BOOKS
They say nobody reads anymore but if you do, there are some really enlightening books out there.
Can't afford to buy books? The library is free!
Trauma and Recovery by Judith Herman MD. This book explores the causes of PTSD and includes, for the first time, a full exploration the chronic traumas that poison a child's mind in a dysfunctional family, and how to begin again after such a rough start. It is a must read for anyone who feels that their current experience is still unduly affected by abuse, neglect, and other chronic stresses at any time in life.
The Seduction of Madness by Edward Podvoll is the stories of four different men who went mad, three of whom recovered. The other one sailed off into the wide open sea and died before he returned. The end of the book explores the steps that we take toward and out of madness, and how one can recover at home.
The Guru Papers by Joel Kramer and Diana Alstad is a fairly long read that explores how people give their personal authority to outside figures, and how to resist submission to authoritarian structures. This one is great when you're breaking from a teacher and need to remember to believe in yourself.
Weekends at Bellevue by Julie Holland is the story of a female attending physician's experiences while working for nine years in the busiest psych emergency room in New York City. This one is mostly for people who are fascinated with how the conventional medical machine treats crazy people.
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is one of the most inspirational reads of my life. Whenever I am sad, I can read it and be lifted. Living by your own values makes you secure and happy. Another one of his books that is particularly great when you're going through a breakup is The Mastery of Love. They're at the library.
Watch for Me on the Mountain by Forrest Carter is a story of the famous Apache Geronimo's life. His life is hard, not easy, but throughout it he retains his integrity and resolve. He also sees with clear eyes how the white man goes wrong. This is a great book for people struggling with addictions.
The Case Against Sugar by Gary Taubes makes it very clear that sugar consumption is indeed the primary cause of diabetes and a bunch of other imbalances, all of which impact our mental status. If you are still drinking sugared soda pop, this book will probably convince you to stop. If you are having mental health issues and haven't looked at your diet yet, I would advise you to start looking.
WEBSITES
If you are thinking about suicide, read this first:
http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/
If you like to read scientific papers, this is the Adverse Childhood Experiences study:
http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/0749-3797/PIIS0749379798000178.pdf
People who have rough childhoods have much higher risk of a host of medical problems.
On the holistic treatment of psychosis. This page has some links to excellent resources:
https://www.alternativementalhealth.com/1924-2/
Dr Gabor Mate's page. He is a hero to me. He treats drug-addicted humans in VanCouver, Canada, and says that all mental illness is really PTSD. I agree with him. I have never met a person who has a mental illness but did not experience some kind of trauma that provoked it.
http://drgabormate.com/
This is page has information about a many mental health conditions, and the genes that can be connected to them. If you click on "main menu" top right, you will see all the conditions you can read about. I have it set on Depression:
http://www.g2conline.org/#Depression
TED TALKS
Ben Goldacre: What doctor's don't know about the drugs they prescribe. This is a fantastic talk about modern science and how it is biased by Big Pharm and the publication biases of scientific journals. Do not miss if you want to know how doctors got the wacky idea that drugs are good for so many things.
http://youtu.be/RKmxL8VYy0M
Nadine Burke Harris summarizes the Adverse Childhood Experiences study, most known as ACEs. The study tells us that adults who experienced trauma as children have more than their share of health problems. The kinds of stresses than can damage a person for life include (but are not limited to): divorce, violence, incarceration, parental abuse at any level, parental mental illness or substance abuse. Some of the problems that are increased by this stress include: COPD, Hep C, Cancer, Heart Disease, and Asthma.
https://www.ted.com/talks/nadine_burke_harris_how_childhood_trauma_affects_health_across_a_lifetime
GROUPS
For men: consider joining the Mankind Project:
http://mankindproject.org/ to get some in-person support--and challenges--from other men
Hearing Voices (especially for those who do)
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/mental-health-a-z/H/hearing-voices/
and in Portland:
http://www.portlandhearingvoices.net/
Childless Women: I have an interest in starting a group for women-without-children in Portland. If you are interested in a discussion and support group relating to your own childlessness, please contact me. At this time I will not be able to offer remote participation.
NONPROFITS
Sisters of the Road. In Portland, Oregon there is a downtown cafe called Sisters of the Road that offers inexpensive meals (beans and rice usually) to homeless persons (and everyone) in an nonviolent atmosphere. It is a model for feeding the homeless, including the mentally ill homeless, that can be replicated everywhere. The goal is to create a civil and compassionate atmosphere that nourishes and sows the seeds of mental health.
https://sistersoftheroad.org
They say nobody reads anymore but if you do, there are some really enlightening books out there.
Can't afford to buy books? The library is free!
Trauma and Recovery by Judith Herman MD. This book explores the causes of PTSD and includes, for the first time, a full exploration the chronic traumas that poison a child's mind in a dysfunctional family, and how to begin again after such a rough start. It is a must read for anyone who feels that their current experience is still unduly affected by abuse, neglect, and other chronic stresses at any time in life.
The Seduction of Madness by Edward Podvoll is the stories of four different men who went mad, three of whom recovered. The other one sailed off into the wide open sea and died before he returned. The end of the book explores the steps that we take toward and out of madness, and how one can recover at home.
The Guru Papers by Joel Kramer and Diana Alstad is a fairly long read that explores how people give their personal authority to outside figures, and how to resist submission to authoritarian structures. This one is great when you're breaking from a teacher and need to remember to believe in yourself.
Weekends at Bellevue by Julie Holland is the story of a female attending physician's experiences while working for nine years in the busiest psych emergency room in New York City. This one is mostly for people who are fascinated with how the conventional medical machine treats crazy people.
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is one of the most inspirational reads of my life. Whenever I am sad, I can read it and be lifted. Living by your own values makes you secure and happy. Another one of his books that is particularly great when you're going through a breakup is The Mastery of Love. They're at the library.
Watch for Me on the Mountain by Forrest Carter is a story of the famous Apache Geronimo's life. His life is hard, not easy, but throughout it he retains his integrity and resolve. He also sees with clear eyes how the white man goes wrong. This is a great book for people struggling with addictions.
The Case Against Sugar by Gary Taubes makes it very clear that sugar consumption is indeed the primary cause of diabetes and a bunch of other imbalances, all of which impact our mental status. If you are still drinking sugared soda pop, this book will probably convince you to stop. If you are having mental health issues and haven't looked at your diet yet, I would advise you to start looking.
WEBSITES
If you are thinking about suicide, read this first:
http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/
If you like to read scientific papers, this is the Adverse Childhood Experiences study:
http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/0749-3797/PIIS0749379798000178.pdf
People who have rough childhoods have much higher risk of a host of medical problems.
On the holistic treatment of psychosis. This page has some links to excellent resources:
https://www.alternativementalhealth.com/1924-2/
Dr Gabor Mate's page. He is a hero to me. He treats drug-addicted humans in VanCouver, Canada, and says that all mental illness is really PTSD. I agree with him. I have never met a person who has a mental illness but did not experience some kind of trauma that provoked it.
http://drgabormate.com/
This is page has information about a many mental health conditions, and the genes that can be connected to them. If you click on "main menu" top right, you will see all the conditions you can read about. I have it set on Depression:
http://www.g2conline.org/#Depression
TED TALKS
Ben Goldacre: What doctor's don't know about the drugs they prescribe. This is a fantastic talk about modern science and how it is biased by Big Pharm and the publication biases of scientific journals. Do not miss if you want to know how doctors got the wacky idea that drugs are good for so many things.
http://youtu.be/RKmxL8VYy0M
Nadine Burke Harris summarizes the Adverse Childhood Experiences study, most known as ACEs. The study tells us that adults who experienced trauma as children have more than their share of health problems. The kinds of stresses than can damage a person for life include (but are not limited to): divorce, violence, incarceration, parental abuse at any level, parental mental illness or substance abuse. Some of the problems that are increased by this stress include: COPD, Hep C, Cancer, Heart Disease, and Asthma.
https://www.ted.com/talks/nadine_burke_harris_how_childhood_trauma_affects_health_across_a_lifetime
GROUPS
For men: consider joining the Mankind Project:
http://mankindproject.org/ to get some in-person support--and challenges--from other men
Hearing Voices (especially for those who do)
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/mental-health-a-z/H/hearing-voices/
and in Portland:
http://www.portlandhearingvoices.net/
Childless Women: I have an interest in starting a group for women-without-children in Portland. If you are interested in a discussion and support group relating to your own childlessness, please contact me. At this time I will not be able to offer remote participation.
NONPROFITS
Sisters of the Road. In Portland, Oregon there is a downtown cafe called Sisters of the Road that offers inexpensive meals (beans and rice usually) to homeless persons (and everyone) in an nonviolent atmosphere. It is a model for feeding the homeless, including the mentally ill homeless, that can be replicated everywhere. The goal is to create a civil and compassionate atmosphere that nourishes and sows the seeds of mental health.
https://sistersoftheroad.org