Knowing yourself is an important part of self-development and is crucial for your well-being. The more you know yourself, the more you can achieve in all areas of life. The quest for self-knowledge can take time and may involve a lot of trial and error, but it’s definitely worth the effort in the long run. Self-discovery can lead to success in work, fun, and relationships, as well as improved health. Self-knowledge also leads to greater confidence and a sense of self-esteem. Taking a “Who am I?” quiz can help you get started on the journey of self-discovery.
Mealgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex condition that affects multiple body systems. It can be triggered by infection and has a wide range of symptoms including chronic fatigue, post-exertional malaise, unrefreshing sleep, cognitive impairment, and orthostatic intolerance. Some people are severely affected and can be confined to bed and housebound on their worst days. ME/CFS can be hard to diagnose because it doesn’t show up on blood tests, and most people who have ME have to wait years before getting a diagnosis. Up to 90 percent of patients are misdiagnosed or diagnosed with another disease and told they don’t have ME.
ME can cause severe fatigue, difficulty thinking and concentration, pain, periods of bloating and constipation, problems with regulating temperature, a weakened immune system, and problems with bowel function. It can come on suddenly – in Boothby O’Neill’s case after her A-levels – or develop more gradually. It’s estimated that 250,000 people in the UK have ME/CFS.
People with ME often have to give up full time jobs. GPs should assess them for ME, and refer them to specialists if needed. Currently, there is no cure for ME, but there are ways to manage the illness and ease symptoms. These include using energy management techniques, medicine to treat pain and sleep problems, and CBT. Previously, NHS guidelines recommended graded exercise therapy, but the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) now says that this doesn’t work for ME.
The main symptom of ME is feeling extremely tired all the time. People with ME feel like their bodies are “like old batteries that can never be recharged,” the charity Action for ME says. They feel exhausted even after a good night’s sleep. They often have to take a break from activities and can get worse for weeks afterwards, known as a relapse. They can have periods when they’re able to do more, but it’s very difficult for them to return to the same level of activity. They need to conserve their energy, plan each day’s activities carefully, schedule rest periods, and avoid overtaxing themselves. They also need to learn how to recognise when their symptoms are getting bad and make appropriate adjustments to reduce them. This requires support from family and friends, as well as the ME/CFS community.