Who is this club created for?
This is a club for deviants who have Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) (both names are used) and/or Fibromyalgia (FM). For those who havent heard of these conditions, they are chronic illnesses which have a large number of associated symptoms including those which are fatigue-related, pain-associated, cognitive dystfunction (memory problems, brain fog etc), and have a long term effects on the lives of those who have it. This club also welcomes deviants with any of the other invisible illnesses such as lupus etc.

^I'm a bit foggy myself right now, so if you have a simpler sentance that covers both sentances which can replace that intro, please let me know Also, if you can think of a new sentance that is foggy-friendly to replace the previous sentance, please let me know! I just reread it and confused myself.....


Why was this club started?
As an intro, my name is Jacq, I am 25, and I have had ME and CFS since I was 11. So i have spent a fair few years asking questions and being a part of support networks. And something I have noticed is there are quite a few of us how are artistically inclined. I know a number of sufferers (I hate that word!) who are bonafied artists, and many many more, such as myself, who just dabble. ~kirrily had a project running to create a book about the art of sufferers, which was published last year ([link] - I went to the tour launch - lots of fun..), and it really got me thinking.. So i thought it was about time that we have a group here on dA!! I havent been as active in the last few years, as i simply do not have enough spoons (click here for reference [link]) so I, as club admin, will be... but I thought I would start a group anyway... if we get a lot of activity, I will just ask for some help... i mean, i have to get good at asking for help sometime, shouldnt i

What is the deal?
Okay, here is what i see for the group! A meeting place for people with ME/CFS and/or FM, a place where they can share their artwork and writtings.. The art doesnt have to be specifically related to these conditions! But if they are, i will be doing features of the best ones which are. If you come across any deviations you think are relevent, leave a link on this journal entry, and I will add them to our favourites!!

yeay for us! okay, now i have used up all my spoons, so i will make this brief:

Important Information
If you have one or both of these conditions and want to join, please send a note to my main account [link] with "join FM&ME" in the subject line.
If you know of someone at dA who has one of these conditions and might be interested in joining, please send them a link to our page.
To submit a piece, please send a note to my main account [link] with the word "submit FM&ME". You also need to have a link to your deviation elsewhere, and the plain text you want included in the "Artist's Comments" section.
If you would like to make some graphics for the group (yes please!) please let me know!
Jacq is also known as =obsidiantears83 please send any correspondence to her at that account. Jacq is also a member of Blue Butterflies [link] , an online forum for people with ME/CFS and FM run by ~VelvetMist.

Members


Affliates


News
22/7/2009
~VelvetMist asked about a club stamp.. So I made one... [link] :thumb130162251: The club doesnt have a sub (i'll get one eventually) so I may make a plz account for it.. Just depends.. Its also an animated stamp, which isnt the best for peeps with ME/CFS or FM... So I'm going to make a normal one as well.. its just a matter of trying to fit in the definitions...
I'm still officially offline, however, i am hoping I find the spoons soon to fix my internet connection at home... if you have any relevent deviations I havent seen, let me know, and I will fave them.
I am planning to do a member feature every three months... I'm writting to one member now to see if she wants to be the first... I will start a new journal when I know what the deal is...... I'm not sure how I will choose who to feature... the person I am emailing right now seems to be the most logical choice for our first feature tho LOL
I hope everyone is as well as they can be, and life is good!