Day: March 24, 2025

ME is a complex illness with many different symptoms. These include unrefreshing sleep, pain, sensitivity to light and sound and difficulty thinking. Symptoms can come and go and they are often worse after physical or mental activity. A diagnosis of ME is made only after a doctor assesses the patient and rules out other conditions that could cause them. The onset of ME/CFS is typically sudden but in some people it may develop gradually over a few months or years.

There is no known cure for ME but there are ways to help manage it. These include “pacing”, which means carefully matching the level of activity to the amount of energy available; medications for sleep, pain and anxiety; and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Other treatments are being researched.

Many people with ME also have other illnesses, such as fibromyalgia (widespread muscle pain), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS, increased heart rate on standing) and gastroparesis/irritable bowel syndrome (bloating, stomach upsets). These are called comorbidities. These additional diseases make ME/CFS more challenging to diagnose and treat.

ME is not well understood by the public or by health professionals. This can lead to disbelief and discrimination, particularly from friends, family and work colleagues. It can also lead to isolation for patients and their families. It is important to raise awareness of ME and encourage people to talk about their experiences.

Some people with ME can appear to be in good physical condition. This is because they do not have any obvious abnormalities on routine blood tests and they may be able to function reasonably well in their daily lives. However, the underlying problems are still present and they can still be very sick. Most adults with ME are unable to work full time and children are frequently not attending school. Some are bedbound or housebound on their worst days and need to have around the clock care.

ME is a debilitating illness and those affected can be at risk of depression. If you are concerned about this, please call the Emerge Australia info line on 1800 865 321 or visit the Bridges & Pathways website. You can also call the Australian government healthdirect service on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) for confidential support and advice. You can also contact a ME/CFS support group, such as Action for ME, which can signpost you to local groups. Healthdirect content is developed and quality assured by the National Health Services Authority (NHSA). The NURSE-ON-CALL phone service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A registered nurse will answer your calls and provide confidential health information and referrals. This service is free of charge to all Australians. You can also find useful information and resources for people with ME/CFS at the NHSA website.

Love is an emotion that can be a strong force, and it has been the inspiration for many poems, songs, and other works of art. It has also been a topic of study in several academic disciplines, including psychology and biology and neuroscience, anthropology, and sociology. Regardless of its complexity, love is something that many people can relate to on some level.

Often, the feeling of love causes people to make sacrifices for those they care about. For example, someone who loves their partner may be willing to live in a less desirable part of town or even move to another country to be closer to them. This kind of devotion is a good way to show how much you truly care for someone, and it can be a beautiful thing.

Some psychologists and scientists view love as a primary human emotion, while others see it as a secondary emotion. However, it is generally agreed that the emotion of love combines several different emotions, such as attachment, passion, and decision or commitment. It is also often associated with a variety of feelings, such as admiration, affection, and benevolence.

It can be difficult to define what love is, and this can have a great impact on the relationship between two people. For example, a person who falls in love with another person experiences a number of chemical reactions in their brain, such as excitement, attraction, and pleasure. However, it is important to remember that these are just temporary feelings and do not necessarily mean that a person is in love with someone else.

People can fall in love with a variety of things, including a pet, a friend, or their favorite food. They may also feel love for a cause or organization and may even love themselves. People who love themselves usually do not experience a physical reaction, but may still feel a sense of accomplishment or satisfaction when they think about the things that they have done for themselves and the people they care about.

Some people see love as a biological phenomenon, based on hormones like oxytocin and neurotrophins, as well as pheromones. The conventional biological model divides love into companionate and passionate love, with romantic love being a combination of both. Others view love as a social and cultural construct, and believe that it is largely influenced by cultural ideas about relationships and what constitutes true love.

Whether or not one views love as an actual emotion, it is commonly agreed that it can have powerful effects. For example, a person in a committed relationship with another person will often encourage that person to seek therapy or healthier behaviors when they are having trouble. This is a beautiful expression of the desire to help a loved one, and it is often accompanied by a sense of pride that the person is doing the best they can to grow as a person and improve their situation. This type of love is also a source of strength and comfort in times of sadness.