Online support group for Anxiety, Mood Disorders, and Substance Abuse

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Welcome to the Find the Light Online Support Group. The mission of this website is to provide private online peer support to adults that are suffering from mental illnesses such as anxiety, mood disorders (bipolar, depressive disorders), in addition to accurate, credible information relating to various mental health issues. We also welcome caregivers and/or parents of children with mental illness.

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Why Online Support?

Over the years that I have been running this group I have found that having a strong support system can be quite effective as an adjunct to therapy and possibly medication (to be determined by you and a medical doctor). If you are suffering from any of the above afflictions, peer support can help to ease the suffering in many ways. Please take a look at our member testimonials. I have a strong belief in the mind-body paradigm mentioned below (bio-psycho-social) in that we must address and treat our whole system. Everything we experience, think, do, believe-all of it, plays a part in our health. Did you know that what you think on a regular basis affects your well-being, both physical and mental. Negative thinking is strongly associated with depressive disorders, anxiety, personality disorders-the list goes on. If you are experiencing physical symptoms such as stomach aches/pain or distress, headaches, neck pain, it could be due to your thoughts. Physical health has to be addressed. If you are overweight, in particular obese, you might want to take a hard look at making some changes. I know from personal experience that the status of health has everything to do with my state of mind and vice versa. Find the Light has found to be effective for the "social" component in the new paradigm.

Find the Light Online Support Group is pioneer in the field of online mental health. Launched in 2003, it was one of the very first to not only show up on the net but to maintain it's position in rankings, popularity, and credibility. The site is upheld to the highest personal and professional standards. For more on me, please click here, There are many theories in psychology that purport effective techniques for treating mental illnesses. If you suspect you have anxiety or one of the mood disorders please take the time to look around the site for some education. If you are indulging in a little too much of the alcohol or drugs, even food or nicotine, please, I URGE you, to do the same! Next, I strongly encourage you to seek professional help if at all possible. If you currently are suicidal please dial 911 immediately or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (in the US). We are not equipped to handle suicidal ideations in the group.

Paradigm Shift

There is paradigm shift in process as we speak in the health field, primarily medical. Instead of treating various illness of the body (let's take chronic pain or cancer for example) as separate from the mind, astute (in my opinion) practitioners are realizing that the mind and body are one. We simply cannot attempt to treat a physical illness only with medicine. Our thoughts, environment, social situations, etc, all play a part in whether or not we suffer needlessly. This new paradigm is based in part on the "Bio-psycho-social Model"*, coined by psychiatrist, George Engel, in 1977. 1977! I have suffered for nearly fifteen years from almost daily pain in my head and neck. No fun! Anyway, as you can imagine, it isn't exactly mainstream in medicine yet, for various reasons that I will not go into here. If you want to talk about it email me!

My point here is that FTL (Find the Light) is part of this "social" component. In line with the consensus statement mentioned below, and this bio-psycho-social model, socialization, and most particularly, online support, can be very therapeutic for many of us. The beautiful thing about online support is that it opens doorways to those that don't want to go out, are afraid to go out, or don't have access to support groups in their community. It is invaluable as a supplement for therapy. It is not meant to be a substitute for therapy or medication. The consensus statement unveiled by SAMHSA has revealed that peer support is essential to recovery of mental illness. If you are suffering from these disorders (or any other) welcome to Find the Light! I am quite sure you will find comfort, solace, and the very important support that you want and need. Please visit the online support group! (For more info on healing with the new paradigm, please visit Jon Kabat-Zinn's website on Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction)

*Lakhan, S. (2006, August 3). The Biopsychosocial Model of Health and Illness. Retrieved from the Connexions Web site: http://cnx.org/content/m13589/1.2/

Are you contemplating SUICIDE? If so, please call 1-800-784-2433 in the US. Click here to download a free e-book on suicide. If you are a teen, please call 1-877-YOUTHLINE (968-8454)

Online support with Find the Light means invaluable peer support. Click here for access to the group. Membership has to be approved and requires a login and valid email. It is fee-based but includes a free 30-day no obligation trial. If you choose not to return, you simply do nothing. The fee is a modest amount considering how much the group helps our members. The group is constantly moderated in order to keep it as safe as possible. Part of online support entails the privacy and security that you are "safe" (as safe as possible in the electronic environment) revealing such personal issues. You do NOT have to reveal yourself to anyone. You can assign a screen name to yourself that allows anonymity. The only thing you reveal is your email address to me. It is held on my privately held server.

Our Primary Focus

When I first created FTL I was suffering from anxiety and depression. My substance abuse was somewhat in remission. Let's put it this way, I had stopped drinking, which was very necessary. I wasn't a true alcoholic but I was definitely abusing it. I knew that if I didn't arrest my use I was headed for death. I was very depressed and had become suicidal with a plan. I no longer have those desires, thank the Lord. So, FTL was launched to attract those that suffered from the primary issues that I was struggling with. For more about me, please click here. By the way, after several years of applying myself, taking medication (which I no longer take), CBT, and getting fit and healthy, I am thriving in ways I never thought possible.

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders are typically classified and identified by a person's mood. For instance, Major Depression is probably the most common mood disorder but Bipolar I is also common. With Major Depression, the primary symptoms are very low mood, lack of sleep or too much sleep, appetite changes, suicidal ideations, loss of interest and pleasure. Most of us experience depressing times when we experience a loss or something devastating. We usually move past these things by working through and resolving our grief, and time passing. It is when someone becomes depressed for no apparent reason and/or when depression lasts longer than two weeks. For an official diagnosis of Major Depression, certain criteria must be present. These are noted in the DSM-IV, the manual that all mental health professionals reference for assessment and diagnosis. People with depression simply can't "just snap out of it".

Substance Abuse
Substance abuse is defined as the excessive use of a drug (alcohol, narcotics, or cocaine) or use of a drug without medical justification. In addition to this, to be diagnosed with substance abuse or dependence, use of the substance has to cause significant distress in at least one area of life (such as social with relationships, vocational with work, health, etc) Substance abuse can lead to addiction (chemical dependency). When an individual is addicted they feel they cannot live without the substance. They have become completely dependent physically (or biologically) and psychologically. There is not one area of life that isn't effected by substance abuse and addiction. Lives can become destroyed-not only those of the addict, but those that love them. The great news is it is possible to recover from this affliction. Visit our recovery section, and of course, come join our group to talk with others.

Anxiety
Anxiety is an emotional state in which leads us to feel uneasy, apprehensive, or fearful. People usually experience anxiety about events they cannot control or predict, or about events that seem threatening or dangerous. Various types of anxiety disorders are as follows:

Though this site should NOT be substituted for professional help, I think it is very important to have social support when someone is suffering from these disorders. Click here for member testimonials. If you are hurting please find someone to talk with-maybe a pastor, friend, parent, 12 Step group, counselor, etc. If you don't have anyone give our support group a try. Click here for access. The loneliness and isolation is so terribly self-destructing that if you don't reach out for help you could suffer greatly. This is that serious!

So please enjoy this site for any information you may need and for all of the support and care you desire. Hope to see you in the group.

Tristine Barry, MS, CTT+
Founder

National Institute of Mental Health's Anxiety Hotline-
1-888-826-9438

National Drug and Alcohol Abuse Referrals: (800) 662-HELP (4357) (English and Español)
(800) 487-4889 (TDD)

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Last Update: May 17, 2009

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"When you are in your darkest hour, remember, you can always find the light..." TB, Author, Director, Find the Light Online Support Group.
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