Recovery

|WHAT IS SELF-INJURY?|

It's called many things -- self-inflicted violence, self-injury, self-harm, parasuicide, delicate cutting, self-abuse, self-mutilation (this last particularly seems to annoy people who self-injure).

Broadly speaking, self-injury is the act of attempting to alter a mood state by inflicting physical harm serious enough to cause tissue damage to one's body. http://www.focusas.com/SelfInjury.html

PLEASE READ
http://www.mirror-mirror.org/selfinj.htm

For SI help and support

http://www.coolnurse.com/self-injury.htm

http://thearenaoftheunwell.faithweb.com/custom4.html

http://www.palace.net/~llama/psych/injury.html

More sites dedicated to overcoming self- injury

http://www.freewebs.com/suicidal_thoughts666/suicideselfinfliction.htm

http://www.self-injury.net/

20 alternatives to SI
http://www.angelfire.com/grrl/glassangel/three/distractions3.html

|WHAT IS A DEPRESSIVE DISORDER?|

A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer from depression.

Don't know if you are depressed? Take a test.
http://depression.about.com/cs/diagnosis/l/blscreenquiz.htm

Depression information and support
http://depression.about.com/

Types of Depression, including Bipolar
http://www.medicinenet.com/depression/article.htm
-Bi-polar info
http://www.medicinenet.com/bipolar_disorder/article.htm

Gives an overview of what depression is
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm

Info on youths having depression
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/depression.html

This site is for support and has information on medication that can be taken for depression (consult with your doctor first)
http://www.depression.com

Medline Plus website provides information on types of medical research that has been done on depression
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/depression.html

Hotlines

Depression hotline formation
http://www.spsfv.org/hotlines.htm

Depression and Suicide Awareness
http://www.angelfire.com/mn2/depressionpage/
If you need someone to talk to instantly if you are facing a crisis call:

American National Hotline
1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

UK Hotline number is:
0345 90 90 90

Republic of Ireland Hotline number is:
1850 60 90 90

Kids in Crisis Hotlines
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/5400/depression.html

-ChildHelp USA 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800 -422-4453) Assists an child or teen with any problem. Referrals for childred, teens, and adults, 24 hours.

-Childline UK - UK's free national helpline for children and young people in trouble or danger. If you need help, if you want to talk to someone, call ChildLine free at 0800-1111.

The Statistics
http://www.geocities.com/bipolargirl187/mental.html

|ABUSE AND EATING DISORDERS|
Studies have shown that there are a high number of people suffering with eating disorders who have been subjected to some form of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. I do not believe studies can give an accurate percentage since many victims of abuse repress the memories or have disassociated themselves from the abuse. Many of these people have found that their eating disorders help to protect them, repress or block out the memories, and numbed their feelings. Facing issues of abuse can be very painful, so most people feel they need to forget about it or make the memories disappear.

Many people blame themselves for the abuse and keep it a secret for years. Since it is so hard to understand why someone would do such horrible things to another human being, the victims usually assume they must have done something wrong to deserve it. They usually keep it a secret because of the shame and guilt they feel. They may also fear that no one will believe them it they talk about it or they may have been threatened by their abuser not to tell. For these victims, sometimes their eating disorders become their only means of coping and expressing their emotions. Many bulimics and compulsive eaters reveal that bingeing is their way of stuffing down the emotions they feel. Food becomes their only source of comfort and it can help to numb their feelings, even though it is only temporary. Many will tell you that food is the one thing that is always there for them. Food does not yell at them, hurt them and will never leave them. It becomes the one thing in their life that brings them comfort and security. Some victims of abuse believe that if they are too thin or too obese, it will make them unattractive and the abuse will stop. Others may believe that by not eating they can just fade away and die, then the abuse will have to end. Other victims have expressed a need to be in control in the areas of food. They feel the need to control the food that goes in and out of their bodies, since they felt they had no control over what was happening to their bodies during the abuse. Purging is another way for abuse victims to release their emotions. If they believe they cannot tell anyone about the abuse and express the emotions they are experiencing, purging may be the only way they know how to get those feelings out. Many feel relieved and calm after purging, but it is only temporary and that is why the cycle continues. http://www.mirror-mirror.org/physex.htm

Verbal Abuse
http://www.verbal-abuse.com/

Verbal/emotional abuse info
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/verbal_emotional_abuse

Dr. Irene's Verbal Abuse site
http://www.drirene.com/

Physical Abuse
http://www.preventchildabuse.com/physical.htm

Physical and Verbal Abuse in Relationships
http://www.troubledwith.com/Web/groups/public/@fotf_troubledwith/documents/articles/twi_topic_008401.cfm

Abuse Hotlines
Dept of Family and Protective Services
http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Contact_Us/hotlines.asp

U.S. Elder Abuse Hotlines
http://www.elderabusecenter.org/default.cfm?p=statehotlines.cfm

U.S. Sexual Abuse Hotlines
http://incestabuse.about.com/cs/hotlines1/a/hotlines.htm

Worldwide Sexual Assault Hotlines
http://www.wicca.com/celtic/forums/view_topic.php?id=7109&forum_id=11

Hotlines and Resources
http://www.hoyweb.com/lh/hotline.htm

|WHAT IS AN ANXIETY DISORDER?|
Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric illnesses affecting both children and adults.

Anxiety disorders may develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events.
An estimated 19 million adult Americans suffer from anxiety disorders.
Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only about one-third of those suffering from an anxiety disorder receive treatment.

(Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
http://www.adaa.org/
All About Anxiety Disorders!
http://www.adaa.org/AnxietyDisorderInfor/OverviewAnxDis.cfm

Information on Anxiety disorders: ADD/ADHD and Social Anxiety
http://www.thehealthcenter.info/

The Anxiety Network International
(social anxiety, panic, and generalized anxiety)
http://www.anxietynetwork.com/

Anxiety and Depression Solutions
http://www.anxiety-and-depression-solutions.com/

Anxiety Disorder in Children and Adolescents
http://www.cell2000.net/~users/reisdorph/bruce%20web%20anxiety_disorder_in_children_and.htm

Anxiety Disorder Hotlines

National Hotlines
http://www.kqed.org/w/hope/webresources.html

Want anxiety disorder help? Here's what to do.
http://www.henryfordhealth.org/13939.cfm

The Statistics
http://www.geocities.com/bipolargirl187/mental.html

**Please keep in mind I am not a professional. If you are in serious danger, call the emergency number in your area http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_telephone_number#Africa