Def: RESOURCE: an asset, a source of wealth (supply, support) that can be drawn upon when needed.
This blog and these resources are meant to be fuel that might encourage you to think, ask questions, find your own answers and hopefully support you as you walk your path and create your own best life which is in the simplest terms - the life you choose for yourself each day!
WHERE I CONTRIBUTE OR COLLABORATE
Empowering Solutions! Is the Facebook Community page where I post daily notes about creating our own journey of hope.
Here is the link to Empowering Solutions on Blog Talk Radio. My goal is to provide information that will enable listeners to discover their own "empowering solutions" to support their healing journey.
BTR with Susan and Michele of Heal My PTSD here; February 25th 2010. This program talks about my journey and the path I followed to escape the darkness and find my way to the light.
Beyond Meds is the best site I've found for information on mental health issues as well as a resource for anyone interested in learning more about psychotropic drugs, their effects over the long term and how to safely go off them, living well while living with illness and in general most any issue that relates to living a life of meaning.
Links to my posts at Emerging From Broken. There is a reason we struggle as survivors of physical, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse. Being trained early in our lives that we as individuals held no value other than to serve the needs of the adults in our lives set us up to perpetuate the abuse as adults. Emerging From Broken and Darlene Quimet do an excellent job of identifying the cause behind our struggle but don't stop there; keep seeking your Empowering Solutions.
Links to my posts at Emerging From Broken. There is a reason we struggle as survivors of physical, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse. Being trained early in our lives that we as individuals held no value other than to serve the needs of the adults in our lives set us up to perpetuate the abuse as adults. Emerging From Broken and Darlene Quimet do an excellent job of identifying the cause behind our struggle but don't stop there; keep seeking your Empowering Solutions.
TRAUMA INFORMED CARE
Trauma Revolution is the place to find effective training for providers and for those seeking trauma informed care and direct services this is a great place to educate yourself on these issues to empower your choices as you seek professional support in your journey.
ACES Too High The Adverse Child Experiences Assessment...trauma changes us; this site tells us more about that and what we can do to educate and inform on these issues. Good resources for educational information.
Trauma Resolution Center Located in Miami Florida a great resource for resolving trauma issues. The founder of this organization has 15 years of evidence showing that it is possible to find freedom in a short period of time. Trainings are available.
Sidran Institute "The" source for learning about and finding resources to overcome the Post Trauma response and dissociation.
Ang (@twitertwotter) is an intervention specialist and student of trauma informed care. You can contact her at angela@wisintervention.com if you are looking for information on Trauma Informed therapy resources or addiction intervention services. She is located in Wisconsin, USA but willing to offer her expertise to anyone looking for direction in healing from trauma, addiction or other mental health issues.
MILITARY/VETERANS
Discover and Recovery for transparent information on healing from traumas for vets and families
Not Alone is a great resource for Veterans and their families facing the journey back from the trauma of war.
Vet Wow is an excellant resource for Veterans facing life following MST (Military Sexual Trauma).
MENTAL HEALTH/PSYCHIATRIC SURVIVORS
Start here if you are seeking information to support your reduction or withdrawal efforts from psychotropic drugs. WARNING: Do NOT Abruptly stop taking these drugs as to do so can cause an increase in emotional and mental distress including suicidal ideation. Be responsible and first learn, create a plan of action, a support system then initiate your reduction or withdrawal only AFTER taking these steps. This site and this information is not meant to replace medical advice but to supplement the knowledge of those desiring to consider these options for themselves.
Anatomy of An Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America For anyone interested in learning more about why in the past decades American has seen such a drastic increase in Psychiatric Disability.
Withdrawal Resources at Gwen Olsens site for those desiring to withdraw safely from psychotropic drugs Gwen Olsen is a former pharmaceutical Rep who is also a psychiatric survivor.
Gianna Kali of Bipolar Blast shares at Madness Radio about her journey into, through and out of the Mental Health system and how she chose to take back the reigns of her life in this interview.
Beyond Meds is the best site I've found for information on mental health issues as well as a resource for anyone interested in learning more about psychotropic drugs, their effects over the long term and how to safely go off them.
Dr. Alexander Bingham is a psychologist dedicated to assisting those wishing to safely withdraw from and recover from long term use of psychotropic drugs and find healing from emotional and cognitive distress.
Mad In America is Scientific Journalist, Robert Whitaker's blog on the history and science behind psychiatry.
Psychology Today; Robert Whitaker Robert Whitaker is a journalist who has specialized in covering medicine and science. His articles on psychiatry and the pharmaceutical industry have won a George Polk Award for Medical Writing, and a National Association of Science Writers' Award for best magazine article. In 1998, he co-wrote a series on abuses in psychiatric research that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Public Service. He is the author of four books. His most recent one is Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America.
Harm Reduction Guide to Coming off Psychiatric Drugs this manual is not "anti medication" but rather a source if you are looking for transparency in making your personal choices about using psychotropic drugs.
MENTAL HEALTH IN GENERAL (Including "Recovery" based)
The Mind Sanctuary Tina Gibbons has created a true sanctuary where you can learn more about the holistic options available to support you journey to "wellness".
Amy K.'s list of blogs to follow for overcoming depression is here.
A Tale of Two Boys (National Center for Empowerment) A true story of two young men with similar life experiences and their journey through "mental illness".
MINDFULNESS; DEVELOPING THE PRACTICE OF
Learning MIndfulness is a basic life skill that we can use to begin to reclaim our lives after trauma. Shamash Alidina is an Author, speaker and coach who offers group coaching in London, UK and one on one coaching sessions via the phone. Here's a link to an interview I did with him on this subject in fall of 2010: Empowering Solutions with Shamash Alidina
ABUSE SURVIVORS (All forms of abuse, all genders)
The Survivor Manual Angela Shelton's site dedicated to the millions who have survived childhood sexual abuse and who are learning to live this new life. Some clear steps and resources to help you create your own new best life.
Guess What Normal Is Anyone who's grown up in an environment that discouraged the development of individuality can be left feeling chronically "different". Amy takes us through the process of developing the insight and awareness that we don't have to stay that way and can learn to overcome the legacy of dysfunctional parenting that often, but not always, includes active addiction/alcoholism.
Growing Beyond Survival Workbook Going through the excercises helped me to be more aware of how I was using dissociation to cope among other things.
www.womenspeakoutnow.com A great resource for men or women searching for resources and information about healing from sexual abuse.
Growing Beyond Survival Workbook Going through the excercises helped me to be more aware of how I was using dissociation to cope among other things.
This Tangled Web Author Kate Swift shares her journey "through" to "get out of" the pain that comes with surviving childhood sexual abuse.
Listing these resources in no way is a recommendation; please use your own best judgement as you seek support and create your own healing path.
