The information on this Page was prepared with general counselling and self-help in mind, more specifically related to Mental Health and Advocacy.  They appear here in case they are useful as a starting point.

Most people have times when they worry what they have said or done, or it could be 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, or manage to contain periods of depression, loneliness, anxiety or confusion in ourselves or those we know.  People can and do help each other along the lines of being 'a friend in court' - someone who is basically there and aware of how things are.

It can be difficult to know where to begin with seeking help for oneself, especially with 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 in contrast 'talking cures' - whether those are always helpful, or even unhelpful if they are not suitable or they are possibly too intrusive. 

You may or may not like the approach of the following books but might use them as a starting point rather than take what they say wholesale.  You can read up on them at Amazon or via Search Engines.  Some books 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 is a useful process in this.  We may give ourselves or others labels in an attempt to understand better and find some 'solution', but labels in themselves can be very hard to overcome, so we may have saddled ourselves with something 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 really be '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.


SOME BOOKS YOU MIGHT TRY

'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