The ME/CFS Society of NSW Inc.

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.

Youth is no shield against ME/CFS, and the condition can create special problems for children and teenagers. It's rarely found in under-fives but young teenagers seem particularly vulnerable. According to American paediatrician Dr David Bell, in the 5 to 12-year age group, onset is often slow - but in adolescents, it can be acute and linked with a flu-like illness. Many of the clinical symptoms are the same as for adults, but in children and teenagers the central nervous system disturbances can result in poor school performance.

by Daniel Smith

Continuing your education with ME/CFS/FM can be a challenge in the fast paced world we live in. Thankfully, modern education providers are better equipped to accommodate disabled students than ever before. With alternative entry pathways and disability support staff at most tertiary institutions, there are now more avenues to educational success available to students with ME/CFS/FM and other chronic illnesses. Remember that continuing your education is like a choose‐your‐own‐adventure novel: there is no set path.