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I thought it might be
helpful to post here the criterias I use before pursuing a treatment to
combat my aggressive PN. My list below might be useful for some other PN
members who don't quite know how to respond to some of the spectacular
claims that are frequently presented to us by others.
So here are the things I consider before pursuing some of the supposed PN
cures:
1- How credible is the source?
I put a whole lot more weight on those who have been on the PN message board
for quite a while and a lot less weight on those who are newbies. That
doesn't mean I discount what newbies say; I just wait a little longer before
jumping at their cure.
2- How many people on this PN board have
gotten better by the cure that was posted?
Obviously the bigger the number of people who have improved by doing a
certain treatment gives me greater confidence to pursue that solution
myself.
3- How expensive is it?
If something is too expensive and I can't afford it, it does me little good,
no matter how effective the cure appears to be.
4- How convenient is it?
If something is readily available to me than I give it serious
consideration; but if I have to travel a long ways to see someone or go some
place, I am a lot less likely to pursue such a treatment.
5- How big are the risks?
If something appears beneficial but has a very high risk of
bad side effects, then it is better for me to avoid such a plan of action.
6- How desperate am I?
If my PN is flaring up and making my life hell, then I am much more willing
to take bigger risks. But if my PN is in a manageable state, then doing less
risky things like improving my diet makes a lot of sense.
7- How much controversy is there about the
cure? If there are a whole bunch of
articles on the internet about the negative effects of some purported cure,
then I will naturally put up some mental barriers. If in contrast I find a
whole bunch of supportive information on the web, then I will be more open
to the cure. Of course it isn't as simple as just adding up the number of
negative web sites compared to the positive ones; the credibility of each of
the sources plays a major role in how much weight I give the controversy
that I find about a particular treatment.
8- How weird is it?
I give the biggest weight of support for those things that seem reasonable
and good, such as changing my diet or taking vitamins or pills or applying
ointments that have a proven track record. The weirder something gets the
more cautious I become, such as people who claim to heal you over the phone
or spirit beings from another dimension or universe telling me what I should
do. Again I am not against a cure just because it's weird; if all the other
factors I have mentioned above come up with satisfying answers, I am more
than willing to do weird things to be freed from the curse of PN.
9- How vague are the claims?
In order for me to make an informed decision about whether I
should pursue a particular treatment or cure, I need to know some pretty
specific details so I can make a wise and informed decision that affects my
health. Details such as: How much does it cost? Who administers the
treatment? What exactly is the treatment? How many people have been helped?
What kind of side effects are there? Where do I have to go to get the cure?
I appreciate those who take the time to give us clearer details as to what
the cure is, because that helps all of us here to analyze claims with
greater determination as to what course each of us will take personally.
10- Does the person stick around on the PN
board? During the past year I have
watched as at least four different individuals showed up on our PN message
board shouting they had "The
Cure!" but then when they were
challenged a little bit to provide us with clearer and better information
about the validity of their claims, they either went away in a huff or just
never responded at all. For those of us who have been on this board for a
while, we have little or no respect for such people who just breeze in here
blowing on their trumpets proclaiming "The Cure!" and then wanting us to get
out our wallets and pay them or the person or company they are advocating
for their supposed miracles.
If you go into a crowded theatre and yell "FIRE!" You can expect two kinds
of responses: If there really is a fire, the people who take you seriously
and save themselves from the flames will appreciate you for the warning and
be very grateful. But if the people discover there is no fire, then that
group of people will turn on you and feel negatively towards you.
The same is true on this PN message board; everyone here has suffered
miserably and most of us are desperate for a cure. If indeed you have that
cure, we will be most grateful to you; but if what you say is a false alarm,
don't expect sympathy or kindness.
Keep in mind, though, that we recognize that we don't all respond well to
the same treatments. I got better by NBUVB, whereas one of our members got
50 times worse! But the people here don't accuse me of giving them false
hope, because we all have learned the sad truth that our bodies don't all
respond the same to the many different things we have done and tried in
order to get better.
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