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Show THE HERALD, Provo, Utah, Page 38 Sunday, December 11. 1983 Only Death Would Bring Relief By CHARLENE R. WINTERS Assistant City Editor them sensitive not only to traditional allergins but to chemicals and synthetic materials also. The syndrome is not universally recognized because some allergists object to the use of the term allergy in discussing it, primarily because the existence of allergies is proven through a series of objective tests. Among the pioneers supporting environmental illness is Dr. Alfred Johnson of the Environmental Control Unit of Brook-have- n Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. "We get criticism but more and more people are saying maybe we do have something here. I think there is a solid basis for what we are doing," he said in an interview with The Sun, a daily in San Bernardino, Calif. Margo gets some of her hope for the future from others who have found treatments that have helped their allergies, and a child Margo of Provo thought there Even as Wright was something not quite right with her. She seemed to get ill easily and more seriously than those around her. But for the most part she ignored warning signs, and as a teenager involved herself in regular school and social activites. Among her happy memories is participation in a local beauty pageant in her small Idaho hometown where she sang, and her fellow contestants crowned her "Miss Along with the blinding headaches is a kind of anxiety she calls the "black depressions of hell." Congeniality." Armed with a lovely singing voice, she prepared herself to go to Ricks College in Rex-burIdaho, and have a "really good time." That good time never happened. She remembers standing in line for a vaccination on a windy fall afternoon in 1968. Her allergic reaction to the shot made her ill really ill. And she didn't get better, She began suffering pain throughout her body coupled with blinding headaches. Added to that was and is a kind of anxiety she calls the "black depressions of hell." There isn't a day pass, she claims, that she doesn't pray for death as a release. "My mom told me I went to college and never came back," says Miss Wright. On that day, nearly 15 years ago, her reaction triggered something far more serious than a bad reaction to a shot; she joined the ranks of other unfortunate people whose allergies make it difficult to live in today's g, There isn't a day pass, she claims, that she doesn't pray for death as a ciety that thrives on synthetics, chemicals and plastics. Miss Wright calls herself a "total allergic." She figures the only materials she has no allergy reactions to are steel and glass. Foods, plants, clothing, heating systems and popular cosmetic items such as world. Margo's malady is a sort of modern day survival of the and she isn't fittest trial sure she is up for the fight. She can't live with today's technology without discomfort and pain. Her allergies are exacerbated by a technological so- - perfumes, hair dyes and makeup make her violently ill. Most of the more than dozen phone calls she made to me were made during allergic reactions. At such times, she often cried and said she had been rocking back and forth with her hands pulling her hair much about her psychological Anxiety is contagious and she may mistake your concern for some kind of fear that she is not going to make it as a doctor. Relax. That will help her do the same. I am a DEAR DR. BLAKER professional woman who is very busy with my career. If there is anything I don't need, it is a desperate, disturbed person hanging around me hoping for some help. Yet that's exactly what has happened. This woman is a friend of my mother's. She used to be successful but now has deteriorated in mind and body. She calls me in the middle of the night drunk and asks me to come over and hold her hand. She needs so much tender, loving care. And I can't help. The kind of DEAR READER help she needs may not take much time at all. Someone should take on the responsibility of telling her that she has a drinking problem. That should obviously be done well-bein- g. - DEAR DR. BLAKER My daughter is a pre med student in college and under a lot of pressure. She says that several students have tried to commit suicide - and that she has been busy trying to help them along, while keeping up with her own studies. Sometimes I get very worried about her. I encourage her to come home for vacations but then don't know how to advise her to spend her time. She likes to read novels when she is home. I think she should be spending her time on something ;more intellectual; something that would help her get ahead in school. Do you have any suggestions for books she should read? And put DEAR READER more pressure on her? No. I think it is great that she can escape by spending time at home reading novels. It would be a tremendous help to her, if you would rot worry so - - Miller, a California businessman, whose maladaptions to his environment got so severe, the only relief he got was from living away from his house, in his car. The only clothing that seemed to work was an old and a specific towel. His critics suggested his illness was psychosomatic, a claim he rejects vehemently. In a Herald interview, he explained that his family was supportive; they believed in his illness, and that others simply didn't understand. Miller counts himself lucky. He is now a fully functioning human being with no trace of the afflictions that stalked his life for several years. He attributes his cure to his faith and a blessing from his religious faith, the report of which has been chronicled in "Guide-posts-" magazine. as she writhed in pain. She thinks her illness is weird and is sure other people apply that label to her ailments. Yet she is not alone, and as additional research becomes available, the "weird-ness- " of the disease becomes more understandable. Her afflication has many names: severe maladaption syndrome, ecologic illness, environmental illness or brain allergy. In the case of those who often call themselves "total allergies" a breakdown of the immune system seems to make He offers support to his friend Margo, hoping for the day when she, too, can have a more normal life. TP Wrap up your holidays at Swectbriar and save 2540 during our Sale starts December 12. her a real favor, or have your mother do it, but someone Do The Wedding Expert really should help her. Does your job have you tied up in knots? 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