Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) By Chantal (Atropos) My personal experience with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, commonly known as IBS, has been a very difficult learning process. When you are diagnosed by the specializing doctor (a gastroenterologist) a lot of questions are asked and answered. Some struggles most find when learning that they have IBS include diet, exercise, and therapy. People newly diagnosed with IBS might feel anger, fear, hopelessness, and confusion. What is...

Coping with a diagnosis of a chronic illness By Harrison (HeavyDirtySoul) A chronic illness is any illness that lasts for a long time (usually more than three months). Some examples of chronic illness are CFS/ME, Elhers Danlos Syndrome, arthritis and HIV. Some are eventually curable, others can go into periods of remission and relapse, and some can be controlled with medications. Many people with chronic illnesses are considered to be disabled due to the way the illness affects daily life....

Staying cool during the summer By Shane (MyVisionIsDying) When people think of summer, they usually associate the season with sun, time off from work or school and heat. Sometimes the temperatures can reach record highs such as England reaching an astonishing 37°C (approximately 99°F) at London Heathrow Airport on Wednesday, July 1st, 2015. Dangerously high summer temperatures can cause heat related illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Heat stroke happens when the body is...

Worry stones By Cassie (Calico.) Worry stones are smooth stones that vary in size, shape, and color. Some have thumb indentations and are engraved with a single inspirational word, or a phrase. These stones are supposed to alleviate worry when held between your thumb and index fingers. Most worldwide cultures have something similar to alleviate worry, but it is thought that worry stones originated from Native American or Greek cultures. Native Americans had sacred stones that...

About ADHD By Cassie (Cassiopeia.) and Nicole (eumoirous) ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is an increasingly popular and controversial topic. It is a developmental disorder that affects the behavior of approximately 11% of children according to the CDC. Awareness for this medical condition has sparked a debate regarding the extent of the severity of the symptoms. Healthcare professionals are continuously assessing the treatment options to help improve the lives of...

A guide to adult tonsillectomies By Nicole (Pug Princess) Tonsillectomies used to be quite common among children to prevent complications down the road. Today, doctors typically don't suggest tonsillectomies unless the tonsils are degrading one's quality of life. Adult tonsillectomies are even less common; these are conducted on adults as the name implies, and they typically have a longer and more painful recovery time than a tonsillectomy performed on a child. Reasons to get the...

What is autism spectrum disorder? By Cassie (Idyllic.) Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a mental condition that usually presents itself within the first two or three years of one’s life. ASD reduces brain development and functioning. For someone with this condition, communication and other social interaction can be extremely challenging. ASD is normally diagnosed at two or three years old; however, new research is allowing children to be diagnosed at as young as six months old. Although...

Give Me Five for Health by Marie (Atelophobia) Being safe and healthy doesn't have to be time consuming. Each and every one of us can afford to take out five minutes; taking a few minutes out of the 1,440 minutes in a day; it's worth it for the long term benefits. There are many differences you can make to your life: from protecting your skin to eating healthy, from fighting the urges to smoke, to planting a vegetable patch, you have the power to improve your quality (and quantity) of life!...

The power of speech by Holly Marie (Rie) Those who stutter may face discrimination, bullying, prejudice and even be led to social isolation. Around 60 million people struggle with stuttering, yet most people know very little about this speech disorder. Stuttering may also be referred to as 'stammering', or as a broader term, 'disfluent speech'. Stuttering is a speech disorder in which the sounds and syllables spoken may be prolonged or repeated, disrupting the regular flow of speech....

You're Not Alone: Coping with Hyperhidrosis By Katrina (AppleTini) Going through puberty signifies a multitude of changes in our bodies: some appreciated, some not so much. Whether we're okay with the changes or not though, they're happening, and they're things we should be aware of as we stay in tune with the signs our bodies are showing. Our voice may change, our bodies develop physically, and we may begin to feel different emotions. One such change that many of us are acutely aware of,...

What is HIV and AIDS? By Casey (Casey.) AIDS. You've heard the term before. You have probably never thought of it affecting you. You have never known anyone who has AIDS, and you don't want to. You fear people who have AIDS. You may view them as unclean and dirty. But what do you know about AIDS really? Not much? Sure you know it's a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can be deadly . But what is AIDS? How do you get AIDS? What is AIDS? Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS,...

Supporting a loved one with cancer By Dez (Terabithia.) What is cancer? The two types of tumors that can be found in the body are benign and malignant: benign tumors are masses of cells that cannot spread to other organs or invade the surrounding tissue, while malignant tumors invade surrounding tissue and may begin to invade other organs if not treated quickly. The term “cancer” is used to describe malignant tumors. Cancer is a condition in which abnormal cells in the body begin to grow...

Debunking myths about HIV By Traci (Coffee.) Most people have heard of HIV, or the human immunodeficiency virus. Unfortunately, along with the facts about HIV, many people also hear rumors and misconceptions, causing stigma and shame to HIV-positive individuals and their loved ones. It is estimated that over 34 million people worldwide have the virus; without the proper information, it's difficult to prevent or treat HIV, and these numbers only continue to rise. From the root of HIV, to its...

Lucid dreaming By Maria (Gidig) Certainly you can remember a dream you’ve had at least once in all the years you’ve been sleeping. Perhaps it was something realistic, such as going swimming with a friend or doing your homework. Perhaps it was something crazy like buying a mansion in another dimension where Antarctica is the hottest place on Earth. Dreams are a natural part of sleeping and people over the age of ten have about four to six dreams per night. Lucid dreams are something...