Health Food Shops.

[jeff oakley]

I have just be dragged around the shops by my wife and we then ended up as usual spending a small fortune in Holland and Barret.

What struck me was this, I have never been in any health food shop where the staff aren't simply the most unhealthy looking people you could wish to meet. they seem to be under nourished or over weight.

It is the same as the personal trainer in our local Gym who has a large beer gut, not the best advertisement. It just made me smile today being in the shop, as not being blessed with an Adonis body, I felt right at home

[Captain Colonial]

 Spot on Jeff, never seen such overpriced stuff that's supposed to be good for you sold by such unhealthy people - maybe they don't get paid enough to buy their own products.

i have to get a blood test every two months, and one of the nurses who takes the samples at my surgery is a former self-harmer with dozens of scars on her arms.  I'm glad she's stopped hurting herself, but I'd be much happier if she wore long sleeves while sticking a needle in my arm.

[TAFKARM]

It must be terrible for you that her self harming past makes you so unhappy...

[Thrustyjust]

Our neighbours son is a NHS diet specialist and makes Giant Haystacks look like a stick insect. I went to Holland and Barrett last week for some echinacea and seeing people in front spending £60 plus on a variety of products , just made me wonder about hypochondria, as like you say , these people look very unhealthy and the staff usually cant be seen but you can hear their knuckles on the floor..........  

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

43 minutes ago, RussH said:

It must be terrible for you that her self harming past makes you so unhappy...

As another of those having regular bloods taken, a lot of people I see at the hospital on bloods day have real trouble with needles and having their blood taken. The sight of battle scarred arms, no matter how much sympathy they would normally have for the bearer, would just be too much for some them. (I've seen more than a few bolt for the door over the years.)

[Captain Colonial]

58 minutes ago, RussH said:

It must be terrible for you that her self harming past makes you so unhappy...

The sarcasm is entirely unnecessary here Russ. 

It doesn't make me unhappy at all, but neither does it fill me with joy having someone who enjoyed cutting themselves and watching themselves bleed draining some blood out of me.

Good for you that you don't have to have regular blood tests - you're missing nothing.

[TAFKARM]

Self harmers don't "enjoy cutting themselves", it's a symptom of depression. Nor is it something to be ashamed of that she should have to hide. Finally, you don't know how many regular blood tests I need. 

Rant over. 

[DamperMan]

Spinning this arround, the staff in McDonald's look healthy.. maybe a little spotty!    Clearly ditching the dangleberry juice for some ultra processed 100% beef ! Is the way to go.. 

[jeff oakley]

I am no expert on those who self harm and it is sad for those who do. Sometimes they do not know why and yes it is a form of depression as are eating disorders.

Having said that Scott's point is valid. To some the scars will mean nothing to others it will raise questions. That may be lack of understanding but they may be justified in their thoughts that here is a person doing a medical function that by their scars makes them uncomfortable. It therefore not unreasonable for thought to be applied and arms covered perhaps.

My niece is heavily tattooed but as a teacher her arms are required to be covered, some would say it is unreasonable others would support the school policy.

My best example is that I have struggled with weight since being a child. Some years ago I was sent to see a dietician by the Dr. When my wife and I entered the room we were greeted by a very nice woman who was at least 20 stone. At that point anything she said was lost as all credibility was lost. for whatever reason her size was an issue to us at that time.

What started as a light hearted comment on observations has taken a detour but illustrates my view. Would it not be better for health food workers to look healthy?

 

 

[DamperMan]

As a child we where taught not to stare.  But then we try and ignore things and look the other way.   People with disabilities or disfigurements must must find people look away from them rather than engage in a normal way.  That can't feel nice.     People are afraid to ask friends/ colleges if they are ok who've had depression or other mental illnesses. That can't feel nice.  

A child would if allowed simply ask innocently why something is as it is and the person would probably be pleased   to say and everyone would feel better. 

The bmi challenged diet person is probably far more knowledgable and emphatic than the skinny gym person who has learned there trade from a book.  

I think sometimes it can be good to break the ice and be your inner child and ask and show empathy. Treat everyone equal and How you'd like to be treated.  

 

[jeff oakley]

Looking at the other way, if the person who is giving advice shows no signs of following it is that right? It is appropriateness for a role. A self harmer or bulimia sufferer who has conquered those demons would be a great role model for counselling those who need help.

An alcoholic who is turning up p******** to every session as the teacher is probably not that good person to tell other s they can get off the booze.

There is no shame in mental illness these days, like it or not it did carry a stigma which is why it was not spoken about sufferers were locked away. We still use terms as everyday descriptions "driving like a nutter"  they are "lunatics" to describe actions we find unacceptable.

I personally would have no issue with seeing scars but I understand some would.  

[John K]

I do have some sensible comments to share, but before I do, I just want to get my own blood test story out the way...

I also have regular but not frequent blood tests (just to check my meds are not wrecking my liver), the problem is whilst I have no problem at all with injections going in, really no problem (which is a good job as I have to give myself them), the issue is when blood is taken out.

I faint almost everytime... I'm known for it at the Doctors, as soon as I walk in they say "get on the couch, were not picking you up off the floor again" 

Just before my specialist was ready to give the final diagnosis he said "lets run a full range of blood tests just to make sure we haven't missed anything" and sent me of to the phlebotomy girls at the hospital.

The nurse was reading what tests he wanted doing and got out nine phials, the most I'd had to date was two..!

I was already panicking and said to her "just to let you know I've a phobia about giving blood samples so I am almost definitely going to faint with all that lot" and I closed my eyes to wait for the inevitable...

She paused, though about it for a moment and then said "Tell you what, I'll use the biggest needle I've got for the fastest flow so we get it over an done with as quickly as possible"

To which I opened one eye and politely asked "excuse me miss, but how do you think anything you've just said is going to calm me down..."

And yes is did... Stone cold...

[John K]

49 minutes ago, jeff oakley said:

if the person who is giving advice shows no signs of following it is that right?

If that person is the therapist or health care professional, I would also have the opinion that if you can't follow your own advice, I certainly wont give your opinions the respect they might deserve.

However...

If that person is part of a peer support group, then I think it might help. I'm classed as a carer for my wife and because of that have access to certain support groups. I went to one last week and I'm sorry to sound so brutal about this, but I saw some folk who were in a much worse place than me. So it gave me a sense of perspective.

But as for the person leading the group, so the therapist, they described how they had had their own struggles, climbed out of them and then got training in therapy.

So in my view their 'stock' was significantly higher in my book that a person whom might have the best qualies in the world, but it was all theoretical.

So I guess my view is both the 'currently suffering' and the 'recovered example' are both part of the process.

Just my $0.02 (exchange rates calculated at pre Brexit / Trump levels)

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Yeah, had similar access to carers groups during the twelve months I had to largely take off to look after my mum in the final stages of dementia. No matter how (good) bad anyone may think their own circumstances are, there are some true ly heart breaking cases with some of the others attending. I actually only went to one or two in the end, as with hist ody of clinical depression myself, it didn't help and was even harder to cope with than not going, IYSWIM.

interestingly though, the lady that led the group had really been through the mill herself, but had indeed succesfully come out the other side.

[Julie Hall - WSCC AO Representative]

People who serve large slices of cake in cafe's always look both healthy and happy, so I think that will justify my continuance with my 'healthy balanced diet' as they say.