HEALTH&ADVICE
The Alexander Technique
I Frederick Matthias Alexander was an early 20th century Shakespearean actor with a chronic throat infection. Sore throats and successful performance of the Bard’s work do not go hand in hand, so he decided to study the way he spoke and recognised there was undue muscular tension in his vocal cords. When he learned to eliminate the tension the infection disappeared, and thus the Alexander Technique was born.
Almost a century on, it remains a popular method of alternative health care. At its core, the practice attempts to change daily habits and activities leading to a healthier lifestyle both emotionally and physically, through simple manipulations and a re-evaluation of body coordination, balance,
support and movement.
Most muscle tension is built up over a number of years, by encouraging new ways of carrying out day-to-day tasks which don’t put any additional pressure on your joints and muscles. Apparently you’re left with a feeling of ‘walking on air’. The long term effects are also said to be positive, and have been known to improve posture, breathing, balance and coordination.
I For full details on the Alexander Technique see www.a/exandertechnique.com
and/or www.alexandercenter. com
This page lists a selection of organisations which provide expert health, advice and support in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The List gratefully acknowledges the support of the Scottish Executive in funding this page.
Alcohol and Narcotics
Glasgow
Alcoholics Anonymous
50 \Vcllinglon Strcct. 336 22 I4 .\lon ‘l5ri ‘lam 5pm. (I845 76‘) 7555 tZ-l houri. (iroup support to Iipr tacle alcoholism. Dumbarton Area Council on Alcohol 82 Dumbarton Road. (‘Iydchank 953 (I881. ()t‘l‘crx gcncral information and ad\ icc incltiding onc-to-onc counsclling for )Ollllg pcoplc.
Glasgow City Council Addiction Partnership \\ \\ \\.gla.\go\\.go\.ttl\. .-\ rangc of city“ idc \cn iccx. including spccilic support tor )oung pcoplc im'olx'cd in drttg and alcohol use.
Glasgow Council on Alcohol
Isl Floor. Bristol and “1‘s! Housc. 33 I'nion Strcct. 226 3883. Information.
1 18 THE LIST 4—18 Mm 300:
ad\ icc and onc-to-onc counsclling tor undcr :58 Mid olItc‘t‘x til‘lt‘clctl h} alcohol. RCA Trust .\lirrcn IIotGC. Back Sncddon Strcct. l’aislc}. 887 0880 I’roicct gix ing
13 25-)car-oldx ad\ icc on addiction ixxucs.
Edinburgh
Alcoholics Anonymous
38 ('ockhurn Strcct. ('all 225 norm for mccting lllltc‘x.
Crew 2000
33 ('ockhurn Strcct. 330 3403. Mon Sat
l 5pm. Thu 4 -8pm. Information on drugs and \c\ual hcalth and tricndl} ad\ icc t‘rotn traincd \xorkcrx.
Edinburgh & Lothian Council on Alcohol (i (‘Iit'ton 'l‘crracc. 537 8I88. Information. adx icc and support.
Turning Point 3 Smith's l’lacc. 554 7516. Mon Fri 9.30am 5.30pm. ()nc to one counxclling tor addicts and \upport for their latiiilics.
West Lothian Drug and Alcohol Service 43 .-\dclaidc Strcct. (‘raigxhiIL l,i\ ingxton. 01506 430 225. ('ounxclling. hpr in dcaling nith tamil} issucx and hclp in \xorlting touardx cmplo} mcnt opportunities.
Youth Action Project cto (‘ommunin Ilouw. 53 .-\|Icr I’Iacc. lilihurn. I.i\ing\ton.
(ll5lio Jol 588. .»\d\ tcc and lllltll'llltllllill tor }outig pcoplc about \uhxtancc llll\ll\t‘.
National
Drinkline
0800 ‘)I7 8383. Mon l'i'i ()illll llpm. Sal tk Sun o I Ipni. I'i‘cc conlidcntial inlormation and support.
Know the Score (moo 587 537*). \\\\“.Itlltt“IIICM‘UI'L‘JIIIH. ('onlidcntial drugs inl'orniation. 3—1 hours a da}. 7 da} \ a \xcck. ('allx tnadc from a landlinc it ill not \Itou up on a phonc hill and arc li‘cc. ('allx from a mohilc \ar} in coxt dcpcnding on nctuork and ma} \hou up on _\ottt' hill. 'I‘IIC \\ L'Iixllt‘ Il;t\ Iol\ ol tttI\ ic‘t‘ Iot‘ ttll_\ollt‘ til-lt'clctl It} tIt'tlg\ titttl tIt'tttilx ol- local support \L‘l'\ iL‘L‘x.
Smokeline (moo 84 84 st Iincouragcnicnt and \uppot'l tor thoxc Who “am to \lop or Inn c rcccntl} \loppcd \moking.
Mental Wellbeing
National
Breathing Space 0800 838 587' (it .\linicom (i800 3 I 7 lot).
it \x \\ .hrcathingxpaccxcotlandct tult. ()PIll 2am. l-i'cc. conlidcntial ad\ icc tor ainottc l'ccltng Io“ or tIL‘pt‘L‘\\L'tI.
Sexual Health and STDs
Glasgow
Body Positive Strathclyde ‘) Sandflord I’lacc. Sauchichall Strcct. 248 9285. \x\tuhod}positncorguk Drop-in ccntrc opcn Mon. “to. Hi 9am 5pm. 'I‘uc tk Thu. I lam 8pm. Intormation and support lot pcoplc \\ ho arc III\' piHIIH c. Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic (GUM Clinic) ’l‘hc Sandflord IlllIIitIH c. 3 (i Sand}lord I’Iacc. Sauchichall Strcct. Ill 86m. Drop in clinic\ .\lon l‘ri 8.30am 10am. B} appointmcnt at othcr timcx until 7pm Mon I‘Tl. (‘ontidcnttal adx icc is otl‘crcd on contraccption as ucII as support. counxclling. tcxting and trcatmcnt tor pcoplc \\ ith \cxuall} transmitch discaxcx. including HIV and AIDS.
Rape Crisis Centre NH! 55: 33W. \\ u u.rapccrixixxcotland.oi‘gtik. 'I‘uc \Vcd tk Sun - 9pm; Thu I 3pm. l-‘rcc and contidcntial scnicc ot't'cring inl'ormation and support to uomcn and girls u ho hax c
hccn o: tcai the} ma} haw Iiccn \c\u.tII_\ dI‘II‘CxI ot .i~\.:tiItctI
Edinburgh
GUM Clinic I .lIlII\Ii‘lI Budding.
I .tIllhIi‘Il I’Iacc. 5‘“ .‘IH‘ \lon I It IIIJIII 5pm I\_\ .tt‘t‘i‘lltllllt'lll lot urgent [‘IHI‘It‘lth. thcic I8 .t nail. lll clinu \x'ncic no appointincut l\ ncccsxat} Horn
8 1" IlHNlain. \Ion Ill
Edinburgh Women’s Rape 8- Sexual Abuse Centre M 1t Sin wll‘ \\\\\\ l.tl‘t'cll\l\\ct‘IIalItI org uk (all tot opt-hing IIt‘lll\ \cc I\'.t[\' (this (‘cntio (iI.i\f_‘o\\
National
National AIDS Helpline «NM 5N 1.‘ 1 Sexwise (NIH 38: ‘l W. Tun llpin I’im itch tnloiiuation and .id\ in' on \t‘\ll.lIlI} .ind \t‘\ll.lI hcalth tot ioung
[‘t'i ‘I‘IL‘
Sources of Advice
National
Crimestoppers own “i ll] (all at am titiic \\lIIl intotination .lI‘HllI am tllIIlt‘ (‘.lII\ .tlt‘ Ilt't‘ .tlltI \tIIiIiI‘I I‘t‘ ll.lt’t'tI Victim Support Line oxt< to Io woo Iztnottonal \UH‘HII .ind ptat tital .id\ ttc lot .in_\onc .ittcctcd It} ctiiiic It‘s tontnlcntial.
ol couixc
Women’s Health & Support
Glasgow
Glasgow Women’s Aid -ltlt Hoot. iH Iicll Slit-cl. 55‘ I”): " want -I Winn .\lon I'll. L‘\\'t'lil \\cd \\Il|t‘Il l\
U. Want lptn lot diop Ill. and .lIIt'llltnill It} appointiucnl onl}. Iliop Ill and tclcplionc counxclling tot \wiiicii
Edinburgh
Edinburgh and Lothian Women’s Aid ~l ('hc}nc Sticct. H5 8| Ill. \lon. \\cd. I ll Illani iptu. Ith "pm. Sat
Illam Ilillpni. Rclugc. \uppoi't and Iiclp Iot' \xoincn \ultci‘ing [‘Il}\lt'.li. tncntal oi \c\u;il aliuxc trout tlicit pai'tiictx
National
Domestic Abuse Helpline oxoo o3" I234 ill hour».
Refuge IIHIIN Nib ‘l‘l‘l‘l \altoiial t'IlatIl} prm iding \alc acctuninodatiou tot uoiucn cwci'tcncing tittlllt‘8IlL' \ iolcncc
The most severe form of meningitis, an infection of the fluid which surrounds the brain and the spinal cord, is bacterial meningitis, and it’s more common in the winter months.
There is a vaccine which offers protection against C strain bacterial meningitis, but not for the most common type, 8 strain. With early diagnosis offering the best chance of recovery, it’s vital to be aware of the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia (which can occur with or without meningitis).
Fever, vomiting, stiff neck, rapid breathing, cold hands and feet, stomach or muscle pain, drowsiness, severe headache and dislike of bright lights are warning signs. And if a rash appears anywhere on the body, press a glass tumbler to it. A septicaemic rash will not fade.
These symptoms can appear in any order and not everyone gets them all. The important thing is to trust your instincts and get medical help if in doubt. I www.meningitisorg