Because of the pressure of work, I’ve been unable to write anything for ME Awareness Day (or even week) this year. I’ve written a few articles over the past year, the two most important events of which have been the release of Voices from the Shadows and the sad death of Emily Collingridge.<\/p>\n
Danni Brennand (who has severe ME as well as autism) has posted some links of her own, as well as four articles about how ME affects her, at Dannilion.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some articles I’ve written:<\/p>\n Fear-free Healthcare<\/a> — an idea for a campaign to make healthcare safe for people with ME and other chronic illnesses and disabling conditions<\/p>\n On Vocationalism<\/a> — A follow-up to that piece, addressing the misconception that people go into nursing or medicine out of a sense of vocation<\/p>\n Emily Rose Collingride, 1981-2012<\/a> — My obituary for Emily, author of Severe ME\/CFS: A Guide to Living<\/a> (you can join the Facebook group related to the book here<\/a>, if you’re on Facebook)<\/p>\n “If Rod Liddle wants ME, he can have mine”<\/a> — A response to a ridiculous piece in the Sun<\/em> newspaper from January<\/p>\n My review of Voices from the Shadows<\/a> — Also, a write-up of the question and answer session following the showing at the British Library last December<\/p>\n Likening ME to AIDS is irresponsible<\/a> — A response to a claim that XMRV (and therefore ME) is contagious, made at an ME conference last year<\/p>\n The Times, Wessely and the ME Community<\/a> — My response to the “death threats” controversy of last summer<\/p>\n Some other articles that have been written about ME in the last year:<\/p>\n Even Caged Birds Sing<\/a>, by Susannah Grace — About the sense of loss that comes with losing years of your life to a chronic illness<\/p>\n These Small Candles<\/a>, by Laurel Bertrand (at Dreams at Stake)<\/p>\n Silent Screams<\/a> by Imraan Sumar — ME likened to a prison, and with particular reference to Emily Collingridge<\/p>\n ME is often dismissed — but sufferers like Emily Collingride are dying<\/a>, by Scott Jordan Harris, a film reviewer who has ME<\/p>\n Life in the Shadows<\/a> — A review of Voices from the Shadows, also by Scott Harris<\/p>\n Enough<\/a> — One woman’s struggle to get a diagnosis in the face of doctors’ obsession with psychological explanations. (She was diagnosed early on with ME, although that was discounted and she was recently re-diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.)<\/p>\n All in the Mind?<\/a> by Sonia Poulton — Exposing some myths about ME, following a conversion after watching Voices from the Shadows<\/p>\n The Journey<\/a> and It’s All in Your Head<\/a>, by Sue Marsh — Not about ME (author has Crohn’s disease) but both of great relevance to the ME community<\/p>\n Emily Collingridge’s Appeal<\/a> — posted in early 2011, but reposted at her mother’s request after her death.<\/p>\n Some videos:<\/p>\n My Sister, Lorna<\/a><\/p>\n Stuff People Say to ME Sufferers<\/a> — by Becki Luscombe. Great satire on media attitudes to ME.<\/p>\n Some general links:<\/p>\n Tymes Trust<\/a> — a small charity which helps young ME sufferers, especially those caught up in the social service system and having difficulty with school<\/p>\n 25% ME Group<\/a> — a charity which supports the severely affected<\/p>\n