Yeah actually. My body wasn't of the strongest constitution and my condition was made worse because I suffered from Hypochondria. Add that to my low self esteem and it turned out my problem was mostly a mental one. As I've already said, raising that disadvantaged Charmander into a beastly Charizard in Pokemon Red helped me to realize that even though I was frail back then, I can work to become stronger and healthier if I wanted it enough. I guess you can call it a therapeutic experience (well, as therapeutic as a self- treating 7 year old can get).
Sanshrew's a pretty cool Pokemon. I'd even go as far as saying that it was Kanto's Drilbur. :).