"HEALTH - MATTERS"  
A "Lighthouse" web site

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow." -- Helen Keller

"Defeating Depression" The original motivation for this website - A brilliant professionally written guide that will really help if you suffer from depression, especially if you are not sure what is wrong and cannot get good advice. Contents and Chapters 1 to 8 ..... and ....... Chapter 9 to end

The companion guide on 'Managing Anxiety'

SEE ALSO THE EXTERNAL LINKS LISTED BELOW

Other subjects are covered by external links (see below) so if you know any good ones, please contact me to get them included. ( I am not responsible for the content of external web sites, links for which are offered in good faith)

The information, opinions and support links offered here are complementary to and absolutely NOT a substitute for professional medical advice. Do NOT change any medication you are using without consulting your doctor etc.

An article to read before you see your doctor 
The Partnership Between Doctor and Patient - Written by a GP with Depression

LINKS
Many of the sites listed here also have excellent links pages to explore these subjects even further

 General (inc. rape/abuse) | Depression & Mental Health | Thyroid Problems | M.E. / CFS / PVF / Burnout |Mercury Free Dentistry | Strokes | Twelve step recovery and Co-dependency |
Post-Polio | On-line recovery resources |  PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | 
Irritable Bowel syndrome |Cancer |Natural Family Planning |Contact |Top

Stop Press - latest link additions

• A good resource and links for ME / PVS / CFS sufferers and carers

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• DEPRESSION GUIDE.com ~ A complete depression guide http://www.depression-guide.com (28/07/04)

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• MORE DEPRESSION LINKS (Jan 2005)

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• A Complete Guide to Dysthymic Disorder ~ Clear, practical advice on psychological and emotional states, bringing guidance to sufferers and their families. Knowing when to seek help, what help is available and where to find it. http://www.depression-guide.com/dysthymic.htm

• NHS DIRECT http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/ Excellent Health information on the internet (23/03/04

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• Motor Neurone Disease Association ~ http://www.mndassociation.org/full-site/home.shtml

• International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations on the internet ~ http://www.alsmndalliance.org/ 

• The Motor Neurone Disease Association of Australia ~ a problem solving approach to optimise quality of life for people living with Motor Neurone Disease ("MND").~ http://home.vicnet.net.au/~mndaust/

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• Multiple Sclerosis - info and links

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• A wide range of Health and Fitness Articles | more 1 |more 2

• Release your Shyness - Resources to help overcome shyness/social phobia

• Parentline - Help & information for parents (because children come without instructions)

• AntiBully - Advice For parents and children - step-by-step action plan

• Young Voice - For children who are being bullied

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• Triumph Over Phobia (TOP UK) To help sufferers of phobia or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) to become EX-sufferers

• The Social Anxiety Institute  - Social Anxiety Disorder (formerly called social phobia) is the largest anxiety disorder, and the third largest mental health care problem in the world today. This Institute helps people recover ... and move forward with life.

• Beat Clinical Depression with "The Learning Path" 

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• Two msn support groups for survivors of abuse :-
  "Cafe For Healing" ~  http://groups.msn.com/CafeForHealing and
  "Making Bricks out of Ashes" ~ http://groups.msn.com/MAKINGBRICKSOUTOFASHES

Please visit -  "Shelter" -  for encouragement and empowerment

• Depression from the Channel 4 website, looks at depression in a wide context, causes, symptoms, types of depression and different treatments. Also provides advice to people who are supporting someone with the condition.  The site aims not only to enable people to understand more about depression but also to recognise that help is available and a full recovery can be made. It includes an extensive resource section which gives full details of the many organisations and websites which offer advice and information, as well as a good selection of further reading on the subject. (a bit like the aims of this site!)

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• Baby Blues (for postnatal depression) - Post Natal Depression affects approximately one in ten mothers

• PLEASE  Don’t  Tell  Me  To “Snap  Out  Of  It!”  is  the  true  account  of  a  personal  experience  with  (PND)

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• www.mentalhealth.com  Gives definitions of numerous mental health problems, as well as telling you how to assess yourself and where to seek help.

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• Mental Health.about.com - Mental Health resources - Glossary of Mental Health Terms  - Links, Discussion group and a newsletter

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• www.depression.com  Aims to provide practical information to help the public be informed about depression, its causes and the treatments available.

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• Psychology Information Online Homepage provides comprehensive information about the practice of psychology and excellent information about treating depression etc.

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• Christian Depression Pages - A compassionate source of information for Christians with depression and those caring for them.

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• Self-injury: You are NOT the only one

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• www.wingofmadness.com/index.htm  Comprehensive and user-friendly site about clinical depression, including a forum for people with the condition. Also has a useful advice section for people supporting someone with depression

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• www.psycom.net/depression.central.begin.html  Extensive list of links relating to a wide range of topics around depression

• Positive Health Magazine articles about The Mind

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• New experimental treatment for social phobia currently being trialed. consists of a short computer task, which is completed once a day for 16 days. Treatment response will be assessed using questionnaires. The entire experiment can be completed over the internet.

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• Two msn support groups for survivors of abuse. http://groups.msn.com/CafeForHealing and http://groups.msn.com/MAKINGBRICKSOUTOFASHES

DEPRESSION - DYSTHYMIC DISORDER

• A Complete Guide to Dysthymic Disorder ~ Clear, practical advice on psychological and emotional states, bringing guidance to sufferers and their families. Knowing when to seek help, what help is available and where to find it. http://www.depression-guide.com/dysthymic.htm

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• Dysthymic Disorder: When Depression Lingers - http://familydoctor.org/handouts/054.html 

• Dysthymic Disorder ... Identifying D. D. - Depression causes changes in thinking, feeling, behavior, and physical well-being.- Treatment for D.D. - www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/dysthymic.htm

• Dysthymic Disorder : Article by Enoch Callaway, MD -  The current consensus - depressive disorder, dysthymia, double depression (alternating dysthymia and depression) - www.emedicine.com/med/topic3120.htm

• THE MERCK MANUAL, Sec. 15, Ch. 189, Mood Disorders - ... Topics. [General]. Depression. Dysthymic Disorder. Bipolar Disorders. Cyclothymic Disorder.  - www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/section15/ chapter189/189c.htm

• BehaveNet® Clinical Capsule™: Dysthymic Disorder - Emotional depression ... disorder. Diagnostic criteria for 300.4 Dysthymic Disorder (cautionary statement). - www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/dysd.htm

• Dysthymic Disorder: Description, Criteria, Causes, Symptoms  - Description, Criteria, Causes, Symptoms, Treatments and Medications. - www.mental-health-matters.com/disorders/ dis_details.php?disID=43

• www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-md04.html

• dysthymic Discusses signs, symptoms and causes and information on dysthymic. - www.workingtowardrecovery.com/dysthymic.htm

• Yahoo! Health>Diseases and Conditions>Dysthymic Disorder - Web sites in this category, All About Depression: Dysthymic Disorder - describes this milder yet more enduring type of depression.
  uk.dir.yahoo.com/health/diseases_and_conditions/ dysthymic_disorder/

• Manics Dance (dedicated to manic depressives and the loved ones at their sides)

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• My Tears are Real - WebRing index page -  Links to lots of similar sites

• Michaels domain - the founder of the "My Tears are Real" groups on msn and yahoo

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• Borderline Personality Disorder Sanctuary Loads of links. See also Borderline Angels

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• Self Injury help - good links too

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• If you are thinking about Suicide, Read this first ----- More resources

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• More Depression Resources ----- 

• ------ and some more -----

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• Discover the secrets of self-hypnosis for self-healing - with free MP3 downloads

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• The Social Anxiety Institute  - Social Anxiety Disorder (formerly called social phobia) is the largest anxiety disorder, and the third largest mental health care problem in the world today. This institute helps people recover ... and move forward with life. 

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• Anxieties.com Free Self Help resources for:- 

Panic Attacks:  A panic attack is a sudden rush of uncomfortable physical symptoms coupled with thoughts of impending doom (making a scene, heart attack, not being able to breathe).

Fear of Flying:  This self-help site is based on American Airlines' first national program for the fearful flier and on  years of experience working with people desiring to fly comfortably again.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:  Obsessions are repetitive, unproductive thoughts that generate anxiety. Compulsions are repetitious rituals used to relieve that anxiety.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder:  A person who suffers from generalized anxiety tends to worry about big and little issues and feels uncomfortable physical symptoms throughout most of the day.

Social Anxieties & Phobias:  Everyone is capable of getting nervous when in a socially awkward situation. And many people worry about giving formal presentations. Some people, however, suffer more than the occasional jitters.

Simple Phobias:   When a person has a persistent, irrational fear of an object or situation and a strong urge to avoid that object or situation, he has a "simple phobia" -- an inappropriately intense reaction triggered by a single stimulus.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder:  Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) identifies a specific emotional distress that can follow a major psychologically traumatic event.

The Use of Medications:  In this section you will read about the medications that researchers have identified to be the most successful in treating each of the above problems.

• Beat Clinical Depression with "The Learning Path" 

• Triumph Over Phobia (TOP UK) To help sufferers of phobia or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) to become EX-sufferers

• Anger Management Group  An MSN self help and support community - You'll have to join to use it.

• HealthyPlace.com offers a safe group environment for those wanting to remember and retell their stories of loss, pain, hope and recovery. "Our mission is to journey with others in building the capacity for hope and insight. A soulful journey, along the way, encouraging hope, sharing insight, and gathering the harvest of our lives."

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• Healthlink USA - lots of useful links - Search information from 1,000's of today's best health sites

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• Glandular fever, Post Viral Fatigue and ME

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• Everything you need to know about stress from health warning signs to laughter therapy,  from the Channel 4 website

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• Medications index from Internet Mental Health (www.mentalhealth.com)

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• What's really in your medicines? - The NetDoctor.co.uk team of pharmacists have compiled this user friendly database of medicines in the UK. In the database you will find important information about each product, such as its uses and possible side effects, all described in a clear, precise and easy to understand way.

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If you are thinking about Suicide or know someone who is - please follow these links for help

• THE SAMARITANS on -line The Samaritans is a UK charity, founded in 1953, which exists to provide confidential emotional support to any person, who is suicidal or despairing; and to increase public awareness of issues around suicide and depression. This service is provided 24 hours every day by trained volunteers. ... If you need to speak to a Samaritan call. 08457 90 90 90 in the United Kingdom - link to the US site

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• YELLOW RIBBON SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM support website especially for Teenagers and their parents.

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• Parentline - Help & information for parents (because children come without instructions)

• AntiBully - Advice For parents and children - step-by-step action plan

• Young Voice - For children who are being bullied
  

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• Befrienders International is a registered charity, developing volunteer action to prevent suicide in 41 countries worldwide and providing information on the Internet. Their site features the world's most comprehensive directory of emotional first aid helplines.

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• www.metanoia.org/suicide/  Aims to support people with suicidal feelings by raising some things they might like to consider, providing some practical strategies and giving them information about organisations which offer support and help

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• Other resources

• Walkers in Darkness  - Support and information for mood disorders - includes a Forum and lots of Links

• Psych Central has a good listing of online resources for suicide - and other mental health challenges.

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• Release your Shyness - Resources to help overcome shyness/social phobia

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• www.ocdonline.com OCD Resources

• www.ocfoundation.org OCD Resources

• www.ocdresource.com OCD Resources

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 General (inc. rape/abuse) | Depression & Mental Health | Thyroid Problems | M.E. / CFS / PVF / Burnout |Mercury Free Dentistry | Strokes | Twelve step recovery and Co-dependency | Post-Polio | On-line recovery resources |  PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | Irritable Bowel syndrome |Cancer |Natural Family Planning |Contact |Top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Traumatic Stress Centre  - Wales

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• Gulf Veterans & Families Association 

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• Gift From Within - An International Charity for Survivors of Trauma and Victimization

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• PTSD info and links from Mental Health Resources.about.com

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 General (inc. rape/abuse) | Depression & Mental Health | Thyroid Problems | M.E. / CFS / PVF / Burnout |Mercury Free Dentistry | Strokes | Twelve step recovery and Co-dependency | Post-Polio | On-line recovery resources |  PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | Irritable Bowel syndrome |Cancer |Natural Family Planning |Contact |Top

TWELVE STEPS RECOVERY PROGRAMMES
AND RELATED DEPENDENCY ISSUES
See also general links

• Twelve Steps Good explanations and links ---- More

• CoDependents - who are they and what do they feel?

• Next Step Recovery

• Twelve steps of Workaholics anonymous

• Recovery IS Love a website full of resources

• SARIAA Serving Abuse Recovery In Action Always is host to a variety of small sites primarily dealing with issues of abuse, recovery, and other mental health and spiritual growth issues.

• Prayers for the 12 steps

 General (inc. rape/abuse) | Depression & Mental Health | Thyroid Problems | M.E. / CFS / PVF / Burnout |Mercury Free Dentistry | Strokes | Twelve step recovery and Co-dependency | Post-Polio | On-line recovery resources |  PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | Irritable Bowel syndrome |Cancer |Natural Family Planning |Contact |Top

THYROID PROBLEMS
These are just a few of the thousands out there if you search and are in no particular order.  There are lots here as I am checking out any possible connection with my own long term illness with ME/CFS (see links section) The more I discover about this subject, the more I feel it is relevant to many ME/CFS problems especially my own but be warned, your G.P. is unlikely to agree - at least to start with. Especially recommended is the information contained in the Wilson's Thyroid Syndrome website. I now personally feel it is very important that you check out the possibility of an underactive Thyroid problem but don't be discouraged if you make no progress on this front in the UK!
See also general links

• The Lincolnshire Post-Polio Network - An Information Service for Polio Survivors and Medical Professionals - an online library of well over one hundred full text articles on Post-Polio conditions, many from peer reviewed medical journals. The library is catalogued to assist reading order and new articles are added typically every few weeks. A categorised directory of Polio resources is also provided with every entry having a description. The regularly updated NewsBites section includes Polio related news items from around the world and all the bi-monthly LincPIN Post-Polio information newsletters are available in the Networking section. SEARCH THIS SUBJECT

SOME ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS, COMMUNITIES and FORUMS

• "How to cope with ME" support community on MSN

• "ME / CFS Support" community on MSN

• "Suffer with ME then join us here" support community on MSN

• Support from other sufferers via e-mail pen friends and another so you need not feel alone

• About.Com Forum on M.E.

• Friends with ME - An MSN support community

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• There is light at the end of the tunnel - A website from a sufferer. Everything he's learned about ME in 12 years. It's a technically brilliant website as well but be patient and prepared for a very very long download and enjoy all the effects as well as the info.

• Marek's ME/C.F.S Website from a 24 year old sufferer

• The Cold Body Page

• Patient UK website

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• See Thyroid links above for much relevant information about fatigue problems

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• The Stroke Association (UK)

• National Stroke Association (US)

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

• Strokes and TIA's  and Transient Ischemic Attack

• The Stroke Network

• More information from Acute Stroke Toolbox for Professionals

• What causes a stroke?

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• http://www.ibsgroup.org/
• http://www.aboutibs.org/
• http://communities.msn.co.uk/ibsirritablebowelsyndrome An MSN Support community

Cancer

• CancerBacup. The UK's leading Cancer information service - Accurate - Up to date- Authoritative- Over 3000 pages of up to date cancer information

The Billings Ovulation Method.  Are you wishing to plan or prevent pregnancy? There are many reasons that make modern scientific natural family planning beneficial to female reproductive health. The knowledge that this method of natural fertility regulation provides should be understood by every woman. Either way the Billings Method, developed by Drs. John and Evelyn Billings of Australia, will help you during all the stages of your reproductive life. For e.g. regular, irregular, anovular cycles; low fertility; after childbirth, breastfeeding; pre-menopause; coming off contraceptive medication. etc. It is not the Rhythm method nor the Calendar method. It does not involve temperature taking. It is easy to learn and is highly successful when used by a couple to achieve or avoid a pregnancy. This method of natural family planning engenders co-operation and respect between the woman and man. It develops love and concern for each other and for the child, thus enriching their relationship.