Media Alert- Elle Magazine Article

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MEDIA ALERT

The August 2002 issue of ELLE magazine features an article by Judith

Warner, " The Thin, Successful Woman's Disease, " that suggests the cause of

'invisible illnesses' such as CFIDS and FM is really psychological and

anxiety-based. Warner recounts her experience seeking a diagnosis, and

implies that many women fixate on being ill when physicians cannot find a

cause for their symptoms, which prevents them from addressing their 'real

problems.'

Warner claims that illnesses such as CFIDS and FM " ...are a cop-out-a way

to assuage anxiety without having to address it. " She sums up her viewpoint

by saying, " There are times in your life when you can't-or won't-stop

banging your head against the wall. And at those times it is more

comforting to think that you suffer from a syndrome than to admit your own

shortcomings and inability to change. "

To read a copy of the article, go to:

http://www.elle.com/inthemag/articles/August/thin_successful.asp

The CFIDS Association of America sent a letter to the editor of ELLE

correcting Warner's assertion that CFIDS and FM are psychological in origin

and stating that she is harming millions of individuals with

difficult-to-diagnose illnesses by suggesting that when medical science

cannot explain their symptoms they must be inflicting them upon themselves.

The Association also informed the editors that CFIDS and FM patients are

not benefiting from their illness and possibly even enjoying their

martyrdom, as Ms. Warner suggests in her article, but would instead give

anything to recover from the living hell their lives have become. The

Association is contacting the magazine's editors directly to further

educate them about CFIDS.

Brehio

Director of Communications

The CFIDS Association of America

Advocacy, Information, Research and Encouragement for the CFIDS Community

PO Box 220398, Charlotte NC 28222-0398

Voice Mail:

Resource Line:

Fax:

Web: www.cfids.org

General E-mail: info@...