and can cause substantial loss of income and productivity. There is no laboratory test for ME/CFS and diagnosis is made by ruling out other diseases that have similar symptoms. Many people with ME have to struggle for years before they receive a correct diagnosis.
A new campaign called #ThereForME is calling for a significant improvement in NHS treatment and care for ME/CFS patients, particularly those with severe forms of the disease. Campaigners are calling for local specialist services to be set up in every area, to provide home visits and add more support such as specialist nurses or physiotherapists. They are also calling for more research to explore potential causes of ME and the links it has with long Covid, as well as working towards a potential treatment.
The inquest into the death of Maeve Boothby O’Neill, who had ME, highlighted poor NHS care for ME. Her family have now called for a review of ME services in Devon and across England. You can support this campaign by writing to your MP and asking them to back the #ThereForME report’s recommendations, including for an urgent expansion of funding for ME/CFS research. You can do this using the tool on this page.