The good news this week was I managed to shake off a virus which had troubled me for almost a week. It's possible it was swine flu, however whilst I felt like garbage, I could still function relatively well. I managed to get into work but they were a few of the worst days I've ever experienced. I'd had about 3 hours sleep between 2 nights. 

It's the first time I've experienced flu since becoming noticeably sick just over a year ago, and it took some determination not to reach for the ibuprofen or paracetamol. Instead I opted to increase my vitamin C intake and take colloidal silver. I was noticeably better after a couple of days however I can't be sure whether it was my bodies natural defences or the supplements. Perhaps a bit of both. 

 A good weekend with my friends and a lazy day in front of the TV today got me thinking. Handling my exposure to TV has become one of the most difficult challenges to improving my overall health. I believe a significant component to the cause of my poor health was directly and indirectly as a result of the effect TV has on me.

Examples of this include

- Vivid unrefreshing sleep. Frequent nightmares

-  Apathy and lethargy, unable to 'settle' the mind for routine activities after a long television session, including conversion with friends and performing jobs and tasks. Prior to becomming ill my diet would also suffer as I would turn to quick, unhealty processed foods.

- Stirring unproductive emotions. Emotions such as fear and sadness are often generated by films and TV programs, affecting the body physically, as well as mentally. 

- Implanting unhealthy perceptions of the world. This is more a long term thing that potentially started in childhood. We are constantly bombarded with images of perfect people, perfect lives and perfect products which we begin to crave, no doubt sub consciously. 

- I become more on edge, often well into the next day. This certainly follows when the mind is active.  My stress response is much poorer after watching TV and can 0ften carry over into the next day.

As my brain function is compromised as a result of my illness, these things and more are often amplified when using a TV and computer. The difficulty is we are surrounded by these gadgets, and I work in IT. Fortunately in the workplace I am in control of what is shown on my screen and the reality is writing a long email is not going to be as stimulating on the mind and body as watching a Saw film. 

I'd love to find some more research into the effects of television, mainly so I can help myself. I'm sure that is has an addictive component which I don't yet fully understand.

It's a shame because I can do the strict diet, sacrifice the sports, take care of my body but by far the hardest thing is motivating myself to not flop onto the sofa after work or on a Sunday and waste hours watching TV or browsing the web.

I shall continue to look for answers and activities that I can do at home that may help.