Those of you who have have been helped by this website, and who can afford to, should consider making a donation to help fund its continued operation. This may be done by PayPal, Direct Debit, through the links on the homepage, or sending a cheque/check to: Ezy-Build Online, 10 Jameson Avenue, St. Albans. CHRISTCHURCH. 8001 New Zealand.                                                                                                                                                                                                  Neither do I ask for, nor receive any financial benefit whatsoever from this. I understand that they provide me with this free website, without so much as asking for me to include this request, but it seems like the least I can do, in return: these operations cost money to keep going, and I would not want to see it close.  Don't even mention my name, if posting a check/cheque.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                I am neither a qualified mental health professional, nor a website designer, but a long term sufferer, who has studied psychology at university, and derived great benefits from the core treatments here, for depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and migraine.                                             When I encounter, or accumulate sufficient information, which I think a sufferer may benefit from knowing, I either create a new web page, or include it under a pre-existing topic. This is a free website, with inherent limitations, that I have decided to accept, after having tried several others, so kindly make allowances.                                                     Any figures quoted come from the websites mentioned, but this is an informal site, designed to inform, and give people some idea of differing approaches to treatments.                                                                                                                                                                    Some of these sit well with conventional medicine: others are alternative. Relatively few references are provided, since my aim is not to influence professionals in this field, but to offer people alternatives; many of which are free, effective, and readily available.                                                Bear in mind that there are more than 250 countries in the world, some with only rudimentary mental health services, or none at all.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  No man who is not willing to help himself has any right to apply to his friends, or to the gods.
Demosthenes 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  INTRODUCTION: (Click on the desired page in the left hand column). This website contains a variety of mental health topics, but please read this page in full before going to to your specific subject.                        Page 1: INTRODUCTION, INDEX, & INFO.                                                                                           Page 2: DEPRESSION, DYSTHYMIA, SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER, & POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION.                                                                                                                                                                         Page Page 3: INSOMNIA/NIGHTMARES/RECURRING NIGHTMARES/BAD DREAMS/NIGHT TERRORS/SLEEP APN(O)EA/SNORING.                                                                                  Page 4: ANGER MANAGEMENT.                                                   Page 5: SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.              Page 6: ANXIETY DISORDER & POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.                                                                                       Page 7: OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER: OCD.                                 Page 8: PANIC ATTACKS.                                                                                 Page 9: SOCIAL ANXIETY/SOCIAL PHOBIA/SOCIAL SKILLS/DATING/LONELINESS.                                                      Page 10: BIPOLAR DISORDER.                                                                       Page 11: MEDITATION & YOGA NIDRA.                                        Page 12: AUTISM TREATMENTS.                                                  Page 13: TEENAGERS.                                 Page 14: MIGRAINE AND HEADACHE TREATMENTS & TRIGGERS.                                                                                   Page 15: BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER.                    Page 16: SELF HARM, SELF INJURY, SELF MUTILATION, CUTTING.                                                                                        Page 17: DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER.                                        Page 18: HAPPINESS.                                                                                        Page 19: PRE MENSTRUAL SYNDROME & MENSTRUAL PAIN.                                          Page 20: CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.                                      Page 21: ASPERGER'S SYNDROME.                                                               Pages 22 -25: ADD/ADHD & CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT (HYPERACTIVITY) DISORDER.                                      Page 26: PROCRASTINATION.                                 Page 27: PHOBIAS, AGORAPHOBIA, & DEMOPHOBIA.                             Page 28: THE WISDOM OF OTHERS.                         Page 29: ALZHEIMER'S.                              Pages 30 - 32: SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME: S.I.D.S. (CRIB/COT DEATH).                   Pages 33 & 34: POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (P.T.S.D.).                         Page 35: ALLERGY SYMPTOMS, TRIGGERS, & TREATMENTS.                    Page 36: LEARNING DISORDERS.                      Page 37: BULLYING.                      Page 38: SELF ESTEEM & SELF CONFIDENCE.                     Page 39: BULIMIA.                    Page 40: SCHIZOPHRENIA & SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER.                  Page 41: MEMORY IMPROVEMENT.                   Page 42: STRESS & TENSION.              Page 43: MENOPAUSE.             Page 44: ANOREXIA NERVOSA.            Page 45: PARKINSON'S DISEASE.               Page 46: DEREALISATION DISORDER.            Page 47: VOLUNTEERING.                 Page 48: PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER (PMDD).                Page 49: DEMENTIA.             Page 50: FIBROMYALGIA.                51: CHILDHOOD EPILEPSY: THE KETOGENIC DIET.               52: DRUGS & ALCOHOL.                 Page 53: EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE.                    Page 54: HYPOCHONDRIA.                        Page 55: HERBS & SUPPLEMENTS.                      Page 56: EATING DISORDERS.                       Pages 80 - 99: ALTERNATIVE HEALTH AND MISC.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 GENERAL  ADVICE ON PSYCHOPHARMACEUTICAL MEDICATIONS: Sometimes there are no other alternatives, such as when people are suffering from hallucinations.                  In other cases, they have their benefits, if used for a short term, to enable other alternatives, such as applying those therapies or combination of treatments which are generally most effective for that particular disorder, and giving them time to work.                Also see the general advice on all medications, below.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         In these modern times, when instant gratification and solutions are sought, people are conditioned into believing that the answer to their problems may be found in popping a pill.                                       Long term medication is never a good thing, and other alternatives should be used wherever possible.                      A certain proportion of those people with mental health problems actually need long term medication, but this varies according to the type, and severity of the disorder. For depression, anxiety, and panic attacks, for example, that fraction is fairly low.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       This fact doesn't sit well with the manufacturers and distributors in the enormous psychopharmaceutical industry (BIG PHARMA), or even many in the field of psychiatry, where they have a vested interest in keeping their patients coming back, both to validate their role in life, as well as paying the bills. There is more about this in the section on depression treatments, facts, and resources, on page 2 of this website.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             References: See http://www.h11.protectedsite.net/index.cfm/7125 and http://www.breggin.com/ and http://antipsychiatry.org/ and http://www.mercola.com/ and  http://www.h11.protectedsite.net/index.cfm/7055  and more are on, or may be found via page 2. If you have the time and interest, http://www.cchr.org/ has a wealth of information, but is associated with the Church of Scientology, so bear that in mind.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      THERAPY: Anyone from any country should closely examine the advice at the following website, before beginning their search for a suitable therapist: http://1-800-therapist.com/index.html  Phone: 1 800 843 7274  (USA).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               FIND A PSYCHOLOGIST/PSYCHIATRIST/THERAPIST: http://locator.apahelpcenter.org/ Phone: (USA) 1 800 964 2000.  /www.findatherapist.com.au/ &/www.healthdirectory.com.au/Medical_specialists/Psychiatry/search are for Australia. In Great Britain, there are therapist locators at/www.babcp.com/ & www.psychotherapy.org.uk/ & www.bcp.org.uk/ & www.counselling.ltd.uk/index133.html (free counselling) ALSO: www.healthyminds.org/locateapsychiatrist.cfm  & http://find-a-therapist.com/   & www.psychology.com/  & http://4therapy.com/  & http://findatherapistnow.com/  & http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/ (USA/Canada) www.psychologytoday.com/ (by disorder type). For therapy for children, and teenagers: www.focusas.com/                            I also suggest using the WebFerret search engine, Altavista, Entireweb, Yahoo, or your own, and typing the term: "therapist" followed by your country's 2 letter code; for example, if I was in New Zealand, I'd enter: "therapists; nz"                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINES AND RESOURCES: http://mentalhealth.samsa.gov/topics/                                                                                                                                                                                                                           MENTAL HEALTH GROUPS INDEX: http://www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp/                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     OTHER USEFUL WEBSITES:     http://www.getmentalhelp.com/ & http://www.psychforums.com/ & http://www.supportpath.com/  & http://worstpills.org/ & http://www.drugs.com/  & http://www.crazymeds.us/  & http://www.minddisorders.com/                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      WRONG DIAGNOSIS ??? (more common than you might think, especially if diagnosed by a doctor (M.D.), since they rarely have the necessary experience to correctly diagnose or treat mental disorders, and are, generally speaking, much better with physical ailments.                                                                                                                                  See http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              GENERAL INFORMATION:  At http://www.learningmeditation.com/ there are several guided meditations, some with music, on: Stress, Self Image, Weight Loss, Potential, and Healing.  

Topics

• Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance
• Buying Medicine and Medical Products Over the Internet
• Buying Medicine from Outside the United States
• Counterfeit Medicine
• Ensuring Safe Use of Medicine, including:
  • General use of prescription and over-the-counter medicine
  • Driving when you are using medicine
  • Safe use of medicines for seniors
• Generic Drugs
• Misuse of Prescription Pain Relievers
• Over-the-Counter Medicine, including:
  • Choosing the right over-the-counter medicine (OTCs)
  • The Over-the-Counter Medicine Label
  • Tips For Parents
  • Safe Use of OTC Pain Relievers (analgesics) and Fever Reducers (antipyretics)
  • Safe Use of Daily Aspirin
• Consumer Education from Other Government Agencies   (IF YOU WANT TO PURSUE ANY OF THE ABOVE TOPICS, GO TO:  http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/DPAdefault.htm )                                                                                                                                                                                    

6 Tips to Avoid Medication Mistakes

1. Find out the name of your medication. Rather than simply letting your doctor write a prescription and send you on your way, be sure to ask the name of the medication. "This way you'll notice if the pharmacy gives you something different," says Cynthia Fitzpatrick, BSN, a registered nurse and a consumer safety officer in FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Also, every time you receive a refill, look at the medication before you leave the pharmacy to make sure it looks the same as what you had before. Is it the same color, size, shape, and texture? Is the packaging the same? If anything about the medication seems different, ask the pharmacist about it."

2. Ask questions about how to use the medication. "It's important to choose a doctor and pharmacist that you feel comfortable with so that you can freely ask questions," Fitzpatrick says. Some good questions to ask: What should I do if I forget a dose? Should I take this medication before, during, or after meals? What should the timing be between each dose? What side effects might I have? When should I contact my doctor or pharmacist if I experience certain side effects? Are there any other medications, food, or activities that I should avoid while using this medication? Should the medication be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature? Take notes or ask your doctor to write down instructions or other information that is important to know about your medication or condition to help you remember.

3. Know what your medication is for. Stephen Setter, Pharm.D., associate professor of pharmacotherapy at Washington State University in Spokane, says one of his patients mistakenly thought her glaucoma medication was for treating headaches. "So she was taking her eye medication only when she had a headache, but she should have been taking it every day to treat her eye disease," Setter says. It's important to understand your medication because you are more likely to use it correctly, more likely to know what to expect from the medication, and better able to report what you are using and problems to your doctors and pharmacist.

4. Read medicine labels and follow directions. Before you use any medication, you should know when to use it, how much to use, and how long to use it. Be sure to read the medication label every time. In the middle of the night, you could accidentally put drops for your ears into your eyes or give your older child's medicine to the baby if you're not careful about checking the label. "Use the measuring device that comes with the medicine," suggests Fitzpatrick. "If you don't have a medicine device for measuring your liquid medicine, ask for one at the pharmacy." Also, read the patient medication information that comes with your prescription thoroughly before using your medication.

5. Keep all of your health care providers informed about your medications and dietary supplements (including vitamins and herbals). Make it a habit of showing your list of medications to all your health care professionals at every visit to the doctor, the pharmacy, and the hospital. Include on the list all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, and dietary supplements, including vitamins and herbals. Keeping all of your health care professionals informed about everything that you use will help ensure that you do not use two medicines with the same active ingredient or use anything that will interact with something else you are using. You can keep your health care professionals informed about your medications and dietary supplements with "My Medicine Record," a list in chart form developed by FDA. "My Medicine Record" can be found at: www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/my_medicine_record.htm  Some doctors work with their patients to do a "brown bag checkup." This involves putting all of your prescription and over-the-counter medications into a paper bag and bringing them into your doctor's office to be checked by your doctor. Include your dietary supplements and herbals too. "This should be done every year and preferably more often," says Douglas Paauw, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. "Some of my patients do it at every visit."

6. Keep the list of your medications with you at all times and let a loved one know. Keep a list of your medications and dietary supplements with you at all times, such as in your wallet or purse, and keep a copy in your home. Share a copy of the medication list with a family member or friend, or let them know where you keep the list. In an emergency, that person will be able to inform your doctors of the medications and dietary supplements you use. 

June 21, 2007

Source: Consumer Update, FDA. http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/medtips062107.html

7. [ MY OWN] Check out medications at:  http://www.drugs.com/ and http://www.crazymeds.us/  and also ensure they don't appear on the list at:  http://worstpills.org/