| I’ve got a bit of a problem with | | | | actually made me feel more depressed as it |
| depression and anxiety. I’ve been | | | | made me focus on my weaknesses (without too |
| tackling these problems for several years | | | | many optimistic perspectives or treatments |
| without the use of modern medicine. Tai Chi, | | | | expressed on some sites). |
| meditation, martial arts (exercise), and | | | | |
| positive interaction with other people seem | | | | Look for sites that look at things in a |
| to keep a lid on my illnesses most of the | | | | positive light. Maybe search out some |
| time. I don’t like the idea of | | | | alternative therapies as well so you can get |
| medication’s side effects, and I | | | | all the possible different approaches that |
| don’t believe the answers in life are | | | | can be taken to tackle your illness. Some |
| often found in the easy path (E.G. taking a | | | | websites can be very helpful with interactive |
| pill), but rather on the hard path of effort | | | | features like ‘Ask the doctor”, |
| and determination. This is not to say that I | | | | on-line questionnaires, and question and |
| don’t feel medicine is not effective, | | | | answer archives that give you an idea of what |
| not at all, I just feel all the options | | | | others have asked and the solutions they were |
| should be looked at before making big | | | | presented with. There is heaps of information |
| decisions to do with one’s health. | | | | on both prescription and over-the counter |
| | | | medicines so you can make your choices in an |
| Health of body and mind has always been one | | | | informed manner. You can often find |
| of the most important issues in life for us | | | | information specific to groups, like |
| humans. Seeing a doctor is usually the best | | | | children, the elderly, men and women. |
| option when one comes down with an illness or | | | | |
| ailment, but people have always tried | | | | Just remember your body is your temple and |
| alternative routes to recovery: E. G. the | | | | you must be wary of many variables not often |
| ‘home doctor’ books of old. Maybe | | | | foretold in literature. Beware of medicines |
| you don’t like sitting in a room | | | | from other countries as they may be different |
| waiting with a bunch of other sick people-you | | | | or have different names. Keep in mind only |
| might catch something there! You could be | | | | you know your personal history, all people |
| housebound, or maybe you feel like hearing | | | | are different, and always get several |
| several opinions as you’ve found past | | | | opinions. Watch out for sites with grandiose |
| experiences with some doctors have been | | | | claims as miracles come from higher powers |
| tainted by poor judgments. Well, the Internet | | | | and not from companies who might just want to |
| is here with a multitude of options to help | | | | get rich quick! |
| you get better. | | | | |
| | | | I do acknowledge the fitness and diet sites |
| Medical advice and data abounds on this | | | | as being very useful as well. You can devise |
| household tool in the form of self-help | | | | your own fitness plan derived from lifestyle |
| sites, searchable medical encyclopedias, | | | | information, and forums and newsgroups give |
| support groups, live chats with doctors, and | | | | you many opinions on which road to take. You |
| you can even have professional consultations | | | | can have your diet analyzed by on-line |
| on-line (for a fee). My advice is to just be | | | | trainers, some of which send free newsletters |
| wary of the type of language that the site is | | | | and even send you emails of encouragement to |
| expressing. Many sites will have extensive | | | | help you towards your goal. |
| lists telling you of all the symptoms in the | | | | |
| Universe: everybody on Earth could be | | | | So, there’s a whole new world of |
| construed as being ill in some way! This can | | | | on-line health advice and information for |
| cause people with a propensity for | | | | humanity to access right from home. Get all |
| hypochondria to start diagnosing themselves | | | | your options and remember your attitude is |
| with all sorts of diseases. In my case, | | | | often the first real step to overcoming |
| reading about all the symptoms of depression | | | | physical, mental, and spiritual adversity! |