The ME/CFS Society of NSW Inc.

By Elizabeth Ho

I was watching the Dr Bruce Carruther’s Uncovering Significant Patters in M.E. DVD which came in the last journal. When he touched on the trouble his patients have with shopping centres, he touched a nerve with his audience of PWCs as a murmur of assent went through them. It was the most noise they had registered so far. It indicated shopping is a major problem all PWCs grapple with. Mega malls in particular are extremely hostile environments to PWCs.

About The Book

Leigh Hatcher is Vice-Patron of the NSW ME/CFS Society, well-known presenter on the national pay-TV 24-hour Australian News Channel, Sky News Australia, and a freelance publisher and writer. A Sydney resident, Leigh is married and has 4 children, aged 21, 20, 18, and 14.

by Jana Fleming

How easy it is to listen but how hard it is to hear.

How often do we miss hearing what we need to, just because we don’t know how to listen? I know I have, often. Much of my illness has been about learning how to listen. Listen to my body, my mind, my spirit and most of all myself. How often did you miss hearing what ‘you’ were actually saying because the noise around you was so much louder? That noise might be family, friends, doctors, all with valid things to say but if all you hear is them then what about you? What about your voice?

There are few things that can top a hobby that gives you an outlet for your creative energy, improves your fine motor skills AND gives you a stunning piece of jewellery or art on completion.

Beading and bead jewellery making have become increasingly popular over the last few years, and it doesn't look like they will be moving out of the spotlight any time soon. With this boom in popularity has come a wider range of materials, and easier access to patterns and project sheets, making this hobby accessible to almost everyone.

by Jennie Sharpe

Your backache runs from the tip of your spine to the base, spreading tentacles through muscles you never knew existed. You can’t sit, lie or stand without a cacophony of silent protest rippling through your body. What have you done to deserve this? Yoga.

Telling other people that you have ME/CFS is not always easy. Because there are still people who do not accept that this is an organic illness, there remains considerable scepticism in some quarters and disparaging terms like "yuppie flu" are still used. With increased awareness and education, this situation is changing, but knowing who, when and what to tell other people can present a problem.