Some words of caution...

The internet is a great source of information. However I suggest that you treat all of this information, and especially information that you seek regarding your own health and well-being, with caution.

This is not to say that information that you discover on the internet is inaccurate or misleading. While some of it is pretty suspect, much of it is valuable.

Well-intentioned rather than well-informed

As a general rule it is wise to consider all health-related information from whatever source and including this site to be well-intentioned rather than well-informed.

It is impossible to provide even reasonably accurate personal suggestions without first taking a very detailed case history. Even then any suggestions need to be carefully discussed with the person for whom the suggestions are designed.

So act cautiously and responsibly with regard to all health-related suggestions. Evaluate them and decide for yourself how much, if any, applies to your personal circumstances and please proceed with caution when applying such suggestions in your life.

You must be the judge

Who can you rely on? Which sources of information are absolutely reliable? What information can you accept and apply immediately without having to think about it?

None.

You cannot even blindly rely on information from your own family doctor, who may have known you for years. Nor from a qualified specialist, therapist, scientist, nor anyone else. Why?

Be cautious and sceptical

Because none of these experts knows you well enough to be able to prescribe what is right for you in a manner that you can accept without...

questioning it
verifying it
seeking a second, third or , in serious situations, even a fourth or fifth opinion
cross-checking the information with that from other sources, and so on...

Do this until you are sure that it is not only the best quality information but it is also the most pertinent to your particular circumstances.

Then, when you do come to apply the information, remember that it is your body, your mind, and your life.

You are the one who loses if things go wrong.

So apply the information with caution - and carefully monitor the effects, being prepared to change things if you are unhappy with the results.

Treat this information similarly

I believe that the information on this site is reliable - up to a point. That point is that any information regarding your health and well-being must be tailored to your personal circumstances.

If I spent some time getting a detailed 'case history' from you the information would be a lot more relevant to your situation. (And would still need to be scrutinised by you - and cross-checked).

However I do not know you. So the information on this site is of a general nature. You have to decide which, if any, of it is appropriate for you. You then have to apply it to the degree what is appropriate for you.

Then, if you do apply the information or use some of the ideas and techniques offered here - please proceed with caution.

And please decide that it is your responsibility to subject all advice from whatever source, no matter how well qualified they appear, to the same critical thinking.

Be an active participant rather than a 'patient patient'...

Reg Connolly