i hate me

I doubt myself constantly -but at least i'm consistant;
i think negatively and over-think...
i hate failing and often "what if" myself right out of doing anything just incase i fail..(some people think it's because i'm a procrastinator or just plain lazy, but it's really because i've worried myself out of doing stuff rather than simply putting it off til later)
i destroy all of the people i come into contact with -so it makes perfect sense to me to just cut folk off and save them the annoyance or heartache or whatever...
i am my own worst enemy and biggest critic,
i am either sad or angry or numb -all the time, sometimes all at once,
Numbness's cure for me is to hurt myself to 'snap out of it' and back into reality -which i'm not even sure this is...
i people please -"how are you" "great thanks"...WHY DO PEOPLE ASK THIS -SO VERY VERY FEW ACTUALLY ARE ENQUIRING...JUST SHUT UP!!!
i comfort eat
i comfort starve
i make myself sick after food -a lot recently
i can
I GO TO EXTREMES -ALWAYS....but i never mean it...

Why don’t Borderlines just say what the problem actually is?

Communication. Communication is something that is so, SO, important in dealing with someone that is Borderline. Communication is necessary in any relationship but doubly so with BPD. Why don’t Borderlines just say what the problem actually is? There are a lot of reasons for this.

1.      We don’t actually know the origin of our frustration. I know this sounds strange. How can you not know what is bothering you? If you’ve ever been depressed, or had general anxiety, where you just have this low level dread or frustration permeating your life, even though by all logic your life is pretty good, you’ll understand. Sometimes our feelings are like a disembodied presence just hovering over us. The origin of the feelings may have started a while back, or something may have triggered us, and the feelings while not directly attached to what is happening in the present, are directly correlated to something traumatizing in the past. A current event or situation can spark those memories and the emotions related to that experience can still creep back into our present lives.

2.      We’re afraid the person will get mad at us for voicing a concern. This happens a lot with abuse victims. Hell, I just had this problem with Tech Boy (though I did push through this feeling and communicate my problem!). If we care about someone, we don’t want to lose them. If we’re not perfect, if we complain, they may believe that we think something is wrong with them, like we’re criticizing them. Criticism could make them angry. If they’re angry, they might leave. Or be upset with us. If they’re upset with us, they might take it out on us in another way. Even if they’re not the type to do this, we don’t want someone to be upset with us. This just reinforces the idea that we did something wrong. That there’s something wrong with us.

3.      We don’t want to hurt you. We don’t want to inconvenience you. We don’t want to make you feel bad because something you did, unintentionally made us feel bad. If we care, we feel like we should be doing whatever we can to contribute to your pleasure, not burdening you with things that bother us. This is a natural extension to #2 and leads right into #4.

4.      We don’t feel that we have the right to complain about something. For me, I’ve been told my entire life to ‘suck it up’, ‘deal with it’, ‘toughen up’, essentially take what life hands you and figure it out myself because everyone else has their own problems to deal and don’t have time for mine too. I know that everyone has their own issues. I don’t feel like I have any right to impose my problems on someone else. I should be strong enough to deal with the things that upset me. I shouldn’t ‘get bent out of shape’ about something that bothers me. So I suppress. We all know what happens when you bottle things up for too long though.

5.      We don’t want to express vulnerability for fear of having it used against us. This is another product of abuse (though not always). Expressing any feeling or concern that will make us appear ‘weak’ is an awful feeling. I overcompensate for this big time. I’m a strong person, but I talk an even tougher game. When you let someone into the more fragile areas of your world, it’s like exposing your soft underbelly to the beast of rejection. Or worse, humiliation. Evil-Ex used to call me a robot because I was “too perfect”. He would tell me “being vulnerable makes you feel human”. And then when I would show those vulnerabilities, he would quickly find a way to turn them against me, hold them up as a reason I was “weak”, not as wonderful as people think I am, and point them out publically to humiliate me. Not showing vulnerability is like an emotional armor. We can appear to let things bounce off our skin, roll off, and roll away, while maintaining an emotional distance from the problem. Unfortunately this also inhibits true intimacy in the process. Of course, things don’t actually roll off our skin so easily. Things will still bother us, but the other person won’t know that they’ve found a crack in our armor, and therefore can’t use that thing to wound us on purpose.

6.      We don’t trust. It’s hopeless. You wouldn’t understand. We don’t trust someone to treat us fairly, believe us, or be willing to help us. When you’re used to being criticized, when you’re used to being told that your needs are not as important as someone else’s, what do you have that will make you believe that someone will ever put you first? That someone will treat you fairly? It’s never going to happen; it’s hopeless, so why bother? They wouldn’t understand anyways. This is also particularly true with why my communication was so poor with my family growing up.  Mistrust, and a pervasive hopelessness, is insidious, and pervasive. It’s always lying in wait just below the surface. Paranoid. Suspicious.

Would you pick up this phone? I don't think so.

This fear of communication is all sort of a misguided self-protection. It’s not something we’ve decided to do consciously. We’re not choosing to be difficult on purpose. We’re trying to protect ourselves from being hurt.  I’m self-aware enough that I’ve spent a lot of time exploring the different reasons I do things like this. Most people with BPD don’t have these ‘reasons’ they just have the feelings without words so they can’t necessarily explain it. They just do it. What does any of this have to do with Nons having some part of this Borderline crazy?

40 Lessons for Finding Strength in Hard Times

Nobody gets through life without losing someone they love, someone they need, or something they thought was meant to be.  But it is these losses that make us stronger and eventually move us toward future opportunities for growth and happiness.
Over the past five years Angel and I have dealt with several hardships, including the sudden death of a sibling, the loss of a best friend to illness, betrayal from a business partner, and an unexpected (breadwinning) employment layoff.  These experiences were brutal.  Each of them, naturally, knocked us down and off course for a period of time.  But when our time of mourning was over in each individual circumstance, we pressed forward, stronger, and with a greater understanding and respect for life.
Here are some lessons we’ve learned along the way:

1. You are not what happened to you in the past. – No matter how chaotic the past has been, the future is a clean, fresh, wide open slate. You are not your past habits. You are not your past failures. You are not how others have at one time treated you. You are only who you think you are right now in this moment. You are only what you do right now in this moment.
2. Focus on what you have, not on what you haven’t. – You are who you are and you have what you have, right now.  And it can’t be that bad, because otherwise you wouldn’t be able to read this.  The important thing is simply to find one POSITIVE thought that inspires and helps you move forward.  Hold on to it strongly, and focus on it.  You may feel like you don’t have much, or anything at all, but you have your mind to inspire you.  And that’s really all you need to start moving forward again.  Read The How of Happiness.
3. Struggling with problems is a natural part of growing. – Part of living and growing up is experiencing unexpected troubles in life.  People lose jobs, get sick, and sometimes die in car accidents.  When you are younger, and things are going pretty well, this harsh reality can be hard to visualize.  The smartest, and oftentimes hardest, thing we can do in these kinds of situations is to be tempered in our reactions.  To want to scream obscenities, but to wiser and more disciplined than that.  To remember that emotional rage only makes matters worse.  And to remember that tragedies are rarely as bad as they seem, and even when they are, they give us an opportunity to grow stronger.
4. It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. – You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well.  You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears.  The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.  And a smile doesn’t always mean a person is happy.  Sometimes it simply means they are strong enough to face their problems.
5. Life is fragile, sudden, and shorter than it often seems. – There may not be a tomorrow – not for everyone.  Right now, someone on Earth is planning something for tomorrow without realizing they’re going to die today.  This is sad but true.  So spend your time wisely today and pause long enough to appreciate it.  Every moment you get is a gift.  Don’t waste time by dwelling on unhappy things.  Spend it on things that move you in the direction you want to go.
6. You will fail sometimes. – The faster you accept this, the faster you can get on with being brilliant. You’ll never be 100% sure it will work, but you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work.  Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing.  So get out there and try!  Either you succeed or you learn a vital lesson.  Win – Win.
7. You have the capacity to create your own happiness. – Feelings change, people change, and time keeps rolling.  You can hold onto past mistakes or you can create your own happiness.  A smile is a choice, not a miracle.  Don’t make the mistake of waiting on someone or something to come along and make you happy.  True happiness comes from within.
8. Emotionally separate yourself from your problems. – You are far greater than your problems.  You are a living, breathing human being who is infinitely more complex than all of your individual problems added up together.  And that means you’re more powerful than them – you have the ability to change them, and to change the way you feel about them.
9. Don’t make a problem bigger than it is. – You should never let one dark cloud cover the entire sky.  The sun is always shining on some part of your life.  Sometimes you just have to forget how you feel, remember what you deserve, and keep pushing forward.
10. Everything that happens is a life lesson. – Everyone you meet, everything you encounter, etc.  They’re all part of the learning experience we call ‘life.’  Never forget to acknowledge the lesson, especially when things don’t go your way.  If you don’t get a job that you wanted or a relationship doesn’t work, it only means something better is out there waiting.  And the lesson you just learned is the first step towards it.
11. View every challenge as an educational assignment. – Ask yourself:  “What is this situation meant to teach me?”  Every situation in our lives has a lesson to teach us.  Some of these lessons include:  To become stronger.  To communicate more clearly.  To trust your instincts.  To express your love.  To forgive.  To know when to let go.  To try something new.
12. Things change, but the sun always rises the next day. – The bad news: nothing is permanent. The good news: nothing is permanent.
13. Giving up and moving on are two very different things. – There comes a point when you get tired of chasing everyone and trying to fix everything, but it’s not giving up, and it’s not the end.  It’s a new beginning.  It’s realizing, finally, that you don’t need certain people and things and the drama they bring.
14. Distance yourself from negative people. – Every time you subtract negative from your life you make room for more positive.  Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.  Let go of negative people, for they are the greatest destroyers of self confidence and self esteem.  Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you.
15. Perfect relationships don’t exist. – There’s no such thing as a perfect, ideal relationship.  It’s how two people deal with the imperfections of a relationship that make it ideal.  Read The Road Less Traveled.
16. You must love yourself too. – One of the most painful things in life is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too.  When was the last time someone told you that they loved you just the way you are, and that what you think and how you feel matters?  When was the last time someone told you that you did a good job, or took you someplace, simply because they know you feel happy when you’re there?  When was the last time that ‘someone’ was YOU?
17. Don’t let others make decisions for you. – Sometimes you just have to live not caring what they think of you, shake off the drama, and prove to YOURSELF that you’re better than they think you are.
18. Resentment hurts you, not them. – Always forgive people and move on, even if they never ask for your forgiveness.  Don’t do it for them – do it for you.  Grudges are a waste of happiness.  Get that unnecessary stress out of your life right now.
19. You’re not alone.  Everyone has problems. – To lose sleep worrying about a friend.  To have trouble picking yourself up after someone lets you down.  To feel like less because someone didn’t love you enough to stay.  To be afraid to try something new for fear you’ll fail.  None of this means you’re dysfunctional or crazy.  It just means you’re human, and that you need a little time to right yourself.  You are not alone.  No matter how embarrassed or pathetic you feel about your own situation, there are others out there experiencing the same emotions.  When you hear yourself say, “I am all alone,” it is your mind trying to sell you a lie.
20. You still have a lot to be thankful for. – Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of brave people who are overcoming it.  Sometimes you have to forget what’s gone, appreciate what still remains, and look forward to what’s coming next.  Henry David Thoreau once said, “Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” Even when times are tough, it’s always important to keep things in perspective. You didn’t go to sleep hungry last night. You didn’t go to sleep outside. You had a choice of what clothes to wear this morning. You hardly broke a sweat today. You didn’t spend a minute in fear. You have access to clean drinking water. You have access to medical care. You have access to the Internet. You can read. Some might say you are incredibly wealthy, so remember to be grateful for all the things you do have.
21. Consciously nurture your inner hope. – A loss, a worry, an illness, a dream crushed – no matter how deep your hurt or how high your aspirations, do yourself a favor and pause at least once a day, place your hands over your heart and say aloud, “Hope lives here.”
22. It’s better to be hurt by the truth, than comforted by a lie. – You must see things how they are instead of how you hoped, wished, or expected them to be.  It’s always better to be slapped with the truth than kissed with a lie.
23. It’s hard to tell exactly how close you are to success. – Connecting the dots going forward is nearly impossible, but when you look backward it always makes perfect sense.  Success is often closer than it seems, and arrives suddenly, when you least expect it.
24. Not getting what you want can be a blessing. – Not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of good luck, because it forces you reevaluate things, opening new doors to opportunities and information you would have otherwise overlooked.
25. Laughter is the best medicine for stress. – Laugh at yourself often.  Find the humor in whatever situation you’re in.  Optimism is a happiness magnet.  If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.
26. Mistakes are important to make. – We’ve all made mistakes.  We’ve let people take advantage of us, and we’ve accepted way less than we deserve.  But if you think about it, we’ve learned a lot from our bad choices, and even though there are some things we can never recover and people who will never be sorry, we now know better for next time.  We now have more power to shape our future.  Remember, failure is not falling down; failure is staying down when you have the choice to get back up.  Get back up!  Oftentimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.
27. Worrying is literally a waste of energy. – Worry will not drain tomorrow of its troubles, it will drain you of your strength today.  Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
28. Even when it’s hard to move, take small steps forward. – Especially in trying times, it’s important to continuously push yourself forward.  Because momentum is everything!  As long as you keep the momentum positive – even if you’re moving at a snail’s pace – you’ll eventually get to the finish line.  So celebrate every step you take today, no matter how small.  Because every step will lead you farther away from where you were yesterday and closer to where you want to be tomorrow.  Be it a better life or a dream we long to realize, we reach our destinations by taking many, many small steps in the same direction, one at a time.
29. There will always be people who dislike you. – You can’t be everything to everyone.  No matter what you do, there will always be someone who thinks differently.  So concentrate on doing what you know in your heart is right.  What others think and say about you isn’t all that important.  What is important is how you feel about yourself.
30. You are better off without some people you thought you needed. – The sad truth is, there are some people who will only be there for you as long as you have something they need. When you no longer serve a purpose to them, they will leave. The good news is, if you tough it out, you’ll eventually weed these people out of your life and be left with some great friends you can always count on.
31. You are ONLY competing against yourself. – When you catch yourself comparing yourself to a colleague, neighbor, friend, or someone famous, stop!  Realize that you are different, with different strengths – strengths these other people don’t possess.  Take a moment to reflect on all the awesome abilities you have and to be grateful for all the good things in your life.
32. You can’t control everything that happens to you. – But you can control how you react to things.  Everyone’s life has positive and negative aspects — whether you’re happy or not depends greatly on which aspects you focus on.  For instance:  Did you catch a head cold?  At least it’s only a temporary virus and nothing life-threatening.  Did you lose a basketball game?  Thankfully you got to spend the afternoon with friends doing something fun and healthy.  Did your stock market savings go down?  It’ll bounce back in the long-term.  And besides, it’s great that you’ve been diligent and fortunate enough to save a nest egg of savings when many people are barely making ends meet.  You get the idea.
33. Life is NOT easy. – If you expect it to be, you will perpetually disappoint yourself.  Achieving anything worthwhile in life takes effort.  So start every morning ready to run farther than you did yesterday and fight harder than you ever have before.  Above all, make sure you properly align your efforts with your goals.  It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it in the end.
34. Your future is spotless. – Regardless of how filthy your past has been, your future is still spotless.  Don’t start your day with the broken pieces of yesterday.  Don’t look back unless it’s a good view.  Every day is a fresh start.  Each day is a new beginning.  Every morning we wake up is the first day of the rest of our life.  One of the very best ways to get beyond past troubles is to concentrate all of your attention and effort on doing something that your future self will thank you for.
35. You are not trapped; you just need to re-learn a few things. – We all have doubts that make us feel trapped at times.  If you doubt your ability to make a life-altering decision, to take on a new chapter in your life, or to fend for yourself after years of being overly-fostered, consider this:  Surely if a bird with healthy wings is locked in a cage long enough, she will doubt her own ability to fly.  You still have your wings, but your muscles are weak.  Train them and stretch them slowly.  Give yourself time.  You’ll be flying again soon.
36. Everything in life is two-sided. – There is good reason why we can’t expect to feel pleasure without ever feeling pain; joy without ever feeling sorrow; confident without ever feeling fear; calm without ever feeling restless; hope without ever feeling despair: There is no such thing as a one-sided coin in life, with which one can buy a pain-free, trouble-free existence.
37. You always have a choice. – No matter what, there are always at least two options.  If you can’t physically change something, you can change the way you think about it.  You can sit in the dark, or you can find your inner light and discover powerful pieces of yourself you never knew existed.  You can view a crisis as an invitation to learn something new, viewing the shake-up in your outer world as an enlightening opportunity to wake-up your inner world.
38. Let others in when you’re in a dark place. – No, they won’t always be able to pull you out of the dark place you’re in, but the light that spills in when they enter will at least show you which way the door is.
39. If you ask negative questions, you will get negative answers. – There are no positive answers to, “Why me?” “Why didn’t I?” “What if?” etc.  Would you allow someone else to ask you the demoralizing questions you sometimes ask yourself?  I doubt it.  So stop and swap them for questions that push you in a positive direction.  For instance, “What have I learned from this experience?” “What do I have control over?” “What can I do right now to move forward?”
40. The end is a new beginning. – Say to yourself: “Dear Past, thank you for all the life lessons you have taught me.  Dear Future, I am ready now!”  Because a great beginning always occurs at the point you thought would be the end of everything.
    
    (http://www.marcandangel.com/2012/01/01/40-lessons-for-finding-strength-in-hard-times/)

Condescending Idiot

I was 'de-friended' (it wasn't a friend anyway...just a random!) because someone said they "just don't agree with religious posts or things like people's views on abortion etc [they] don't think fb is the place for it as people have no idea who they are offending and didn't want to get into arguments!"

....I WON'T STOP POSTING WHAT I WANT...DE-FRIEND ME ALL YOU LIKE... YOUR LOSS -coz i'm fab!!! Rassssp!!

 

"Users can create profiles with photos, lists of personal interests, contact information, and other personal information. Users can communicate with friends and other users through private or public messages and a chat feature. They can also create and join interest groups" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook)
...so...yeah that'd be EXACTLY what facebook's for! Eejit! 

I said that "as for getting into an argument -anything I post isn't intended to offend did anyone and anyone who is offended?..well...perhaps Facebook isn't the place for them because it is a social networking site where people can say and post what they like...which I do."

I asked if I said or posted anything in particular which really caused offence and explained that I REALLY didn't mean to if any was taken.

I'd NEVER hurt anyone else on purpose -even folk who've hurt me badly."

...she retorted very childishly and then blocked me -hahahahaaa!!! Could you be more childish?!!LOL!

...Anyway, I had many actual friends tell me how it was her loss and that I was spot on -facebook is for exactly what I use it for. I knew this, but it was nice to read it from other people. = )

Anyway...

 

 

I am not the fruitloop

IT'S NOT ME -OR THOSE LIKE ME- WHO ARE THE 'FREAKS' or 'WEIRDOS' or 'NUTTERS'...it's the folk who are wandering around still wearing their masks made of denial...

unbelievably selfish because...

• i eat something and then make myself vomit -there are people with little or NO food in this world...Under-nutrition is a contributory factor in the death of 2.6 million children die of hunger every year...According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) " there were 925 million under- or malnourished people in the world in 2010"; I live in the UK where"every year"..."18 million tonnes of food end up in landfill"...we have an abundance of food, we waste it by not eating and throwing it away and yet some of us who do eat it then throw it back up...

asking for help

i asked them to help me and put me somewhere safe til this crisis was over...

they said no, i asked why they wouldn't help me, they said "because you are choosing to behave like this"

...like my friend said, "Ffs nobody chooses to live like this" my sentiments exactly V)...

i can't believe that a 'high-heid-yin' from the out of hours crisis team would let those words escape from her mouth 36 hours after i was in resus., having overdosed because I CANNOT HANDLE THINGS ALONE RIGHT NOW... In the words of Charlotte Church "I just can't help myself I need professional help, help! I need professional help"...alas...there is none...not for me...

in the last 24 hours

i have tried to contact:

(AND LET ME MAKE THIS CLEAR...picking the phone up and calling someone isn't easy for me at the best of times...let alone when i'm struggling and least of all when i cannot say just how bad i feel...)
2 different helplines which are no longer operational
3 different helplines, but it was out-with the opening times and i didn't realise this til the robot told me
social worker -the message which was left was that "i don't feel good and she is the person i'm supposed to get in touch with when this is the case"
*sure, i could've been blunt and told the receptionist i was feeling suicidal and she's the person i'm supposed to call...but 1.the woman on the end of the phone is an office worker -she doesn't need my crap in her head, heck the people who are paid to have my crap in their head are trained so it DOESN'T STAY in their head -she's not...and 2.the social worker would've been angry with me if she'd received that message
psychotherapist -whose receptionist said she was out today but would try to get in contact...i lay all day on the couch with my phone in my hand...

the psychotherapist's receptionist got back to me with an appointment for a week next Tuesday.


i'm now sitting staring at a hefty whack of tablets and deciding when is the 'right' time to call for help...
so it's not before a crisis, or when i know it's right in front of my face..i get that...

how long after i've taken these pills?

i don't want 'saved', nor do i want to be viewed as an attention-seeker...
the only thing that matters to me now is that it's not my sister who finds me...

so, back to the question of when do i call...and who...
 
wish i knew more about ow all these tablets work together so i'd know a time-scale...

I DO NOT WANT TO BE ME ANYMORE.

sTiLl TrYiNg To WrAp My HeAd RoUnD tHiS

BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER

The main feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image and emotions. 

People with borderline personality disorder are also usually very impulsive.

*i can be...but mostly i just lie on the couch all day every day now

This disorder occurs in most by early adulthood. 

The unstable pattern of interacting with others has persisted for years and is usually closely related to the person’s self-image and early social interactions. 

*ok, so i hate me...but doesn't everybody hate themselves, really...and anyone who says they don't...well, aren't they lying to us...or possibly even themselves?

The pattern is present in a variety of settings (e.g., not just at work or home) and often is accompanied by a similar lability (fluctuating back and forth, sometimes in a quick manner) in a person’s emotions and feelings. 

*wow, so this IS a 'thing'...i'm not just COMPLETELY mental?!!

Relationships and the person’s emotion may often be characterized as being shallow.

A person with this disorder will also often exhibit impulsive behaviours and have a majority of the following symptoms:

• frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. 
• *i'm going to go out on a limb and suggest my agoraphobia is rooted in this too -can't go out =can't meet anyone =can't have anyone 'forget' to meet me =can't be abandoned
• a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation 
• * CHECK
• identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self 
• * see my post from ages ago called "i am a chameleon"...WOAH!
• impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating)
• chronic feelings of emptiness 
• * but of course! i do nothing = i am nothing
• recurrent suicidal behaviour, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behaviour 
• * i am nothing = why am i still here...wasting everything i use
• affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days) 
• *Well i've now been irritable for 5 months...i cannot remember ANY good days...but then, my mind is warped...so who knows?!
• inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights) 
• * i only rage with myself i made a spelling error in a page on my diary and cut and cut and cut...til i was too sore to hurt me anymore...that might have been a smidge intense and a bit of a massive reaction considering what it really was was insignificant in the scheme of things...
• transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms
• * i don't really know what this means so i don't know if i tick this box or not

As with all personality disorders, the person must be at least 18 years old before they can be diagnosed with it. Borderline personality disorder is more prevalent in females (75 percent of diagnoses made are in females). It is thought that borderline personality disorder affects approximately 2 percent of the general population. Like most personality disorders, borderline personality disorder typically will decrease in intensity with age, with many people experiencing few of the most extreme symptoms by the time they are in the 40s or 50s. ***oh, so there's hope..if i make it that far of course...

DETAILS ABOUT BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER SYMPTOMS

Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.

The perception of impending separation or rejection, or the loss of external structure, can lead to profound changes in self-image, emotion, thinking and behaviour. Someone with borderline personality disorder will be very sensitive to things happening around them in their environment. They experience intense abandonment fears and inappropriate anger, even when faced with a realistic separation or when there are unavoidable changes in plans. For instance, becoming very angry with someone for being a few minutes late or having to cancel a lunch date. People with borderline personality disorder may believe that this abandonment implies that they are “bad.” These abandonment fears are related to an intolerance of being alone and a need to have other people with them. Their frantic efforts to avoid abandonment may include impulsive actions such as self-mutilating or suicidal behaviours.

Unstable and intense relationships.

People with borderline personality disorder may idealise potential caregivers or lovers at the first or second meeting, demand to spend a lot of time together, and share the most intimate details early in a relationship. However, they may switch quickly from idealising other people to devaluing them, feeling that the other person does not care enough, does not give enough, is not “there” enough. These individuals can empathise with and nurture other people, but only with the expectation that the other person will “be there” in return to meet their own needs on demand. These individuals are prone to sudden and dramatic shifts in their view of others, who may alternately be seen as beneficent supports or as cruelly punitive. Such shifts often reflect disillusionment with a caregiver whose nurturing qualities had been idealised or whose rejection or abandonment is expected.

Identity disturbance.

There are sudden and dramatic shifts in self-image, characterised by shifting goals, values and vocational aspirations. There may be sudden changes in opinions and plans about career, sexual identity, values and types of friends. These individuals may suddenly change from the role of a needy supplicant for help to a righteous avenger of past mistreatment. Although they usually have a self-image that is based on being bad or evil, individuals with borderline personality disorder may at times have feelings that they do not exist at all. Such experiences usually occur in situations in which the individual feels a lack of a meaningful relationship, nurturing and support. These individuals may show worse performance in unstructured work or school situations.

Impulsivity in potentially self-damaging areas.

They may gamble, spend money irresponsibly, binge eat, starve themselves, purposefully purge, abuse substances, engage in unsafe sex, or drive recklessly. 

Displays of recurrent suicidal behaviour, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behaviour

Completed suicide occurs in 8%-10% (*THAT STATISTIC scares me...i TRULY believe i am in that 10%*) of such individuals, and self-mutilative acts (e.g., cutting or burning) and suicide threats and attempts (*hate the use of the word THREAT here...makes me feel like a liar or attention-seeker!!!!*) are very common. Recurrent suicidality is often the reason that these individuals present for help. (*and yet no help comes anymore...because you all know i'm in that 10 percentile too don't you?!!!*)  These self-destructive acts are usually precipitated by threats of separation or rejection or by expectations that they assume increased responsibility. Self-mutilation may occur during dissociative experiences and often brings relief by reaffirming the ability to feel or by expiating the individual’s sense of being evil.

Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder may display affective instability that is due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days)

The basic dysphoric mood of those with Borderline Personality Disorder is often disrupted by periods of anger, panic, or despair and is rarely relieved by periods of well-being or satisfaction. These episodes may reflect the individual’s extreme reactivity troubled by chronic feelings of emptiness.

Easily bored, they may constantly seek something to do. (*but attention span is shot to frick!*) Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder frequently express inappropriate, intense anger or have difficulty controlling their anger. 

They may display extreme sarcasm, enduring bitterness, or verbal outbursts. The anger is often elicited when a caregiver or lover is seen as neglectful, withholding, uncaring, or abandoning. Such expressions of anger are often followed by shame and guilt and contribute to the feeling they have of being evil. (*enter self-harm*) 

During periods of extreme stress, transient paranoid ideation or dissociative symptoms (e.g., depersonalisation) may occur (Criterion 9 -the one i can't wrap my head round all the jargon within), but these are generally of insufficient severity or duration to warrant an additional diagnosis. These episodes occur most frequently in response to a real or imagined abandonment. Symptoms tend to be transient, lasting minutes or hours. The real or perceived return of the caregiver’s nurturance may result in a remission of symptoms.

HOW IS BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER DIAGNOSED

Personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder are typically diagnosed by a trained mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist. Family physicians and general practitioners are generally not trained or well-equipped to make this type of psychological diagnosis. So while you can initially consult a family physician about this problem, they should refer you to a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment. There are no laboratory, blood or genetic tests that are used to diagnose borderline personality disorder.

Many people with borderline personality disorder don’t seek out treatment. People with personality disorders, in general, do not often seek out treatment until the disorder starts to significantly interfere or otherwise impact a person’s life. This most often happens when a person’s coping resources are stretched too thin to deal with stress or other life events.
A diagnosis for borderline personality disorder is made by a mental health professional comparing your symptoms and life history with those listed here. They will make a determination whether your symptoms meet the criteria necessary for a personality disorder diagnosis.

CAUSES OF BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER

Researchers today don’t know what causes borderline personality disorder. There are many theories, however, about the possible causes of borderline personality disorder. Most professionals subscribe to a biopsychosocial model of causation — that is, the causes of are likely due to biological and genetic factors, social factors (such as how a person interacts in their early development with their family and friends and other children), and psychological factors (the individual’s personality and temperament, shaped by their environment and learned coping skills to deal with stress). This suggests that no single factor is responsible — rather, it is the complex and likely intertwined nature of all three factors that are important. If a person has this personality disorder, research suggests that there is a slightly increased risk for this disorder to be “passed down” to their children.

TREATMENT OF BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER

Treatment of borderline personality disorder typically involves long-term psychotherapy with a therapist that has experience in treating this kind of personality disorder. Medications may also be prescribed to help with specific troubling and debilitating symptoms.

My Favourite Douglas Adams Quotes

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ~Douglas Adams

"Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."

"The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't." 

"The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has a few things to say on the subject of towels.
A towel, it says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitch hiker can have. Partly it has great practical value — you can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble‐sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapours; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a mini raft down the slow heavy river Moth; wet it for use in hand‐to‐hand‐combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or to avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (a mindbogglingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can't see it, it can't see you — daft as a bush, but very ravenous); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough."

" "I think you ought to know I'm feeling very depressed," Marvin said."

" "Life," said Marvin dolefully, "loathe it or ignore it, you can't like it." "

"The last ever dolphin message was misinterpreted as a surprisingly sophisticated attempt to do a double-backwards-somersault through a hoop whilst whistling the 'Star Spangled Banner', but in fact the message was this: So long and thanks for all the fish."

"The chances of finding out what's really going on in the universe are so remote, the only thing to do is hang the sense of it and keep yourself occupied"

" "Simple. I got very bored and depressed, so I went and plugged myself in to its external computer feed. I talked to the computer at great length and explained my view of the Universe to it," said Marvin.
"And what happened?" pressed Ford.
"It committed suicide," said Marvin."

Depression / Suicide / Other Helplines / Websites etc UK

Depression

Depression is very common and everyone feels fed up, sad, unhappy, miserable at times. Sometimes we know that there is a cause for our depression - maybe we have just broken up from a relationship, maybe someone we were close to has died, we may have failed exams, we may be ill - but other times there doesn't seem to be one cause - it may be a build up of problems, feeling unable to cope with life and we are not really sure why.
When depression is very severe some people can feel that life isn't worth living, they want to die. When depression doesn't go away it is important to ask for help. It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help but a sign of strength to recognise that you have these feelings and are unable to cope. Many people find at some stage in their life that it is hard to cope as well as they used to. You don't have to be strong all the time - recognise when you are finding it difficult to cope and need support.
People can get a variety of symptoms when they feel very depressed.

• General feelings of unhappiness which don't go away.
  
• Having no interest in life.
  
• Finding it difficult to concentrate and make even easy decisions.
  
• Having no feeling of enjoyment in life.
  
• Not wanting to go out or mix with people but spending a lot of time on your own.
  
• Feeling very tired and having no energy.
  
• Finding it difficult to sleep and waking up frequently during the night.
  
• Having no appetite and eating very little
  
• Losing self confidence and feeling worthless.
  
• Being very irritable, anxious, impatient.
  
• Feeling very negative about life.
  
• Having suicidal thoughts.
  

If you are depressed don't bottle it up - it is important you talk to someone - family, friend, teacher, youth leader, GP, organisation, helpline etc. - anyone you feel you can trust If you don't share how you are feeling you may find yourself using unhealthy coping strategies which will in the long run only add to your problems and make you feel worse - some people may start drinking alcohol more, may take drugs, may start self harming and cutting themselves, may stop eating or binge eating and making themselves sick.
You may find that counselling will help you as this will give you a safe space to talk to someone who is especially trained. This will help you to say how you really feel inside and the counselor will work with you to help you find solutions and healthy coping strategies and to look at the reasons behind your depression. This will give you a better understanding of your feelings and some support in working through anything which is troubling you. If you find that counselling doesn't work for you then it would be an idea to see your GP and discuss with him other ways of helping you with your depression.
Talking to others and counselling and therapy can help but to pull yourself out of a depression you need to do a lot of work yourself. When you are depressed you may feel you have no control over your life but you do still have choices. You can choose to stay depressed and not eat properly, not exercise, stay in bed all day, etc. or you can choose to try and help yourself to get out of the depression . If you take care of yourself physically it will help you to feel stronger emotionally and to cope more easily with life. Just as a car needs petrol to work properly so does your body need nutrients from food so although you may not feel like eating please try and eat healthily and drink plenty of water.
Sometimes when we are depressed life can seem very negative and black - it can be easy to forget that there are beautiful things in the world surrounding us. Try and get out each day into an open space, park, forest, lake etc. and just take in the beauty of your surroundings, and try and be at one with nature. This can help keep things in perspective and lift your mood.
Set yourself small goals - maybe each day try and write down something you want to do the following day and try and follow this through. The more active you are the less time you will have to focus on your depression. Try and interact with other people when you can as if you totally isolate yourself and cut yourself off from the outside world you could find your depression gets more severe.

What Can I do to Help Myself

• Don't bottle things up - find someone to talk to about how you are feeling.

• Make sure you get plenty of exercise and plenty of fresh air. You will find that even if you do a quick walk every day and a short period of other exercise each day you will start to feel physically and emotionally stronger and more able to cope.

• Make sure you eat a healthy balanced diet - eat little and often and don't skip meals. If you are not eating properly you will feel more depressed and listless.

• Try and keep busy - to keep your mind occupied.

• Do things you enjoy to relax, treat yourself and take care of yourself.

• Try and get to bed at a regular time. If you find it difficult to sleep listen to the radio/TV/read and you may find you drop off to sleep more easily.

• Don't resort to unhealthy ways of dealing with your problems like drinking, taking drugs, cutting, eating disorders.

• Ask for help when you need it.

• Try to stop thinking in a negative way - when you think a negative thought try and replace it with a positive one.

• If you need a hug ask someone you trust - this can make you feel that someone really does care how you are feeling.

Remember depression is very common - you will not always feel like this - you will come out of it and be able to enjoy life.

If your depression is severe and you are having thoughts about harming yourself or ending your life it is important you talk to someone immediately about how you are feeling. If you are a child or young person speak to your parents about how you are feeling. They would want to know how you feel and to support you and look at ways of helping. Talk to your GP and make him aware of what is going on for you. It is very difficult to deal with severe depression on your own - you need help and support and in some cases your GP may advise medication.

ENDING YOUR LIFE AND HARMING YOURSELF IS NEVER THE ANSWER. YOU HAVE YOUR WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF YOU AND WILL NOT ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THIS.

Agencies which offer support and information

• SupportLine Telephone Helpline: 01708 765200 (Helpline)
  email info@supportline.org.uk
  Confidential emotional support to Children, Young People and Adults. Also keeps details of agencies, support groups and counsellors throughout UK. (hours vary so ring for details.)

• Mind (National Association for Mental Health): 0300 123 3393www.mind.org.uk
  Publish booklets relating to Depression.

• Action on Depression (Scotland): 0808 802 2020
  www.actionondepression.org
  Telephone information and other support for people affected by depression. Information about symptoms and treatment, listening support and signposting to other
  

• Aware Defeat Depression: 08451 202961 (area served N.Ireland)
  www.aware-ni.org.uk
  Support, information or a listening ear for all those affected by depressive illnesses.
  

• Breathing Space: 0800 83 85 87 (Area served SCOTLAND)
  www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk
  Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone line for people in Scotland who are experiencing low mood or depression. Breathing Space is available to the public every day of the year, 24 hours at weekends (6pm Friday–6am Monday) and 6pm-2am (Monday-Thursday).
  

• CALL Community Advice and Listening Line (Wales): 0800 132737
  www.callhelpline.org.uk
  Offers emotional support and information/literature on Mental Health and related matters to the people of Wales.
  Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service. The C.A.L.L. Helpline offers a confidential listening and support service.
  Tel: 0800 132 737 (24/7)
  Txt:81066

• Calm: 0800 585858
  www.thecalmzone.net
  Campaign Against Living Miserably. Help and support for young men aged 15-35 on issues which include depression and suicide. Our national helpline is open 7 days a week, 5pm to midnight.
  Callers can talk through any issue, we’ll listen and offer information and signposting.
  Calls are anonymous & confidential and won’t show up on your phone bill.
  Calls are free from payphones and from mobiles on 3, Virgin, Orange and Vodaphone networks. Translation facilities are available on request, to use the Text Relay, dial 18001 + 0800 585858.

• DABS Mail-Order Book Catalogue: 01709 860023
  Wide range of books including those on depression, self esteem assertiveness, self harm, child abuse.
  

• Depression Alliance: 0845 123 2320
  email information@depressionalliance.org
  www.depressionalliance.org
  Confidential listening and support service. Also offer a range of information on depression and treatment options. National network of self help groups for people experiencing depression. National pen friend scheme offering support and fellowship to people with depression and their carers. Quarterly newsletter, booklets and leaflets on depression.

• Depression UK:
  Self Help Nottingham, Ormiston House, 32-36 Pelham Street, Nottingham NG1 2EG UK
  email info@depressionuk.org
  www.depressionuk.org
  Wide self help organisation made up of individual members and groups which meet locally on a regular basis for mutual support. £10 yearly membership (reductions for those who cannot afford that amount).

• Childline: 0800 1111www.childline.org.uk

• Get Connected: 0808 808 4994
  www.getconnected.org.uk
  Free telephone and email helpline finding young people (under 25's) the best help whatever the problem. Can connect a child or young person to any UK helpline where appropriate. (1pm - 11pm every day)

• Health in Mind (Scotland)
  0131 225 8508
  Promotes positive mental health and well being in Scotland. Provides a wide range of services including support, respite, befriending, day services, counselling/talking therapies, face to face and on telephone.  ***THIS NUMBER IS NO LONGER IN SERVICE -I WISH THEY'D UPDATE SITES!!!!***
  

• Lifeline (N.Ireland)
  0808 808 8000
  www.lifelinehelpline.info
  For anyone in N.Ireland who is in distress or despair. Immediate help on phone 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Face to face counselling can be arranged, also befriending, mentoring. Issues dealt with include suicide prevention, self harm, abuse, trauma, depression, anxiety.
  (Run by Contact N.Ireland www.contactni.com independent counselling service employing professional qualified counsellors who have extensive experience of working with people facing a wide range of problems, free to all users. )
  

• MDF/The Bipolar Association: 020 7931 6480
  email mdf@mdf.org.uk
  www.mdf.org.uk
  Advice and information for people with manic depression and their families, carers and mental health professionals. Supply a range of information leaflets, books and tapes. Network of self help groups for people with manic depression, relatives and friends. Self management training programme.

• The Maytree: 020 7263 7070
  www.maytree.org.uk
  Sanctuary for the suicidal offering befriending and support (based in N.London).
  

• The Mental Health Foundation:
  www.mhf.org.uk
  Publish a booklet 'Understanding Depression'.

• Mood Swings:
  Helpline: 0845 123 6050
  www.moodswings.org.uk
  National Helpline and online support providing free and confidential information, advice and support to people with mood disorders, family, friends and health and social care professionals. Also one to one, support groups, workshops at Centre in Manchester.
  

• Muslim Youth Helpline: 0808 808 2008 (Area served London)
  email help@myh.org.uk
  www.myh.org.uk
  Helpline providing culturally sensitive support to Muslim youth under the age of 25. Outreach services including family mediation, face to face counselling and befriending.
  

• National Youth Advocacy Service: 0300 330 3131
  help@nyas.net
  www.nyas.net
  Provides information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to young people up to the age of 25 through a network of advocates throughout England and Wales.
  

• SAD Association:
  www.sada.org.uk
  To inform the public about seasonal affective disorder. To support and advise sufferers of the illness. Limited light box hire scheme. Supply contacts list for members.
  

• Samaritans:0845 790 90 90
  email jo@samaritans.org
  www.samaritans.org.
  

• Voice for the Child In Care: 0808 800 5792
  www.voiceyp.org
  Telephone advice, information and advocacy services for children in care. Helpline for care leavers - 0808 100 3224. Visiting advocacy service for children in secure units and other residential homes.
  

• Who Cares? Linkline: 0207 251 3117
  email mailbox@thewhocarestrust.org.uk
  www.thewhocarestrust.org.uk
  Helpline offering information and support for young people who are or have been in care.

Alcohol

• Al-Anon Family Groups - 020 7403 0888 - www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk - advice for families and friends of problem drinkers

• Alcoholics Anonymous - 0845 7697 555 - www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk - advice

Children and young people

• The Child Law Advice Line - 08088 020 008 - Community Legal Advice Line - Education 0845 345 4345. www.childrenslegalcentre.com – free and confidential legal advice and information service covering all aspects of law and policy affecting children and young people

• Gingerbread - Helpline 0808 802 0925 – Mondays: 10am to 6pm , Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays: 10am to 4pm & Wednesdays: 10am-1pm and 5pm-7pm. www.gingerbread.org.uk - advice and information

• Childline - 0800 1111 - www.childline.org.uk - comfort, advice and protection for any child or young person with any problem

• NSPCC Child protection helpline - 0808 800 5000, or +44 203 222 4100 - www.nspcc.org.uk- advice and protection for children and young people

Disability

• Equality & Human Rights Commission, Disability Helpline - England 0845 604 6610, Scotland 0845 604 5510, Wales 0845 604 8810 - www.equalityhumanrights.com - advice and information

• Mencap - Helpline 0808 808 1111 - www.mencap.org.uk - charity working for people with learning difficulties

• SANE - SANELINE telephone 0845 767 8000 0845 767 8000 6pm-11pm - www.sane.org.uk - one of the UK's leading charities concerned with improving the lives of everyone affected by mental illness

• MIND - Infoline telephone 0300 123 3393, Legal Advice Line 0300 466 6463 9.00am - 6.00pm. - www.mind.org.uk - the leading mental health charity in England and Wales

• WISH - www.womenatwish.org.uk - WISH is a UK based charity that provides long-term, gender-sensitive support services in England and Wales to women who have mental health needs

• Disability Law Service - 020 7791 9800, or minicom 020 7791 9801 Monday – Firday 10am- 5pm, Written enquiries: Fax: 020 7791 9802 - http://www.dls.org.uk/ - free legal advice

• DIAL UK Disability Information and Advice Line - 01302 310123, textphone - (01302) 310 123 please use voice announcer) - www.dialuk.info - information and advice

Discrimination

• Equality & Human Rights Commission, Disability Helpline - www.equalityhumanrights.com - England 0845 604 6610, Scotland 0845 604 5510, Wales 0845 604 8810

Divorce and Relationship Breakdown

• Relate - 0300 1001234 - www.relate.org.uk - couples counselling, support and information for adults with relationship issues

• National Family Mediation - 01392 271 610 - www.nfm.org.uk - network of over 60 local not-for-profit Family Mediation Services in England and Wales offering help to couples

• Gingerbread - Helpline 0808 802 0925 – Mondays: 10am to 6pm , Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays: 10am to 4pm & Wednesdays: 10am-1pm and 5pm-7pm. www.gingerbread.org.uk - advice and information

Domestic Violence

• The Hideout - www.thehideout.org.uk - website for children and young people to inform them about domestic violence and to help them identify whether it is happening in their home

• National Domestic Violence Helpline - 0808 2000 247 - www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk - National service for women experiencing domestic violence, their family, friends, colleagues and others calling on their behalf

• Women's Aid - 0808 2000 247, domestic violence helpline - www.womensaid.org.uk - counselling, support, legal advice, information, campaigning and research

• Welsh Women's Aid - www.welshwomensaid.org - counselling, support, legal advice, information, campaigning and research in Wales. Their helpline website is www.wdah.org . Their helpline number is 0808 8010800 and is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day

• Jewish Women's Aid - 0808 801 0500. www.jwa.org.uk The helpline offers legal, housing benefits information, befriending and counselling to Jewish women. For Jewish women who are experiencing domestic violence/abuse they have a refuge in Barnet.

• IMKAAN - 020 7250 3933 - www.imkaan.org.uk - supports and researches Asian women's refuges

• Asian Women's Resource Centre - 020 8838 3462 - www.asianwomencentre.org.uk - advice and information

• Broken Rainbow - 0300 999 5428 Monday 2-8pm, Wednesday 10am-5pm, Thursday 2pm-8pm - www.broken-rainbow.org.uk - a helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender survivors of domestic violence

Drugs

• Frank - 0800 77 66 00 - www.talktofrank.com - information and advice for people who misuse drugs, their friends, families and colleagues

• Release - 0845 450 0215 - www.release.org.uk - drugs and legal advice for users, families and friends

Free legal advice

• Community Legal Advice - 0845 345 4345 - www.justask.org.uk - free confidential legal advice

• Citizen's Advice Bureau - helpline phone numbers are regional and on the website - www.nacab.org.uk - free legal advice, you can get details of your local Bureau from the telephone directory

• Equality & Human Rights Commission, Disability Helpline - www.equalityhumanrights.com - Disability Helpline – 0845 762 2633, or Textphone 0845 762 2644

• Race, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion and belief and human rights helpline – 0845 604 6610, or textphone 0845 604 6620

• EHCR Wales – 0845 604 8810, or textphone 0845 604 8820- www.equalityhumanrights.com/wales

• Law Centres Federation - 020 7428 4400 - www.lawcentres.org.uk - can refer you to your local law centre for free legal advice

Housing

• Shelterline - 0808 800 4444 - www.shelter.org.uk - help with housing problems

Human Right Organisations

• Amnesty International - www.amnesty.org.uk - works to defend human rights worldwide

• INQUEST - www.inquest.org.uk - campaigns against deaths in custody and changes to the Coroner's court system, advice for families

• JUSTICE - 020 7329 5100 - www.justice.org.uk - one of the UK's leading human rights organisations

• Liberty - Advice Lines 0845 123 2307 & 020 3145 0461, Monday & Wednesday 12.30pm-2.30pm, Thursday 6.30pm- 8.30pm - www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk - free legal advice, protects civil liberties and promotes human rights

• Freedom from Torture - www.freedomfromtorture.org - Advice, treatment, campaigning and research

• Unlock Democracy - Charter 88 - 020 7278 4443 - www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk- campaigning and research.

Immigration and Asylum

• Asylum Aid - 020 7354 9264 - www.asylumaid.org.uk - free legal advice and representation to refugees and asylum-seekers seeking safety in the UK from persecution

• Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants - www.jcwi.org.uk - free legal advice, casework, and campaigning

• Refugee Council - 0808 808 2255 or 0808 808 2259 (text phone) follow the instructions to select the language required. Languages available: Kurdish Sorani, Farsi, Mandarin, Pashtu, Arabic, Tigrinya and English. Open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 9.30am–1pm & 2-5pm & Wednesdays: 2-5pm - www.refugeecouncil.org.uk - advice, assistance and campaigning for refugees and asylum seekers in the UK

Money and Debt

• Consumer Credit Counselling Service - www.cccs.co.uk - free counselling and advice for people with multiple debt problems

• National Debtline - 0808 808 4000 - www.nationaldebtline.co.uk - free information and advice

• Gingerbread - Helpline 0808 802 0925 – Mondays: 10am to 6pm , Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays: 10am to 4pm & Wednesdays: 10am-1pm and 5pm-7pm. www.gingerbread.org.uk - advice and information

Older people

• Age Concern Information line - 0800 169 6565 - www.ageconcern.org.uk - advice and information for older people

• Elder Abuse response - 0808 808 8141 - www.elderabuse.org.uk - information and support for anyone concerned about the abuse of older people

Parenting, Child Custody and Contact

• Children's Legal Centre - 08088 020 008 - www.childrenslegalcentre.com - free and confidential legal advice and information service covering all aspects of law and policy affecting children and young people

• Gingerbread - Helpline 0808 802 0925 – Mondays: 10am to 6pm , Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays: 10am to 4pm & Wednesdays: 10am-1pm and 5pm-7pm. www.gingerbread.org.uk - advice and information

• CAFCASS - www.cafcass.gov.uk - Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

• Independent Police Complaints Commission - 0845 3002 002 - www.ipcc.gov.uk - this is a service to ensure that police complaints are dealt with effectively

Sexuality

• London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard - 0300 330 0630 (daily 10am - 11pm) - www.llgs.org.uk - advice

• Stonewall - 020 7593 1850 - www.stonewall.org.uk - campaigning and advice

• Pink Parents - Helpline: 0870 127 3274 - www.pinkparents.org.uk - UK wide organisation of lesbian, gay and bisexual parents, parents-to-be and their children

• GALOP - Helpline: 020 7704 2040 - www.galop.org.uk - London's only lesbian, gay and bisexual anti-violence and police monitoring charity.

Sexual Violence

• Rape Crisis Centres - Helpline: 0808 802 9999 - www.rapecrisis.org.uk - female run service for survivors of rape and sexual abuse. Regional helpline numbers are listed on their website

• Truth About Rape (TAR) - www.truthaboutrape.co.uk - This campaign was formed to end rape, and to challenge myths about rape.

• Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCS) - www.roofie.com/sexual-assault-referral-centres - This site lists SARCS all over the UK. SARCS are centres for survivors of a Sexual Assault. You can receive advice, counselling and medical support

• NAPAC - National Association for People Abused in Childhood - 0800 085 3330 - www.napac.org.uk - NAPAC are a national organisation that has an info-line that refers people to relevant help groups/support in their area
• • NAPAC provides the only national freephone support line for adults who have suffered any type of abuse in childhood. Because of the large volume of calls we are sorry that many people are unable to get through. Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to call you back which also means that any answerphone messages cannot be answered. Confidentiality Disclaimer: We do not give information we hear from callers to the police unless it is about someone in serious danger.  An example would be if we are told about a child being abused now. 
  • Call 0800 085 3330 for free from landlines, 3, Orange and Virgin mobile phones.
  • Call 0808 801 0331 for free from O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone mobile phones.
  • Telephone support line opening hours:
  Monday 10:00am-9:00pm; Tuesday 10:00am--9:00pm; Wednesday  10.00am-9.00pm;
  Thursday 10:00am-9.00pm; Friday 10.00am-6.00pm

Solicitors

• Law Society - 020 7242 1222 - www.lawsociety.org.uk - can refer you to a local solicitor

• Resolution - 01689 820272 - www.resolution.org.uk - can refer you to a local solicitor

• Legal Ombudsman - 0300 555 0333 - www.legalombudsman.org.uk - government organisation giving information on where and how to access legal help in England and Wales, available in several languages

Women's Organisations

• Southall Black Sisters - 0208 571 0800 (Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm) - www.southallblacksisters.org.uk - campaigning, information and advice for women

• Fawcett Society - 020 7253 2598 - www.fawcettsociety.org.uk - campaigns and researches issues of relevance to UK women

• Women in Prison - 0800 953 0125 - www.womeninprison.org.uk - organisation providing support and information to women prisoners

• Women's Resource Centre - 020 7324 3030 - www.wrc.org.uk - supporting voluntary organisations working with and for women

Other Organisations

• Trade Union Congress - 020 7636 4030 - www.tuc.org.uk - represents 70 member unions and campaigns on social justice issues

• Victim Support Helpline - 0845 303 0900, and 020 7896 3776, 9am – 9pm Mondays to Fridays, 9am – 7pm weekends, 9am – 5pm bank holidays - www.victimsupport.org - counselling for victims of crime

Useful Websites

• www.angelsinnight.org
  Information on anxiety and depression
  
• www.bigwhitewall.com
  Improving mental health and emotional well being.
  
• www.cwmt.org – the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust - Awareness of the signs of depression, information and resources
  
• www.depressioninteenagers.co.uk – An interactive site with resources for young people with depression, using self help ideas and relaxation techniques
  
• www.mind.org.uk/foodandmood - A site which explores the relationship of what you eat and how you feel
• www.healthyplace.com - Information and support for those suffering from depression (American site)
  
• www.mindingyourhead.info
  Information relating to mental health, depression, stress and anxiety
  
• www.moodgym.anu.edu.au – Online training programme using cognitive behavioural therapy for preventing depression
  
• www.need-help.info – aim to help people with concerns, give support and understanding and information relating to other resources providing support.
  
• www.netdoctor.co.uk - Lots of useful information
  
• www.overcomedepression.co.uk - Depression help and advice
  
• www.patient.co.uk - Self help guides under mental health leaflets on depression
  
• www.pendulum.org (American site) - Online support group for people with manic depression (bipolar disorder)
  
• www.pni.org.uk - Website set up by women who are suffering or have suffered with post natal illness, information, email support partner, chatroom
  
• www.studentdepression.org - Site contains excellent information and help for anyone feeling depressed
  
• www.surgerydoor.co.uk - Click on 'medical conditions', click on 'mental health', then 'depression' for information
  
• www.theblackdog.net - Supportive site for men who suffer from depression and/or suicidal thoughts

Self-Harm Self Injury and Related Issues www.siari.co.uk SIARI aims to raise awareness about self-injury, as well as offering hope, and enlightenment to those who self-injure, their kith and kin, and those who work alongside people who hurt themselves. The site will be of value to anyone wishing to gain insight into the complex and much-misunderstood phenomenon of self-injury, and the issues that surround it.  It is the largest self injury resource on the web. LifeSIGNS www.selfharm.org Lifesigns is a voluntary organisation that raises awareness about the syndrome of self injury in the UK and beyond. LifeSIGNS provides much needed information and training to organisations and surfers; offering unique services not available from any other voluntary organisations. Their SI Awareness Booklet for 2005 is an excellent resource for concerned parents or health care workers, and a good read for people who self harm. Get it now for free from their website. Bristol Crisis Service for Women www.users.zetnet.co.uk/BCSW/ Bristol Crisis Service for Women is a national voluntary organisation that supports women in emotional distress.  They particularly help women who harm themselves (often called self-injury). They have carried out extensive research with women who self-injure. Through their work they have developed a deep understanding of the reasons individuals harm themselves and of the things they may need to help them overcome their self-injury. They also have wide experience of the concerns and needs of workers in different settings and disciplines, and in developing good working practice. What they do: They run a national helpline They produce information and publications about self-injury They offer talks and training courses to professionals They run and support self-help groups National Self Harm Network www.nshn.co.uk The National Self-Harm Network (UK based but available to everyone from ANY country) has been a survivor-led organisation since 1994. They are committed campaigners for the rights and understanding of people who self-harm.  Their priority is to support survivors and people who self-harm. They also support the people it indirectly affects, like family and friends; they can discuss the issue and gain effective support in our forums. Basement Project www.basementproject.co.uk The Basement Project provides support groups for those who have been abused as children and people who self-harm.  These are free to individuals and funded by our work with professionals.  We also provide training, consultation and supervision for workers in community and mental health services.  We provide a range of publications offering practical guidance for workers.  Our books for service-users offer many creative ideas based on the experience of others who have journeyed through similar difficulties. All are written in an accessible style. Our work is founded on respect for individuals and for their rights to determine their own needs and make choices for themselves.  We aim to facilitate professionals in supporting and empowering the people with whom they work, whilst also attending to their own difficulties and needs. Samaritans www.samaritans.org.uk Tel: 0845 90 90 90 Samaritans is available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.  The website also has information self harm. It also provides an e-mail service for those not wishing to talk over the phone. E-mail: jo@samaritans.org If you would prefer you can access the local service in Glasgow for a face to face appointment with the Samaritans. 210 West George Street,                                                     Glasgow                                                              G2 2DQ Tel: 0141 248 4488 British Red Cross - Skin Camouflage The aim of the British Red Cross Skin Camouflage Service is to assist people with a Disfigurement to cope in their daily lives, with the aid of simple skin camouflage techniques. The service is available to men, women and children through medical referral from a consultant or GP. Camouflage creams are effective in reducing the impact of scarring, rosacea, birthmarks, vitiligo, tattoos etc. on the face, limbs and torso. The service is available nationally and is provided free of charge to the patient. The creams are normally available on prescription. For more information or if you have concerns about talking to your GP contact the Glasgow Services Manager Jim Griffin on 0141-891-4000 or e-mail him at jimgriffin@redcross.org.uk

Suicide Choose Life www.chooselife.net In 2002, the Scottish Executive launched Choose Life, a ten year strategy and  action plan to reduce suicide in Scotland. Choose Life sets out a framework to ensure that action is taken nationally and locally to build skills, develop training, encourage people to seek help early, improve knowledge and awareness of 'what works' to prevent suicide, and to encourage partnership working and improved co-ordination between services. This page is an information and education resourse only. Breathing Space www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk Tel: 0800 83 85 87 Open 7 days a week 6pm-2am Breathing Space is a free and confidential phoneline service for any individual, who is experiencing low mood or depression, or who is unusually worried and in need of someone to talk to. Their website also contains a wide variety of resourses and information Papyrus http://www.papyrus-uk.org/ UK resources and support for those dealing with suicide, depression or distress – particularly teenagers and young adults. PAPYRUS is a voluntary UK organisation committed to the prevention of young suicide and the promotion of mental health and emotional wellbeing. Founded in 1997 by parents who had lost a son or daughter to suicide, PAPYRUS has three primary objectives: To provide assistance and resources to the professional and public sectors who care for teens and young people battling suicidal tendencies. To promote public awareness in the importance of emotional wellbeing and to campaign for improved mental health services in the UK for vulnerable young people. To provide an easily accessible route to information on suicide prevention and emotional wellbeing; from basic self-help resources, to guidance on seeking counselling and therapy. Samaritans www.samaritans.org.uk Tel: 0845 90 90 90 Samaritans is available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.  The website also has information self harm. It also provides an e-mail service for those not wishing to talk over the phone. E-mail: jo@samaritans.org If you would prefer you can access the local service in Glasgow for a face to face appointment with the Samaritans. 210 West George Street,                                                     Glasgow                                                              G2 2DQ Tel: 0141 248 4488

Younger Folk Young People and Self Harm www.selfharm.org.uk This site is a key information resource for young people who self-harm, their friends and families, and for professionals working with them. National Inquiry into Self-Harm among Young people www.selfharmuk.org The UK's first major investigation of self-harm was launched on 30th March 2004 at the House of Commons. Reports are available on the website and the final report will be published in Autumn 2005. Contact them if you have any information to share regarding self-harm. Heads Up Scotland www.headsupscotland.co.uk The purpose of Heads Up Scotland is to make a major contribution to the activity already underway in Scotland to improve the mental health and well-being of children and young people. The Place www.sandyford.org/theplace/default.html The Place offers simple advice and help for young people. The Place is somewhere you can come whether you want to pick up free condoms or just have a private and confidential chat with a friendly health advisor or counsellor – about anything to do with sex or relationships or things you might be worried about Youth Stress Centre www.youthstress.co.uk Unit E3 145 Charles Street Glasgow G21 2QA Part of Royston Stress Centre, the Youth Stress Centre offers an outreach service to 11-18 year olds in North Glasgow. We work with young people to help them recognise and develop the emotional tools and capabilities to deal with life. They have teamed up with local schools to promote emotional and intellectual growth in tandem. Since its inception in 2000 over 2,500 young people from three local secondary schools and the community have been involved in Emotional Literacy programmes. Phone: 0141 552 3693 Fax: 0141 553 2049 Email: mail@youthstress.co.uk   Office hours: Monday - Friday, 9.30am - 1.30pm Penumbra www.penumbra.org.uk Penumbra provides a range of support services for young people experiencing problems affecting their mental health. We also offer training and consultancy for agencies and young people on mental health issues. The word ‘Penumbra’ means the partial shadow around the sun during an eclipse.  Penumbra’s work aims to bring mental health out of the shadow and into the light. ChildLine www.childline.org.uk Tel: 0800 1111 ChildLine is the free helpline for children and young people in the UK. Children and young people can call ChildLine on 0800 1111 to talk about any problem – their counsellors are always here to help you sort it out. Children and young people can call at any time of the night or day. That’s because ChildLine’s helpline is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. But without help, that might change. ChildLine is in urgent needs of funds so that they can continue to stay open overnight, which is when some of the most desperate children need us most.  Click on the website to see how you can help. Get Connected www.getconnected.org.uk 0808 808 4994 help@getconnected.org.uk Get Connected provides a free, confidential helpline that gives young people in difficult situations the support and information you need to decide what you want to happen next. It could be anything from a listening ear to somewhere safe to stay for the night. We’re free: calls to Get Connected are free from all landlines and mobile phones. Any connection we give you to another helpline is also free. We’ll find you the best help whatever the problem: we can help you decide what sort of help you’re looking for and put you in touch with it, whether it’s by connecting you to another helpline, emailing you a link to an online service, texting you details of a service or giving you the address of somewhere local. Young Minds www.youngminds.org.uk Young Minds is the national charity committed to improving the mental health of all children and young people. The YoungMinds website has been redesigned to provide detailed information in a clear, concise and attractive way. The info centre gathers together all of YoungMinds information resources on key topics. In addition, all YoungMinds activities are comprehensively explained. The YoungMinds Parents’ Information Service (0800 018 2138) provides information and advice for anyone with concerns about the mental health of a child or young person. YoungMinds produce leaflets and booklets to help young people, parents and professionals to understand when a young person feels troubled and where to find help. YoungMinds Magazine is a leading source of up to date news and features on a wide range of issues affecting children’s lives. Bully Online www.bullying.co.uk Bulling Online provides extensive advice on dealing with school bulling.  They provide information for both pupils and parents, legal advice and a e-mail support service which offers responses within 24 hours. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth Link www.lgbtyouth.org.uk LGBT Youth Scotland is working towards the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people in the life of Scotland. We provide a range of services and opportunities for young people, families and professionals which aim to increase awareness and confidence; as well as reducing isolation and intolerance. Tel: 0845 113 0005 Tuesday 7:30-9pm Fairbridge www.fairbridge.org.uk/ Based in 14 of the most disadvantaged urban areas in the country, Fairbridge supports 13-25 year olds who are not in education, training or employment or who have been identified as being at risk of dropping out. They are referred to us by over 1,400 different organisations. These young people often face a range of problems and may have been excluded from school, endured long-term unemployment, faced homelessness or become involved in criminal activity. Many are without the support of their family and on the margins of their local community. Through a combination of personal support and challenging activities, we provide young people with a route back into mainstream society. The Provision Division www.theprovisiondivision.info This is information put together by young people in Glasgow for young people in Glasgow. Check out and search our directory for youth activities near you!

North Glasgow Support Access North Glasgow Community Portal Directory www.accessnorthglasgow.co.uk/directory.html To find local agencies within the North Glasgow area the North Glasgow Community Portal is a useful website.  It provides up to date information and is continually expanding. Social Work North Area Social Work Services North covers the following areas: Springburn, Ruchill, Milton, Firhill, Sighthill, Royston, Germiston, Petershill, Balornock, Barmulloch, Provanmill, Port Dundas and Possil Offices and Service Areas Covered: Springburn 94 Red Road, Glasgow G21 4PH Possil 7 Closeburn Street Glasgow G2 5JZ Royston 15 Glenbarr Street Glasgow G21 2NW Phone: 08453 303595 Fax: 0141 557 0310 Phone: 0141 276 4570 Fax: 0141 276 4555 Phone: 0141 276 7010 Fax: 0141 276 7113 Services Community Care Home Care Occupational Therapy Services Criminal Justice Addiction Community Work Services Families and Children Office Hours Mon - Thurs 8.45 am - 4.45 pm Friday 8.45 am - 3.55 pm An emergency out of hour’s service is available from the Standby Service Tel: 0800 811505 General Advice Citizens Advice Bureau www.cas.org.uk Maryhill Citizens Advice Bureau 1145 Maryhill Road, Glasgow G20 9AZ Tel: 0141 946 6373 Fax: 0141 576 5103 E-mail: bureau@maryhill.casonline.org.uk Opening Times Monday 10.00 - 13.00; 13.00 - 15.30 (from 13.00 appointments only) Tuesday 10.00 - 15.30 (Debt clinic 17.00 - 19.00 appointments only) Wednesday 10.00 - 15.30 (appointments & telephone only) Thursday 10.00 - 13.00 (Debt clinic 17.00 - 19.00 appointments only) Friday 10.00 - 15.30 Saturday Closed Sunday Closed North of Glasgow Citizens Advice Bureau 1169 Royston Road, Glasgow G33 1EY Tel: 0141 770 7869 Drop-in sessions Monday 14:00 - 16:00 Wednesday 10:00 - 16:00 Friday 10:00 - 12:00 Other times by appointment only (they also offer Legal Services). Benefits Benefits, Tax Credit and other Support www.direct.gov.uk This is a Government website giving basic advice on benefits, tax credits and other support. Welfare Rights www.glasgow.gov.uk This web address gives a list of Glasgow specific Welfare Rights Fact sheets. Getting Advice  www.glasgow.gov.uk/ This web page gives information on how to get advice on a variety of benefits for people living in the Glasgow area. Housing Glasgow Housing Association http://www.gha.org.uk This is the official website of the GHA.  Two years ago tenants of Glasgow City Council voted for their homes to be transferred to GHA. The transfer took place on 7th March 2003. It was an historic moment affecting the future of 80,559 homes.  GHA is a not-for-profit housing association that’s committed to creating better homes, better lives. GHA is the largest registered social landlord in Britain.  They are an organisation designed to achieve community ownership through moving housing stock into the hands of locally controlled housing groups. Their goal is simple. They want to help regenerate disadvantaged communities by delivering better housing. Fab Pad http://www.impactarts.co.uk/fabpad.htm Fab Pad helps homeless young people turn their new tenancies into homes, by bringing them together with interior designers and artists who are sensitive to their needs. Our work centres on helping young people to unlock their own creative talents, and on showing them how to create maximum effect at minimum cost. The end result is a home that they have created themselves. Royston Road Project www.roystonroadproject.org The Royston Road website provides local information for the Royston area featuring an extensive archive covering the designing and building of two new parks in the area, artists' residencies, a new internet network for businesses, organisations and schools, and a performance project by Eddie Ladd. Homelessness Glasgow Homeless Information Page http://www.hipinglasgow.com/ This site is a great starting point for information on all matters related to homelessness in Glasgow.

Mental Health Well? Mental Health and Well-being in Scotland www.wellontheweb.net 'Well?' is dedicated to communicating the work of the Scottish Executive's National Programme for Improving the Mental Health and Well-Being of Scotland's Population, which was launched in October 2001.  Their aim is to highlight the initiatives and work already underway in addressing the issues of improving mental health and well-being in Scotland. Research Autism www.researchautism.net Research Autism is a UK charity dedicated to research into interventions in autism. We commission, carry out and support high quality, independent research into new and existing health, education, social and other interventions. We have just launched our new website, which aims to be one of the biggest, most up-to-date, and most reliable websites in the world for information about autism interventions. Living Life To The Full www.livinglifetothefull.com The Living Life to The Full modules have been devised to help people develop key life skills to help them tackle common problems we all face from time to time in life. They are supported by a range of structured and clearly written self-help materials. Mind www.mind.org.uk Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales. MDF - The BiPolar Organisation www.mdf.org.uk MDF The BiPolar Organisation works to enable people affected by bipolar disorder / manic depression to take control of their lives. We aim to fulfil this mission by: Supporting and developing self-help opportunities for people affected by manic depression; Expanding and developing the information services about manic depression; Influencing the improvement of treatments and services to promote recovery; Decreasing the discrimination against, and promoting the social inclusion and rights of people affected by manic depression; Being an effective and efficient organisation with sufficient resources to sustain and develop our activities, thereby ensuring members receive a unique, high quality service. Your Amazing Brain www.youramazingbrain.org Award winning interactive website to discover "your amazing brain".

Eating Disorders The National Centre for Eating Disorders www.eating-disorders.org.uk The National Centre For Eating Disorders, established in 1984, is an independent organisation set up to provide solutions for all eating problems, compulsive or "binge" eating, failed or "yo-yo" dieting, bulimia and anorexia. Website provides information, self help online and useful links.  Eating Disorder Association www.edauk.com At this website you will find information and help on all aspects of eating disorders including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder and related eating disorders. The Mary Hart Centre for Eating Disorders www.maryhart.co.uk The Centre for Eating Disorders - Scotland, is a long established, independent, psychotherapy practice concentrating on helping sufferers of Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge Eating Disorder. This website contains useful information to help people suffering from these disorders, as well as their family.

Physical Health Men's Health Forum Scotland www.mhfs.org.uk Here in Scotland we men don’t have a great reputation for looking after ourselves, what with the unhealthy diet and the love of a few too many drams. Attitudes towards men’s health and work in the field of improving it are moving ahead at a very encouraging rate. This site is here to try and keep you abreast of these developments and enable you to tap into the experience of those already working to improve men’s health. BBC Scotland Webguide - Health www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/webguide A selection of Health related websites in Scoland. Jog Scotland www.jogscotland.org.uk Welcome to Scotland’s very own jogging network. Our aim is to help people in their quest to improve their quality of life and to enjoy finding out how they can have a big impact on their long-term health and wellbeing. People can discover a whole new world of increased energy, feeling better about themselves and eating things they enjoy - there can be gain without pain! North Glasgow Health Living Community www.healthynorthglasgow.co.uk North Glasgow Healthy Living Community is working with partner organisations to improve health and wellbeing for the people of North Glasgow. Lots of great information for people in the North Glasgow area Men’s Health Forum www.menshealthforum.org.uk Too many men suffer unnecessarily poor health and die too young from preventable causes. The Men’s Health Forum’s mission is to provide an independent and authoritative voice for male health and to tackle the issues affecting the health and well-being of boys and men in England and Wales. Female Health Issues www.femalehealthissues.co.uk FemaleHealthIssues was formed to offer a unique reference point on women's health problems. Many health issues are experienced only by women. From adolescence to retirement we discuss the female health concerns you might have. Our concern was that there was no single UK resource for interesting features and practical advice on this subject. Our features and articles are written by professional journalists and experts - who have a particular interest, or a background in this area.

Sexual Health The Steve Retson Project http://www.sandyford.org/srp/ The Steve Retson Project is a Sexual Health project especially geared to gay men's needs. It offers testing and treatment for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B, HIV testing, free condoms and lube, plus counselling, advice and information on sexual health. What's more, all services (including treatments) are free of charge.

Sexuality Glasgow LGBT Centre www.glgbt.org.uk Celebrating equality and diversity in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Open Monday-Sunday 11a.m.-12 midnight.

Abuse Thrive http://www.sandyford.org/sandyford/pubpages/thrive/thrive.html The Sandyford Initiative Thrive Clinic - for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse Childhood sexual abuse exists in varying combinations, duration and intensity. As a child you may have lost all rights to privacy, love, support and even control over you own body. You have spent enough time feeling different, excluded and isolated. Is it time for you to break the silence and talk to someone? Thrive is a counselling service for adult male survivors of sexual abuse. Thrive is a team of qualified, experienced and dedicated male and female counsellors. Thrive is completely free and has appointments available Monday to Friday Thrive is situated in a welcoming, relaxing and convenient city centre location. Thrive is available to support you. YOU HAVE SURVIVED, NOW IT IS TIME TO THRIVE Ring for appointments 0141 211 8133 E-mail: thrive@glacomen.scot.nhs.uk SurvivorScotland www.survivorscotland.org.uk Our SurvivorScotland website has been developed by the Scottish Government to improve the lives of survivors of childhood sexual abuse. For the first time, people have access to a wide range of material about abuse, all in one place. It is a networking resource for a wide variety of interested people, and it gives useful links to other websites that may also be helpful.