Saturday 9 August 2008

WSS aka White Shirt Syndrome

I contracted WSS quite some time ago. I'm afraid it is a rather serious affliction...a chronic disease, in fact and I have a baaaad case of it. I'm not sure when I first became aware that I was exhibiting symptoms of WSS...was it while watching Mr. Darcy during Pride and Prejudice? Perhaps my case started from watching Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility?
Was it because of Mr. Knightley in Emma?
Or was it long before that and this...ahem, illness had been incubating for a long time? I really can't remember but I do know that the symptoms seem to get more pronounced as I get older.


Recently I realized that I really do have a severe and chronic case of WSS...and I don't believe that there is anything I can do to heal it. (Poor me!) There I was, innocently watching Persuasion when I realized that the symptoms were coming on quite strongly. Indeed each time Captain Wentworth was on screen I had heart palpitations, weak knees, felt somewhat feverish and experienced strange fluttering feelings in my stomach and a rather drooly mouth. What's a woman to do when suffering from such a malady? Well, I find that I am able to bear this suffering quite easily now.
;-)
But...I do recommend a rather simple homeopathic treatment if you feel you too suffer from WSS. As we know like heals like in homeopathy so I suggest regular small doses of white shirts (weekly!! and preferably with a group of good friends and fellow WSS sufferers), that way you will develop a good tolerance to them and not be unduly affected. My goal is to able to view a white shirt each week without being overcome by any WS symptoms - a lofty goal indeed.




I don't believe that I've seen Rupert Penry-Jones (Wentworth) in any films before but I must say the man can certainly wear a white shirt well...and he does a rather nice "smouldering look" too.

I highly recommend checking out this film. It is, erm...extremely entertaining. (And yes, our library does have it. Bless them and their educational movies!)

6 comments:

Katherine said...

When do you plan to start your treatment program? Have you chosen the flick that will be your "first dose"?
Best of luck in overcoming WSS! Know that you are not alone in this...and you have my support in following your homeopathic treatment ;o)

Samantha said...

I know this syndrome well.
My mom has had it for most of her life and I seemed to have inherited a bad case of it as well. I think we should form a support group.

Katherine, I do believe treatment will start soon as I have heard a rumour that Mr. Firth shall be seen in a white shirt in Momma Mia. (must stop hoping he falls in the water... must stop hoping he falls in the water... sigh)

Anonymous said...

Yes, I feel bad about passing this gene on, but WSS is hereditary.

In my perfect world, there would only be white shirts.....

WSS sufferers must see "When did you last see your father". It's required therapy!

Carol

Heather said...

Thanks for the tip, Carol. We'll have to check that one out for our next movie night. I think we are all feeling a little overwhelmed right now because we went to Mamma Mia today and there were just so many white shirts we hardly knew where to look. I must say it was a little overwhelming for us WSS sufferers but what's a person to do? It was our prescribed therapy, after all, we had to take it. Luckily I had some chocolate with me so we were OK. ;-)

this is my patch said...

You have got it bad! Rupert Penry Jones had a leading role in one of our BBC TV dramas called Spooks and I recently saw him in Charlotte Gray with Kate Blanchett, a film set in WW2, from a few years back. x

Samantha said...

Heather and fellow WSS sufferers - I think the best thing to do is to rent Momma Mia and watch it until we can get past the white shirts without feeling overwhelmed. It is a tougher form of therapy but will hopefully have the desired results. I think being able to pause and rewind certain white shirts scenes is important and necessary for treatment.