Month: December 2023

ME/CFS has a profound impact on the lives of patients and their families. The symptoms can be so disabling that people are unable to work, and they often have a much lower health-related quality of life than those with other chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart failure. Currently there is no cure for ME/CFS, but treatments can improve symptoms and increase functioning. The goal is to find a cause and develop a treatment.

ME is not well understood by medical professionals. This is partly because the symptoms are not easily measurable and the disease can be misdiagnosed as other conditions. Many people with ME also have a range of co-existing health problems such as depression, anxiety, sore joints, and tender lymph nodes in the neck and armpits. These issues may affect how well they manage their ME/CFS.

People with ME may be able to get help from their general practitioner or a family doctor. However, most adults with ME are referred to ME/CFS specialist teams in order to be diagnosed. These teams should have a range of healthcare professionals with expertise in assessing, diagnosing and treating ME/CFS. This might include doctors specialising in rheumatology, rehabilitation medicine, endocrinology, infectious diseases, neurology and general practice, and clinical or counselling psychologists with training and experience in ME/CFS.

Once a diagnosis is made, ME/CFS specialist teams will develop a care and support plan. They will recommend specific treatments and/or interventions to improve the patient’s ability to function, reduce pain levels, and ease fatigue.

The symptoms of ME/CFS can be very different for each person, but there are some common ones such as:

Symptoms can be triggered by physical activity, cognitive overexertion, or sensory overload. They tend to flare up a few hours to a few days after exertion. This is known as post-exertional malaise (PEM).

Many people with ME/CFS can’t go to work or school and need help from family, friends or carers. About 25% of people with ME are bedbound or housebound. People with ME have lower health-related quality of life scores than those with other conditions such as heart disease, cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.

There is no known cause for ME/CFS, although it appears that there are connections between genetic, central nervous system, and immune factors that contribute to the condition. Research is ongoing to better understand these connections so that diagnostic tools and effective treatments can be developed as quickly as possible. Solve ME/CFS is committed to accelerating the discovery of safe and effective treatments by promoting open, collaborative research at ME/CFS Collaborative Research Centers worldwide.

Love is one of the most complex emotions. It can be euphoric, terrifying, sexy, and self-sacrificing all at the same time. It may also be temporary or permanent, and it can vary from person to person or culture to culture.

Many people believe that the feelings of love are influenced by biology and culture, while others say it’s a basic human emotion like any other. The belief that it is a biological phenomenon is supported by research showing that our brains respond differently when we are in love, compared to when we are not.

The concept of love has been explored throughout history in religion, philosophy, and science. Today, the fields of psychology and anthropology continue to explore the nature and effects of love. While most psychologists agree that there are a limited number of types of love, there are still debates about whether it’s a choice or an instinct, and whether it is permanent or fleeting.

In the early stages of falling in love, the emotion of euphoria is caused by the release of a jumble of chemicals that include dopamine (pleasure), norepinephrine (alertness), and adrenaline. These chemicals are why your cheeks feel flushed and your palms get sweaty when you meet someone for the first time who you’re attracted to. Once you reach the stage of attachment, the release of these chemicals is replaced by oxytocin, which produces the feeling of closeness that leads to making long-term plans and commitments.

This type of love is characterized by feelings of intimacy, companionship, and trust. It’s sometimes referred to as platonic love, and it’s the kind of love that exists between friends and family members. It’s also the kind of love that we feel for pets, creative projects, and favorite sports teams.

In contrast, passionate love is characterized by feelings of intense attraction and desire. It’s often accompanied by idealization of the person you love, and it can lead to jealousy and insecurity. It’s also the kind of love you may experience if you’re in a romantic relationship or suffer from a psychological disorder called erotomania.

While it’s possible to fall in and out of these different kinds of love, some researchers suggest that most romantic relationships contain both of these love styles. A third love style, referred to as agape, is defined by selfless acts of kindness and service.

Writing About Love

The way you write about love can have a major impact on how your readers feel about it. Avoid writing in a sappy, unrealistic way. Instead of focusing on every gut-wrenching sensation, let your characters show their true colors and bring your audience into the emotional ride.

You can also use your writing to help your readers understand how to navigate the ups and downs of loving someone else. For example, you could describe how your character’s flaws drive them crazy while they are infatuated with each other and then demonstrate how they work through those issues to maintain their relationship.

The concept of need is central to the fields of philosophy, biology, psychology, sociology, economics and politics. It is also a common topic for discussion in popular culture and media. In the most basic sense, a need is a deficiency that can result in an adverse outcome. For example, a person who does not have food or shelter is unable to function or survive. In contrast, a want is a desire or wish that does not have the potential to cause an adverse consequence. The distinction between needs and wants is central to the debate about societal priorities and ethical choices.

The word need can be used as a noun or a verb. A noun meaning “something essential for survival, well-being or achieving a goal” is more commonly used, and it suggests an imperative tone: I need help. The verb need can be used in the same way, but it is generally more euphemistic: I want to help you.

A widely discussed academic theory is that people have a hierarchy of psychological needs. According to Abraham Maslow’s 1943 theory, people must satisfy lower order needs such as hunger, water and safety before higher order needs such as self-esteem and self-actualization can be met. Many people spend the majority of their time attempting to meet their lower order needs and often become frustrated when they are not satisfied.

Some philosophers have criticized Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, arguing that it is not a valid model for understanding human motivations in specific contexts. They have advocated a more holistic view of human needs, based on the idea that individuals are capable of identifying their own needs if they have the proper internal assets. These internal assets are a combination of skills, mental health and physical strength.

In this approach, human needs are determined by rational identification, consideration of actual experiences in people’s everyday lives, and democratic decision-making. The authors point out that human needs cannot be imposed from outside because they vary across time and context.

Individuals can identify their own personal needs by evaluating their desires and priorities. To do this, they can write down their life goals and experiences. Then they can analyze the results to determine what their personal needs are. Once they have identified their personal needs, they can create and execute a plan to fulfill those needs. Having a clear picture of one’s personal needs can allow them to make more informed and ethical choices. It can also help them to avoid making harmful decisions that could negatively affect their well-being or the well-being of others. For instance, someone who is trying to lose weight might decide not to eat unhealthy foods that are high in fat and calories.