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AIDS Caregivers AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a disease caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Many AIDS patients require extensive care, and the people who give such care have their own special needs. This is especially so when the caregiver is a friend or family member. If you are taking care of an AIDS patient, you will find this information helpful and inspiring. Usenet:
Al-Anon and Alateen Al-Anon and Alateen resources are available for those people whose lives are affected by friends or family members who are alcoholics. Here you can find information about self-help recovery programs, 12-step programs, and a list of phone numbers for Al-Anon or Alateen groups. Web:
Anxiety It is normal to be anxious or agitated from time to time. However, if you have a serious anxiety disorder, you need help. Anxiety disorders can take several forms: panic disorder (you have spontaneous anxiety attacks that disrupt your life), obsessive-compulsive disorder (you follow rituals or you have obsessive thoughts), post traumatic stress disorder (you have anxiety because of a past experience), phobia (you have a debilitating fear of a particular situation or object), generalized anxiety (you are jittery a lot of the time), social anxiety (you are afraid to be around other people). Web:
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Cancer Support There are many different types of cancer, each of which has its own characteristics, problems and treatments. Here are a variety of resources to help you find the type of support you need. In particular, there are mailing lists for breast cancer (brca-l), kidney cancer (kidney-onc), larynx cancer (larynx-c), lung cancer (lung-onc), prostate cancer (circle), stomach cancer (stomach-onc) and testicular cancer (tc-net). The lists are not only for patients, but also for relatives and caregivers. Web:
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Death of a Child The death of a child is often unexpected and always profound. However, you are not alone. Use the Net and you'll find people to talk with, support groups, news and information. Web:
Depression Support Depression is a psychological disorder characterized by a persisting general unhappiness often accompanied by other symptoms such as sleep disturbances, lack of appetite, lack of concentration, suicidal thoughts, problems with work or family life, and feelings of emptiness and worthlessness. There are a variety of different causes of depression, most of which are treatable. Web:
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Divorce Marriage is an expression of a basic urge: to mate with a member of the opposite sex in a permanent union. For this reason, if your marriage breaks up, it will create an extreme rupture in the fabric of your life. Whether or not the divorce was your idea, it will shake you up a lot more than you might think, and it will take a long time for you to regain your confidence in the world. If you are divorced, you may need help, especially with finances or custody issues. If it happens that you are having trouble with your spouse and are thinking about a divorce, my advice is to be thoughtful and go slowly. You can cause a lot of unnecessary unhappiness in life by looking for permanent solutions to temporary problems. Web:
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Domestic Violence If you are suffering from domestic violence, if someone at home is abusing you -- either physically or emotionally -- you do not need to suffer in silence. A great deal of information is available, and there are people who are ready to help you right now, as long as you take the first step and ask for help. Web:
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Eating Disorders The three most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa (an aversion to food coupled with an extreme fear of becoming fat), bulimia nervosa (binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting or purging) and compulsive eating (bouts of uncontrollable eating). Eating disorders can result from a variety of psychological, biochemical and environmental causes, and can have serious consequences, including metabolic disorders, excessive weight loss or gain, dehydration, hyperactivity, depression and even death. If you suspect you might have an eating disorder, you should check out these resources. You'll be able to read about the various conditions and their signs and symptoms. If someone close to you has a problem, you will also find useful information here, such as how to confront a loved one, how to get help, how to find a therapist, and much, much more. The Usenet discussion groups are for people with eating disorders as well as supportive family members and friends. Web:
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Gambling Addiction Compulsive gambling is a chronic, progressive condition. Do you suspect that you might be a compulsive gambler? Visit the Gamblers Anonymous Web site, where you can take a private, 20-question test to help bring your problems into perspective. If you determine that you have a problem, help is available. Web:
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Grief There are many reasons for grief, and sometimes it helps to be able to talk with someone who has gone through a similar experience. If you are in this position, you will find the Usenet discussion group useful and comforting. In addition, there are many Web sites with relevant information. No one can replace your loss or change what has happened, but there are many people on the Net who are in similar situations and who are glad to help you. Notes: (1) The Usenet group is not for people who are grieving because of a broken romance. (2) The participants do not want to talk to people who are doing research for journals or academic papers. Web:
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Narcotics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is an international community of organizations dedicated to helping drug addicts recover from their addictions. NA is based on the 12-step program used in other similar organizations. I have included two Web pages: one is the official NA site, the other is an NA-oriented discussion group created by private individuals. Web:
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Pregnancy Loss When you lose a baby or miscarry, it doesn't do much good when well-meaning friends remind you that it was not your fault, and maybe "it was all for the best." What you need is compassion and some real facts. This Usenet group is for the support of both women and men who have suffered the loss of an unborn child. On the Web, you'll find tips for coping, information about grieving, and medical information about pregnancy loss. If you have recently experienced such a loss, I can tell you that it is a lot more common than you might realize. Please remember, on the Net, you are never alone. Web:
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Recovery for Christians This Web site is maintained by Christians in Recovery (CIR). The resources are for people recovering from all types of problems: drug abuse, dysfunctional families, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, sexual addiction, and so on. There is information about the 12-step program, a checklist of symptoms that lead to relapse, computer programs that may help you recover (such as the Recovery Bible, quote-a-day programs, etc.), and links to Christian and non-Christian recovery sites. There is also information that will help you find other people to talk to on the Net using IRC, Usenet and mailing lists. Web:
Recovery for Jews This site is for Jews who are recovering from alcohol or drug abuse. The site stresses anonymity, so if the shoe fits, there is no reason not to wear it. At this Web site you can read recovery stories, cartoons about Jewish denial, a zine about recovery and spirituality, words from rabbis and scholars, and information about online meetings. This site is sponsored by JACS (Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent People, and Significant Others). Web: Sexual Addiction To most people, sex is a source of enormous pleasure (or frustration). That's normal. But to many people, sex is way, way out of control. If you suspect that you might be addicted to sex -- or you know that you are addicted to sex -- finding thoughtful information about your problem can be the first step to resolving it. Web:
Smoking It's not easy to quit smoking. You need to wean yourself from strong physical addiction and psychological dependence. However, there's no reason for you to have to do it alone. There are lots of people on the Net who are going through -- or who have gone through -- the same process. They are sympathetic and helpful, and will be more than glad to lend support. Once you have successfully beaten your addiction (which may take more than one try), why not hang around for awhile to help and encourage other people? Web:
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Suicide Prevention Suicide is the act of taking one's own life. Suicide attempts are more common than many people recognize, and are usually due to an underlying disease such as depression. The important thing to realize is that such diseases (especially depression) are treatable, and most suicide attempts are preventable, if the person gets help in time. If you are thinking of suicide, please take the time to look at some of these resources. How you feel might seem permanent, but I assure you this is not necessarily the case. If you have a loved one who has committed suicide (or attempted it), you will also find help on the Net. In particular, the Usenet groups are important for ongoing discussion and support. Web:
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Support Groups Networking When you're ailing, it helps to have people to talk to. No matter what your problem, I bet you'll be able to find companionship and conversation at this Web site: a collection of many "bulletin boards" (discussion groups), devoted to just about every area of human suffering you can imagine. The people who participate are friendly and compassionate, so if you have a health, personal or relationship problem, this is the place to look for company. Web: Support Talk and General Discussion On the Net, you are never alone. Out of the millions of people, there are some who are a lot like you and want to talk. The Net has a large number of resources to provide support. There are Usenet groups, mailing lists, IRC channels, and many, many Web sites. This Usenet group is the general support forum, where you can go with a question, a problem, a story or simply to satisfy your curiosity. If you are looking for support of a particular kind and you are having difficulty finding it, this group would be a good place to ask people for suggestions. (Personally, I am looking for a group that supports writers who stay up all night to finish Internet books.) Usenet:
Transgendered Support Transgendered people are those whose sexual identities have significant ambiguity. This group includes transsexuals (people whose minds are trapped in a body of the opposite sex), cross-dressers or transvestites (people, almost always men, who enjoy dressing like the opposite sex), and intersexed (people born with ambiguous genitalia). If you are new to discussing such issues on the Net, I have included a Web site that contains a FAQ (frequently asked question list) that you will find helpful. Web:
Usenet Support Groups It's great to know that when you have a problem, there are people who will be supportive of you. All over the world there are people who are willing to take the time to listen to problems and try to meet the emotional needs of others. Get good information on nearly any subject related to medical, emotional or psychological problems. Usenet:
Widows and Widowers Anyone who has ever lost a husband or wife knows that you never "get over it". However, most people find that, eventually, the pain does lessen, a bit at a time. This doesn't mean that the memory of your spouse is gone, or that you ever stop caring. What it means is that, over time, you develop a way of thinking about things that decreases the suffering. If you are having trouble with being too sad for too long -- or if you have recently lost someone, and you don't know what to do -- help is available. Web:
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Wish Granting for Adults There are many people who could use a day-brightener, and there are organizations that can help. These services are for adults only, for example, seniors in nursing homes. Granting a wish to help someone fulfill a dream is a wonderful way to contribute to the world. Maybe you would like to help. Web:
Wish Granting for Kids My cousin Ellen and her husband Hugh have a daughter, Kate, with cerebral palsy. Some years ago, Kate was able to have a wish granting organization arrange for her to meet and have a dance with her favorite actor, and it was one of the highlights of her life. (Her brothers, Sam and Tom, who got to go on the trip, also had a great time.) There are many children who, for one reason or another, have a tough time of it, and there are organizations set up to grant these kids a special wish. In general, they tailor the wish to the person and take care of all the details. Some of these organizations are for terminally ill children, others are for children with chronic conditions or illnesses. Take a look at these Web sites if you know of someone who might benefit, or if you would like to help in some way or make a donation. Web:
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