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10 The Link Magazine • August 2006 Place your free classifieds
Beat the baby blues in Abbey Meads
Mothers feeling down or suffering from depression can find support from a new group which will be launching at Abbey Meads Community
Primary School in September.
Community worker Roxy Cox — everyone is in the same boat." Roxy said that many mothers Some pointers for
said that the group is for mothers Knowing that it can be difficult prefer meeting in a group to talk identifying depression:
who are feeling isolated or fed up to walk into a group, Roxy said she informally rather than seeking help
after having their baby, but it's not can arrange a link-up with a sup- from professionals. If you're feeling down after
just for new mums. "Mothers suf- portive mum to welcome and in- The post-natal support group having a baby, you're not alone.
fering from depression are often troduce newcomers. will meet during term time from 1 in 10 women will experience
uneasy at mother and baby groups The group is an extension of the 14 September on Thursdays, 1pm some of these symptoms after
and can be reluctant to let anyone services that have been developed to 2.30pm, in the community room giving birth:
know. This group will provide an for new parents in North Swin- at Abbey Meads Primary School. feeling tearful or anxious
opportunity to meet others who've don, following the launch of the A creche will be available. A health having low self-esteem
been through the same experiences successful breast feeding support visitor and two counsellors from feeling isolated
and will be a chance to learn cop- group Breast Mates run by moth- A Time to Talk, the Swindon based feeling irritable and exhausted
ing strategies ers who have taken a training counselling and support service, not sleeping well
"People who come are not going course under the guidance of local will be on hand to chat.
to feel that people are judging them health visitors. For details call Roxy on 0796 602 feeling you aren't bonding
3636. with your baby

Shaun McIntyre Homeopathy in the spotlight
There has been a lot of attention on complementary therapies in the
Get a new look for news lately, questioning how effective some treatments are. Homeopa-
thy has had particular scrutiny, writes homeopath Ruth Derham.
the summer" Homeopathy has come under at- in having homeopathy is nothing
tack due to the inability of con- more than the placebo effect - that
20% off your first ventional trials to 'prove' that it they feel well because they want to
works. believe it works, or because they
appointment with me Certainly, the healing power of are listened to.
at Altered Images the minute doses of medicines used So is it all in the mind? Surely
in homeopathy seems to defy ex- this is the wrong way of looking at
Late nights availa''ale. Free parking planation. How can something that any treatment, be it conventional
has been diluted to such an extent or complementary. Every treat-
99 Cricklade Road, Gorse Hill, Swindon have an effect? ment has its placebo effect - in
It actually has a lot to do with conventional drug making the
Tel: (01793) 422733 or 07956 4542 1 9
how this is done. Not only is the name or colour and shape of the
substance diluted to make it safe, pill is considered to give the opti-
it is also vigorously vibrated to mum positive feel. In homeopa-
release the inherent thy, our pills all
power within it. look the same.
Many of the rem- But, yes, much
edies used by time is taken to lis-
homeopaths have ten to the patient,
been used for cen- to recognise pat-
turies as herbal or terns in illness and
home remedies for take a wider con-
common ailments. sideration of the in-
The problem with dividual as a per-
some of them was son, with stresses,
that if given in too lifestyle issues,
great a dose they food intolerances
were found to be and all sorts of
toxic. Ruth Derha n other influences
With the homeopathic approach, that can contribute to dis-ease.
we are able to fully release the Physical sensations and aggra-
potential of these substances with- vations are discussed, feelings are
outthatdanger.Thousandsofpeo- vented if necessary. This is an im-
ple in the UK each year chose ho- portant aspect of the homeopathic
meopathy because it is a safe and process of treating illness, rather
effective treatment. In my practice than simply prescribing a'pill for
I treat all types of illness from child- every ill.' If this has a 'placebo'
hood conditions such as eczema effect, surely that is a good thing if
and asthma, to more painful long it means that patients heal and feel
standing conditions such as men- well?
strual disorders and arthritis, to Any GP would tell you that they
emotionally crippling conditions would rather their patients were
such as depression and grief - with- not on lifelong medication and that
out any fear of side effects or drug they had longer to talk with them.
dependency. It is the stories of pa- If this can be achieved with the
tients like these that are the real appropriate application of comple-
testimony to the true healing ca- mentary therapies, then what have
pacity of homeopathy. we got to lose by giving it a go?
There has also been some sug- • Ruth Derham can be contacted
gestion that the benefit people find on 772883. See her advert. right.