Self-help

Self-help

Self-care is about keeping fit and healthy, understanding when you can look after yourself, when a pharmacist can help, and when to get advice from your GP or another health professional. If you have a long-term condition, self-care is about understanding that condition and how to live with it.

Self-care is recommended when you have a minor condition which doesn't normally need medical care (from a doctor or nurse) or any treatment in order to get better

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In practice this means a person decides that they can manage their illness without seeing a doctor.

This may be because they don't like taking remedies or pills, or because they believe they will recover just as quickly if they stay at home and rest until their illness goes away of its own accord. Or they may pop out to buy medicines over the counter at a pharmacy. Either way, 'self-care' is something millions of us do every day - for positive and practical reasons.

But what if you feel you need some advice before you are able to self-care? For instance, if you're not sure if your condition is minor, or one that goes away of its own accord, i.e. a virus, or if you just want advice on how to relieve the symptoms.

Please go here for many useful self help guides.