When you think about yourself, what do you see? A smart, funny person who likes to spend time with their friends and family? A good-hearted, hard-working, loyal friend? Maybe you see yourself as a leader or a role model? Whatever it is that you see, you have a unique perspective on the world. It is important to know who you are and what you stand for in order to live a fulfilled life.
If you want to learn more about yourself, the “Who Am I?” game is a great way to get to know yourself better. There are a few variations to the game, but most people ask one question at a time, going around in a circle. Some groups of people may have a strict question-asking order, such as clockwise, while others let everyone ask as many questions as they wish.
Another fun variation is the “What Do You Love?” game. This involves asking each person to name something they love to do or have in their life. It is a great way to discover new things you like about someone!
You might also try the “What Do You Need?” game. This is similar to “Who Am I?” except it is a great way to find out what your needs are in terms of physical, emotional and mental health. This is a good way to get to know yourself better, especially if you’re dealing with an illness.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex and disabling illness that affects people of all ages, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. Approximately 0.4-1% of the Australian population has ME/CFS, with 75-80% of people experiencing severe symptoms that leave them housebound or bedbound.
The hallmark symptom of ME is post-exertional malaise, or PEM. This is a worsening of symptoms that follows any type of physical, mental or emotional exertion that would not have caused a problem before the ME/CFS started. Other symptoms include unrefreshing sleep, cognitive problems and orthostatic intolerance.
People who have ME/CFS may look healthy, and the common blood tests ordered by doctors don’t show anything out of the ordinary. However, most people with ME/CFS are unable to work full or part time, and three out of four people who have the most severe form of ME are completely housebound or bedbound.
ME/CFS is a neurological disease, but at the moment there is no cure. Treatments may help reduce symptoms, but they do not change the underlying cause of the illness. For this reason, it is important to be patient and continue working with your GP to find the best treatment for you.