SELF-HELP, Social Issues, Advocacy, Books

The following books and comments may be useful as a starting place.  General Links are on the following page HERE, and Directories & helping organisations HERE.

On the previous PAGE are some useful organisations.  Scroll down there for MIND, CAB etc.  For information on books and social issues scroll below here.

Most people have times when they worry what they have said or done, or about what happened or was done to them.  Perhaps we want to share those - and perhaps not.  We each have our own ways of handling things and everyone is different.  There is an internal narrative running where we describe things to ourselves, and this could change in the telling as we explain or re-classify things to suit how we feel.  Some people 'manage' their illness or pain, not pushing themselves too far all the while.  We can become aware of what is making things worse.  To some degree we can contain or accommodate periods of depression, loneliness, anxiety or confusion in ourselves or those we know.  People can and do help each other along the lines of 'a friend in court' - someone who is basically there and aware how things are.

It can be difficult to know where to begin with seeking help for oneself on private matters.  There is currently some media attention concerning the effectiveness of drugs for certain types of psychological problems.  There can be controversy too about what is called 'talking cures' and whether those are always helpful, or even unhelpful if they are not suitable or experienced as intrusive.  Some books and links appear below, and the general idea is to show that there is not necessarily something terribly wrong with us as individuals, but that we live in a wider society or environment - It helps to see some of that too. 

You may or may not like the approach of the books or links but might use them as a starting point while searching for yourself.  Some writers imply there is 'no such thing' as mental illness and we do not entirely agree.  But there can be other valid ways of looking at problems, how they may arise and what can be done.  Support from outside can be helpful, but people can be very effective themselves, and information-gathering worth the effort.  We may give ourselves labels in an attempt to understand better and find some 'solution', but labels in themselves can be hard to overcome, so we may saddle ourselves with them unnecessarily.

There is plenty of information available on the Internet.  Take your time and look at alternatives, and try not to feel under pressure to conform to what others may say.  There are a range of email support groups too, but it is as well to bear in mind that what you say there is pretty public.  As with any type of disclosure, something one says cannot get 'un-said' again!

You are free to take on board information that could be relevant or helpful and leave the rest, making your own way forward as best you can.  Your opinions on how to manage your life on your own or whether to seek help and which kind, are more valid than anyone's, however well-meaning, or whatever 'expertise' lies behind the advice.  As a general guideline, we suggest avoiding approaches which do not feel right at this time, even though you can't put your finger on a reason.

BOOKS AND LINKS
'Selfwatching: Addictions, Habits, Compulsions: what to do about them' by Ray Hodgson & Peter Miller

Dorothy Rowe's books on many subjects to do with human emotions and relationships (some available cheaply secondhand at www.amazon.co.uk or you can see them in book stores)

'Madness Explained: Psychosis and Human Nature' by Richard P. Bentall & Aaron T. Beck
'Manufacturing Victims: What the Psychology Industry is doing to People' by Tana Dineen
'House of Cards: Psychology and Psychotherapy Built on Myth' by Robyn M. Dawes
'Therapy Culture' by Frank Furedi
'The Myth of the Chemical Cure' by Joanna Moncrieff
'The Myth of Mental Illness' by Thomas S. Szasz

'Citizens Advice Handbook: practical independent advice' Penguin paperback C.A.B.
'Advocacy Skills for Health & Social Care Professionals' by Neil Bateman
'Getting to Yes: Negotiating an Agreement Without Giving In' by Roger Fisher & William Ury
'From Conflict to Co-operation: How to Mediate a Dispute' by Dr Beverly Potter

'No Smoke: the Shocking Truth about British Justice' by Sandra Lean
'Rethinking Miscarriages of Justice: Beyond the Tip of the Iceberg'  by Dr Michael Naughton

CAB - Civil Rights in England  www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_rights/civil_rights.htm
LIBERTY (Civil Liberties/Human Rights) - http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk

JOSEPH ROWNTREE FOUNDATION:  http://www.jrf.org.uk  ::  JRF LINKS - http://www.jrf.org.uk/links
JRF REPORT APRIL 2008 on social issues affecting individuals - http://www.socialevils.org.uk

SAMARITANS - http://www.samaritans.org
REPORT ON WORKPLACE BULLYING available in Word or pdf format:
http://www.samaritans.org/media_centre/latest_press_releases/workplace_bullying_rife.aspx