New Directions Support Group

This section contains links on:

1 - Info about Psychiatric Medication
2 - How to Obtain Psych Meds at Affordable Costs
3 - Health in General

M E D S

All-purpose Medication Website (enter name of med)
http://www.drugs.com/

Partnership for Prescription Assistance - Largest private-sector program for patients who lack prescription coverage
https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php

One-time charge for Free-Med Link.
http://www.FreeMedsAndSolutions.com/

Help Save Money on Your Meds
www.TheMedicineProgram.com

Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs - Superb link about all meds!!!
http://www.crbestbuydrugs.org/pressroom.html

Search by Zip Code and Medicine
Compare Prices of Medicine

Medicare Formulary Plans:  Formulary=Meds Covered by Your Insurance Plan
www.medicare.gov

Buy your medication from Canada. The 2nd link offers the cheaper medication.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
http://www.canadadrugs.com/

Minit Drugs: Calgary, Alberta, Canada - check out their links on Medicare Part D
http://www.pharmacy-online.ca/index.jsp

Many medicines can be found by entering their name, per below. Someone told us that Lexapro is the best-selling medication for depression. We remind our readers that every medication works differently for every person.
www.Lexapro.com

"Worst Pills, Best Pills": Group co-founded in '71 by Ralph Nader and Sidney Wolfe, MD
Just b/c a drug is over-the-counter doesn't mean it's safe. Take the lowest possible dose.
Best Pills, Worst Pills

Married and Thinking About Getting Pregnant? Consult your doctor about the meds you're on. Not every med is safe to take while pregnant. And read about the Benefits of Folic Acid below. If you're single and sexually active, engage in safe sex and use condoms.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/
 

G E N E R A L    H E A L T H C A R E

Free email alerts on Healthcare, co-sponsored by
US Library of Medicine & the Nat'l Institutes of Health
http://medlineplus.gov/

HealthLink of Southampton, PA - Free medical & dental care (limited) for the working uninsured of Bucks & Montgomery County, PA. Call 215-364-4247.

Abington Memorial Hospital Outpatient Clinic for Low-Income Patients. All medical services offered except mental health. (For the latter, call Creekwood Community Mental Health Center.) Call 215-481-2000 & ask for Outpatient Clinic.

Doylestown Hospital, and other local hospitals include services for low-income folks.

Temple University Dental Program, offered by dental students & their supervisors. Call 215-707-2900.

Univ. of PA Dental School per above - Call 215-898-8961.
 

The following websites - indicated with an asterisk -  offer e-mail alerts for people and families w/mental illness. Ultimately, though, the decision of whether to embrace their ideas is up to You, not the organization sending out the alert, who may or may not be overreacting to perceived threats to people w/mental illness.  Get other opinions and speak to other intelligent individuals to help determine the best thing to do.

V O T E:  Know your candidates & exercise Your Right as an American Citizen!

Let's Party with George & Laura Bush
Republicans National Committee - Great Info!
http://www.rnc.org/

Let's Party with......
http://www.democrats.org/

Know Your Candidates: Project VoteSmart of Philipsburg, MT - enter zipcode on Left
http://www.vote-smart.org/index.htm

* Excellent advocacy organization for the rights of all people, including the forgotten ones, such as those of us with psychiatric disorders! Sign online petitions - but only if you agree with them - that reach your legislators immediately!!! List of City Newspapers in which to write Letters to the Editor: A Must! Keep our illness in the public eye - favorably so - and tell the newspapers "for every terrible story about someone with bipolar disorder, there are thousands of success stories."
http://MoveOn.org/

* NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Arlington, VA
Their motto: "The Nation's Voice on Mental Illness"
http://www.NAMI.org

* Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Washington, DC
http://bazelon.org

* PMHCA (PA Mental Mental Health Consumers Association), Harrisburg, PA
http://PMHCA.org

* National Mental Health Association, Alexandria, VA
www.NMHA.org

NAMI Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
http://namipa.nami.org/affiliateactivitiesindex.htm

NAMI Bucks County, PA (several sites)
www.NAMIBucks.org

NAMI Montgomery County, Glenside, PA
http://www.nami.org/MSTemplate.cfm?MicrositeID=95

NAMI Main Line, PA - Excellent Resourcce Links!
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster Ave. (Rte 30) and Louella Ave. in Wayne, PA
www.nami.org/sites/namipaMainLine/

What's New at NIMH! Best literature on psychiatric disorders!
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/press/index.cfm 

Excellent advocates for the Over Fifty Set! Sign up for a Safe Driver's Course, which'll bring down the cost of your auto insurance.
http://www.aarp.org/

Our Board Member, Mark Salzer, PhD, runs this University of PA organization, to reintegreate "mental health consumers" back into Society. Yes, it CAN be done! Website won a prize!
http://www.upennrrtc.org/

Joe, whose Dad died by Suicide, is climbing mountains to bring mountains of hope & attention to Depression and Mental Health
Click on Expedition Hope

Liz Spikol: Column/Blog in The Philadelphia Weekly
http://trouble.philadelphiaweekly.com/

Section 8 Govt. Housing for Low Income People - Sign up to Be Put on Their Waiting List
www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm

Report Elder Abuse in Montgomery County, PA: 800-734-2020
http://www.montcopa.org/mcaas/4%20yr.plan.summary.htm
 
A division of the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare
http://www.OpenMindsOpenDoors.com/aboutus.htm

Online, global news service operated by AAAS, the science society
http://www.eurekalert.org/aboutus.php

L E G A L   H E L P   F O R   L O W - I N C O M E   P E N N S Y L V A N I A N S

Pennsylvania Health Law Project: Free legal services and advocacy to Pennsylvanians having trouble accessing publicly funded health care coverage or services. Superb links for low-income people.
http://www.phlp.org/

L E G A L   A I D   o f   S O U T H E A S T E R N   PA
(nonprofit org dedicated to delivering high quality civil legal services to low income people, victims of domestic abuse and the elderly, living in Bucks, Montgy, Chester & Delaware Counties - we've heard mixed reviews of effectiveness)
Call 877- 429- 5994 (Mon-Thurs, 9am - 1pm)

Steve Gold, Philly attorney, expert on MH issues
Click here

Ayuda Community Center (click name for link)
Free one-hour appt. w/ an attorney for housing problems or family crisis.
Free legal advice available! Se Habla Espanol.
Hunting Park Area of North Philly
4400 N. Marshall St. & Cayuga
215-329-5777

HOMES TEAM PROGRAM. This group out of Lansdale, PA, helps people on disability live alone. Call them at 215-362-2841.

http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/LowInc/LegalServices/003670188.htm

Help with Child Custody Issues
http://www.palawhelp.org/PA/index.cfm

Free Service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, US Dept. of Labor
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/

MHASP: Mental Health Association of Southeastern PA, Philadelphia
http://www.MHASP.org

Our Social Security Administration
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/

Natl Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare: County services for 6 million adults & kids with mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse; provides rehab, housing & community support services.
http://www.nccbh.org/

Organize Your Personal Health Records:
http://myphr.com/

Pennsylvania Protection and Advocacy, Inc., Harrisburg, PA
Federal program providing advocacy services to all people with disabilities
http://www.ppainc.org/

The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, the nation’s first medical academy, proudly sponsors Philly Health Info, http://www.phillyhealthinfo.org

PHILLY AREA & ENVIRONS

Bucks County Office of Mental Health, Warminster, PA
www.dpw.state.pa.us/

Chester County Office of Mental Health, West Chester, PA. Call 610-344-6265
Click here for website.

Delaware County of Behavioral Health, Media, PA
www.co.delaware.pa.us/humanservices/obh/contact.html

Montgomery County Office of Mental Health, Norristown, PA
www.MontcoPa.org/MhMrDa

City of Philadelphia Consolidation of Services Website
www.philly.NetworkofCare.org

Philadelphians: Find yourself an independent case manager!
www.PMHCC.org

NEW & TERRIFIC:  PA's Health Ins. Program for Kids: CHIP
http://www.chipcoverspakids.com/

Philadelphia Community Mental Health Centers
www.mhasp.org/help/catchment.html

Because the Acting Governor's Wife Had Courage, New Jersey now has.....
http://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmhs/index.html 

Vermont: First Nat'l Model in State MH Treatment, Montpelier, VT
Click here.

Commonwealth of PA: Great Health Info
http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/

Temple University Leadership Development Training Program for individuals with disabilities, parents of young children with disabilities, and university graduate students
http://disabilities.temple.edu/programs/leadership/c2p2.htm

US Gov. Student Loans
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp

Pennsylvania State University, Abington, PA
www.Abington.PSU.edu/

Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
http://www.mc3.edu/

Bucks County Community College, Newtown, PA
www.bucks.edu/

Arcadia University, Glenside, PA
www.arcadia.edu

Temple University, Ambler, PA
www.temple.edu/ambler/

Temple University, Fort Washington, PA
www.temple.edu/ambler/tufw

Community College of Philadelphia
www.ccp.edu/site/

Pennsylvania Technical Schools
www.technical-schools.us/pennsylvaniatechnicalschools.htm

Eastern Center for Arts & Technology, classes and training for jobs of the times,
Willow Grove, PA - Call 215-784-4806
www.eastech.org/

Antonelli Medical & Professional Institute, Pottstown, PA
Many people in Our Crowd are trained to become certified as: Nurse Assistant or Aide; Medical Assistant; Medical Administrative Assistant; Hospitality Field.

A similar Home Health Care Aide program is available through the local Visiting Nurse Association under the auspices of The Red Cross & certified through Medicare. Class is 2-3 months. Choose your own work hours. Inquire at New Directions if interested.

Check your Credit Rating: "Only one website is authorized to fill orders for the free annual credit report," according to the Federal Trade Commission, quoted in AAA World, Nov/Dec 2005
www.AnnualCreditReport.com

Volunteer Jobs Lead to the Confidence Necessary for Employment!!! 

Yes, some people can get off welfare and work! However, others are not able to and that's OK!
www.YourTicketToWork.com

City Cares
CityCares.org

Volunteer Match
VolunteerMatch.org

Training for Philadelphia Mental Health Consumers to get Jobs!
Horizon House, Inc. of Philly
www.HHInc.org

Top sites for Getting Jobs. Also, don't forget the power of networking!
http://CareerBuilder.com/
http://Monster.com
http://craigslist.org/

To help with your job search - No Fee! - Great people, Blue Bell, PA...
http://www.CarneyJobs.com/

The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance’s Job Bank: Top source of employment in the arts 
http://www.philaculture.org/jobs/search.cfm?search=no

An Artist Friend Sells Her Handpainted Notecards on This Site. Perhaps You Can, Too!
Etsy.com

Career Resources Management, Philadelphia, Job Coaching
CareerResourcesMgt.com/

Employment Opportunities in PA
www.PAcareerlink.state.pa.us

Meadowbrook Bird Sanctuary, Meadowbrook, PA
TweetTweet.org

Reading Tutors, Doylestown, PA
VitaEducation.org

Compeer Volunteers, Eagleville, PA
Compeer-SubPhilly.org

Montgomery County SPCA
www.MontgomeryCountySPCA.org

Pennypack Nature Center
Huntingdon Valley, PA
http://www.PennypackTrust.org/

Abington Memorial Hospital - Volunteer jobs lead to Employment!
http://www.amh.org

Abington Township Public Library
http://abg.mclinc.org/

Some like The Depot!
http://www.homedepot.com

Coffee Nation! Work 20 hrs & get Free Health Insurance!
http://www.starbucks.com/

Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
http://www.mc3.edu

Bucks County Community College, Newtown, PA
http://www.bucks.edu/

Willow Grove, PA Mall (Job opportunities always available)
http://www.willowgroveparkmall.com

Partner with Your Psychiatrist - Your Doctor Should Listen to You, including your own suggestions for Medicines you might think helpful! YOU know more about your mind and your feelings than anyone else!

Find a Philadelphia-area psychiatrist or psychotherapist on this Psychology Today online link - Call with a list of questions in hand.
Physician/Therapist Finder

Philmont Guidance Center - 3 Locations: Hunt. Valley, Doylestown & Flourtown
Great Docs from our Top Doc List

Bipolar Disorder Program at University of PA
http://www.pennhealth.com/behav_health/services/bipolar.html

Child & Adolescent Bipolar Disorder - Jefferson Hospital
http://www.jeffersonhospital.org/psychiatry/article4817.html

Morita Therapy, Invented by a Japanese Psychiatrist - Note similarities to Recovery, Inc. - Great minds thinks alike!
http://www.morita-therapy.org/about_morita.htm

Women's Center of Montgomery County, Jenkintown, PA
Excellent FREE consultations for abused women - 215-635-7344
Womens Center of Montgomery County, PA

Main Line, PA Pediatric Center - developmental delays
http://www.NDPeds.com

Experimental Brain Surgery for Treatment-Resistant Patients w/Depression, as featured on "60 Minutes" on 10-1-06. Click here. It's good to know that scientists are constantly working on our behalf to better our lives!
 
The Autism Spectrum - Bill Stillman is a high-functioning man w/Asperger's
http://www.williamstillman.com/

Numerous Links on Autism, courtesy of Philly Health Info
Click here.

Elkins Park, PA:  The Adelmans  http://www.SageHealingInstitute.com/credentials.html

Renee Bures, MSW, Art Therapist - Doylestown, PA
http://www.alchemyopenstudio.org

Daughter/Mom Team of Help 'n Hope:
SeedsofHopeBooks.com

New Coalition of 7 Nonprofits - spokesman is 2000 Nobelist Paul Greengard - funded by Wyeth, makers of anti-depressant Effexor & anti-blisterant Chapstick.
Depression is Real - Y-E-S !  It's an illness in the brain 

Mind & Life Institute, Boulder, CO
Neuronal Plasticity: The Neuronal Substrates of Learning & Transformation
"Meditation" includes the contemplative life: Reading, creating artwork, being with nature, fishing
http://www.MindAndLife.org/

Healing seminars at Medical Mission Sisters, Northeast Philadelphia: Walk the Outdoor Labyrinth; Enroll in New Age Classes.....
http://www.MedicalMissionSisters.org/index.htm

Find a Cognitive Therapist, below: Train Yourself to Think Positively and constantly pat yourself on the back for the littlest things you do:  "Fantasic, Osario, you stood still for 20 whole minutes so Goya could paint your portrait!" Click here, scroll down and pay no attention to the flashing lites: http://www.abcgallery.com/G/goya/goya102.html
www.AcademyOfCT.org

GREAT Web Sites! However, you need to meet REAL PEOPLE with the illness, so come to our Group!  We make you feel com-for-table!
http://www.bipolar.about.com

http://www.BipolarWorld.net

The Peace Center: Domestic Violence
www.comcat.com/~peace/

Daniel B. Fisher, MD, PhD
http://www.power2u.org

They had it, too!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_

Mary Ellen Copeland
http://mentalhealthrecovery.com

Psychiatrist Ivan Goldberg of NYC also sees Private Patients. Dig his "tie!"
http://www.Psycom.net/depression.central

Jim Phelps, MD, of Corvallis, Oregon: Outstanding site by a self-disclosing psychiatrist...
http://www.psycheducation.org

Presenting for the First Time Ever on the New Directions' Stage, The Amazing.......
Dr. Bob!  (complete with music)

MINDPOPPER:  In Feb. '06, we sent a quik note to Dr. Frattaroli below and he replied "Thanks so much for your supportive comments! I took a look at your website. You're doing wonderful work. Best wishes for your quest, Elio Frattaroli."

Healing for the Soul  "...Our society is in a state of moral crisis. Our lives are so consumed by the dehumanizing forces of materialism that we have lost touch with the deeper needs and values of the soul."   [DO TELL!!! - sarcastic comment by Webmaster]
http://www.ElioFrattaroli.com

Robert J. Hedaya, M.D.
http://wholepsych.com/books/AntiDepress.html

Livengrin Foundation, Inc., Bensalem, PA, for Substance Abuse Treatment
http://www.Livengrin.org

Topnotch Website for Addictions and Eating Disorders!
http://www.Sober.com

Devereux Treatment Facility - Information - Great Links
http://www.devereux.org/

Our Deborah Reeves, MGPGP, LPC, CGP
http://www.Healing-Minds.com

Bruce S. Zahn, Psychologist
http://CognitiveSolutions.net

All-purpose Mental Health Patient Site
www.mhsanctuary.com/

Alternative Medicine - Homeopathy
http://www.homeopathy.org
http://www.hanp.net

Alternative Medicine: Acupuncture: "Releases brain endorphins," according to one Abington Hospital neurologist
www.acupuncture.com

Herbal Remedies/Supplements: The smart people at our federal National Institutes of Health, established the following scientific database:
www.ods.od.nih.gov

Collaborative Care of Abington, PA (holistic)
http://www.collaborativecare.org

Abington Memorial Hospital Psychiatry Department
http://www.amh.org/findphysician/psych.htm

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
http://www.mayoclinic.com/index.cfm

Massachusetts General Hospital - Women's Mental Health, Boston
http://www.WomensMentalHealth.org/

Cleveland Clinic
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/

Life Counseling Services, Paoli, PA, and other branches
http://www.lifecounseling.org/

Chronic Pain - it's real!!!
http://www.abpm.org

FREE MEDICAL CLINIC - for the Working Uninsured of Bucks and Montgomery, PA
(Note: this is not a psychiatric clinic, though approx. 20% of their patients are on psych meds! It's not easy being poor.)
http://www.healthlinkmedical.org

Foundations Behavioral Health
“The only freestanding, nonprofit adolescent psychiatric hospital and residential treatment facility in Bucks County, PA"
http://www.fbh.com

Network of Victim Assistance, Jamison, PA
Model program includes: Child Sexual Assault - Victim’s Perspective - Acquaintance Rape – Sexual Harassment – Identity Theft – Workplace Violence – Bullying – Empowerment -Techniques for Crime Victims
http://www.NovaBucks.org

Vagus Nerve Stimulation - University of PA + Abington (PA) Memorial Hospital
www.Cyberonics.com

Shining the Light on Depression out of Annapolis, MD - Plethora of Info & Links
Click on iFred, a new nonprofit for "Depression Survivors"

rTMS Therapy au Canada!
http://www.MindCareCentres.com

P A R E N T I N G :  The most important job in the world. Anyone can be a parent. But how many of us are truly great parents? The goal is to produce a kid who can think for himself, and to nurture them to become the person they truly wish to be, not what we, the parent, want them to be.

The Only Child: Tremendous Advantages!
Only Child.com

TEC Family Center for Relatives of the Mentally Ill - Edie Mannion, MFT
http://www.mhasp.org/services/tec.html#workshops

NAMI Family-to-Family Groups
http://namipa.nami.org/familytofamily.htm

Some - but certainly not all - individuals with bipolar disorder haven't been parented properly. We suggest you attend a local Parenting Center, such as the ones below, and talk to other parents. If you're too far away, talk to other moms in your school system about parenting issues. Good moms and dads make for healthy kids! Yes, we can often stop the cycle!!!

Gold Star Parenting Website: Scholastic Magazines, NYC... Breathtakingly comprehensive!
www.Scholastic.com

New site on Autism!
http://www.autismpodcast.org/

Dr. Phil's "Tips on Phenomenal Families" (His generally useful "Parenting Tips," in our opinion, are a bit unhealthy for kids to follow, as superachievement is pushed. Although kids do love to learn, it should be okay to get a "B" on your report card and not made to feel guilty. 
http://drphil.com/articles/category/4/

+
How to Be An Effective Parent: Network in Your Neighborhood

Parenting Center, Abington PA
http://www.ParentingAbington.com

Parenting Center at Hatboro-Horsham
http://www.ParentingCenter-HH.org

Parenting Center at Upper Dublin
http://www.MySchoolOnline.com/pa/pcud

Parenting Center at Upper Moreland
http://www.UMParenting.org

Wissahickon Community Parenting Center
http://www.WCPCweb.org

+

This Quakertown, PA organization emphasizes that
"All children with disabilities are to be educated to the
'maximum extent' as with children who do not have disabilities."
 -Federal Law IDEA Sec. 612.5 (A)
http://KidsTogether.org/

For families with kids with disabilities, funded by the US Dept. of Education
http://www.SharedWork.org/

Indian Creek Foundation, for 30 years serving adults & kids with dev'l disabilities. provides (1) in-home supports and (2) residential housing

Child & Adolscent Bipolar Foundation
http://bpkids.org

Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation
http://bpchildresearch.org

Family Service Association of Bucks County
http://www.fsabc.org/

Family and Play Therapy Center (child specialists)
http://www.fptcenter.com

Jewish Family and Children's Services of Greater Philadelphia
www.jfcsphil.org/

Columbia University Teen Screen Program which assists nationwide communities to develop local screening programs for youth. Screening can take place in schools, doctors’ offices, clinics, youth groups, shelters, and other youth-serving organizations and settings.
Teen Screen

Temple University Leadership Development Training Program for individuals with disabilities, parents of young children with disabilities, and university graduate students
http://disabilities.temple.edu/programs/leadership/c2p2.htm
 

 
What's New at NIMH
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/press/index.cfm

Free email alerts on Healthcare, co-sponsored by
US Library of Medicine & the Nat'l Institutes of Health
http://medlineplus.gov/

Online, global news service operated by AAAS, the science society
http://www.eurekalert.org/aboutus.php

DBSA Medical News
www.dbsalliance.org

MSNBC Mental Health News
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3034566/

"This is the place!" (Famous quote by Brigham Young)
http://www.bipolar.about.com

John McManamy's Bipolar Weekly: "Knowledge is Necessity"
www.mcmanweb.com/

Top medical e-journal
www.medscape.com

CAUTIONARY NOTE:  While chat rooms can be helpful places, they can also be unsafe places, as people may feel responsible for other people's lives. Make sure when you chat, you're aware of this.

Anxiety Disorders Association of America
http://www.adaa.org/   

BP Disorder in children is often overdiagnosed. We suggest you do everything in your power to get a proper diagnosis from an expert in childhood BP before labeling your child and having them put on medication! Also, the first website below gives detailed instructions on How to Start Your Own Support Group - for any condition!
www.BipolarChild.com
www.BPKids.org

Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
http://www.ocfoundation.org

New sites on Autism
http://www.autismpodcast.org/
http://autism.about.com/
http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, below, is a nationally known facility which treats, among other conditions, childhood bipolar disorder
https://www.CHOP.edu/consumer/index.jsp

NARSAD (research on mental illness), Great Neck, NY
http://narsad.org

What's on Your Mind!
DANA Organization

NEW:  Schizophrenia Research
http://www.SchizophreniaForum.org/

National Mental Health Association, Alexandria, VA
http://www.nmha.org

Great Minds Converge at the...
NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health), Bethesda, MD
Best literature site
http://www.nimh.nih.gov

Research on Schizophrenia & Bipolar Disorder, HQ in Chevy Chase, MD
The Stanley Research Center

Science to Benefit Schizophrenia, Norristown, PA
The Noyes Foundation
 
Recovery, Inc. of Chicago. National program founded by psychiatrist Abraham Low.
Fantastic concepts include "Ability to identify and bear discomfort..."
Important concept:  "MOVE YOUR MUSCLES"
www.recovery-inc.com/

Keep College Students in College!
www.ActiveMindsOnCampus.org/

DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance), Chicago
http://dbsAlliance.org

DRADA Depression & Related Affective Disorders Association, Baltimore
http://www.DRADA.org

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), Arlington, VA
http://www.nami.org/

National Mental Health Groups
http://www.samhsa.gov/

Find a local group for those who have lost a child
Compassionate Friends

Eating Disorders
http://www.raderprograms.com

MINDPOPPER:  One of our extremely talented members, "Melinda," was re-diagnosed by her psychiatrist. Previously thought to have bipolar disorder, this brilliant but troubled woman was re-diagnosed w/BPD per below. She is now off all meds and working at her chosen profession - as a physician's assistant and makes 50K a year.

Borderline Personality Disorder - click NIMH site for definition
McMan on Borderline - click site for his personal experiences with folks with BPD

National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder, Rye, NY
http://www.borderlinepersonalitydisorder.com/

Did you know that they even have BPD in the Land Down Under?
http://www.reachout.com.au

Borderline Personality Disorder is Treatable! Excellent site in the UK. Again, please
use caution and common sense, per the above notice, upon entering a chat room.
http://www.bpdworld.org/

Alcoholism: The average AA group does not encourage the use of psychiatric medication. This is just plain wrong. Alcoholism often underlies bipolar disorder or depression, and medication is a necessity, better than bathing one's bodily organs and brain in booze.
http://www.alcoholicsanonymous.org

Dual Recovery Anonymous
www.draonline.org/

Co-Dependents Anonymous
www.codependents.org/
www.coda.org/newcom.html

Debtors Anonymous (80% of people w/credit cards pay interest!)
www.DebtorsAnonymous.org/

Emotions Anonymous
Clutterers Anonymous, 12-Step Program, meets in Northeast Philly, call Sister Daniel Elizabeth, at 215-335-7500 for info.

Overeaters Anonymous
www.oa.org/

Drug glossary - Many people use illegal substances, such as heroin or cocaine - or legal substances such as alcohol, because of unbearable psychic anguish and just want to feel normal.
http://www.drugfree.org/

Methamphetamine - Second only to Marijuana in Choice of Drugs
http://www.4therapy.com/

Gamblers Anonymous
www.GamblersAnonymous.org/

Terrence "Terry" Livorsi, Certified Employee Assistant Counselor, Your First Step in Advocating for Your Rights if You've Gotten in Trouble Due to Addiction or Mental Illness
http://www.terrylivorsi.com

Schizophrenia - Fantastic site!!!
http://www.schizophrenia.com/

R E S I D E N T I A L   H O U S I N G :  Company is Comfort.....

Project Transition: Brilliant concept of psychiatrst Loren Crabtree, MD. Two members of ND are currently happily residing there. Both are brilliant women, both artists. Look, if you've got a mood disorder, 9 times outa 10, you're smarter than the average person!

The Lamb Foundation of North Wales, PA

Residential housing in Bryn Mawr, PA
http://www.carelink-svs.org/brynmawr.htm

Hedwig House - Several Sites in Philly Area
http://www.hedwighouse.org/

Residential Facilities - Fabulous Links & Concepts!!!
http://www.WindHorseAssociates.org/
 

H E A L E R S:  (Here is a list. We do not endorse or own stock in any of the below.)

Our Deborah Reeves, MGPGP, LPC, CGP - Philadelphia
http://www.Healing-Minds.com

Bruce S. Zahn, Psychologist
http://CognitiveSolutions.net

Anorexia: Promising Family-Based Therapy developed at Maudsley Hospital in England
http://www.edsurvivalguide.com/eatingdisorder-maudsley.htm

Collaborative Care of Abington, PA (wholistic)
www.collaborativecare.org

Renee Bures, MSW, Art Therapist - Doylestown, PA: Workshops on creativity! Discover your 'self' through your creations.
http://www.AlchemyOpenStudio.org 

Abington Memorial Hospital Psychiatry Department
http://www.amh.org/findphysician/psych.htm

Family and Play Therapy Center (child specialists) - Philadelphia
www.fptcenter.com

Growth Opportunity Center in Huntingdon Valley, PA and other sites
http://www.GOCenter.net

PSHDC: Psychological Services & Human Development, Fort Washington, PA- 215-540-5860 ; Swarthmore, PA; and Marlton, NJ
http://www.pshdc.com

Treatment for people with bipolar disorder - anxiety - depression
University of Pennsylvania

A good resource is also our "Gold Pages"

Agencies in the area (partial listing):

Life Counseling Services
610-644-6464

Southampton, PA, Psychological Associates. They treat adults & kids.
215-355-2011

Scroll down. We're always adding terrific new links for You, Dear Reader, the most important person in the whole wide world!!!

American Civil Liberties Union: "Defending the Bill of Rights"
http://www.aclu.org/

Stop discrimination of all Kinds: Anti-defamation League
http://www.adl.org

Southern Poverty Law Center offers a Vital Watchdog Magazine
If someone isn't watching, prejudiced people will get away with murder
Click here

The First Amendment: Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression
http://www.freepress.net

"Freedom & Justice For All":  Local Branch
http://BucksNAACP.org/

Nobel Laureate: Elie Wiesel, b. 1928. Never forget what mankind is capable of....
www.eliewieselfoundation.org

Habitat for Humanity: A House of Our Own!
www.habitat.org

A Nation of Fatties! Compare Diet and Exercise Today, to Back in Bible Days. Did Jesus eat potato chips?
http://www.ConsumerFreedom.com/

Fun:  You Can't Live without It!
Children's Author Extraordinaire:  Click Roald Dahl (1916-1990)

Our quatre-season sylvan state of Penn-sylvania
PA Historical & Museum Commission
 

R E A D,  A S  I F  Y O U R  L I F E  D E P E N D S  O N   I T  (It Does!)

New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/

Jewish Exponent, Weekly Newspaper, Philadelphia
www.JewishExponent.com

Cleveland Jewish News - Beloved Mother (Bayla) of Webmaster (Rifka) keeps weekly issues of this superb newspaper dating back to Moses parting the Red Sea
http://ClevelandJewishNews.com/

Christian Science Monitor, Terrific impartial International Daily Newspaper. [Webmaster's first piano teacher, Ann Kultti of Twinsburg, Ohio, was a Christian Scientist. A great pianist, Mrs. Kultti (Lebanese last name) would apply hand lotion before playing the piano. One time she was walking in our living room and her knee hit one of our coffee tables. Instead of swearing, like RZD might do, she began praying!]
www.CSMonitor.com/

Washington Post: The late editor Katherine Graham (1917-2001) supported her fledgling reporters when they broke the Watergate scandal!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/

Great reporting! NYC
http://www.villagevoice.com

The Wall Street Journal - Also read their Free Career Advice by clicking here
http://online.wsj.com/public/us  

Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/

The New York Observer - Writing at its finest
http://www.observer.com

Online....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com

News Front Page - Talk Back Online!
http://rss.topix.net/

The Best of Everything!
http://www.slate.com/

W-I-T
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Just Plain Fun! We Can't Live Without It!
Children's Author Extraordinaire: RoaldDahl.com


<>

R E A D.......
So, ya' wanna be smart? You want great entertainment? Be a borrower:  Borrow books - CDs - mags - videos (great movies: Apu Trilogy by Satyajit Ray) - from your local library:  Hellooo Library Directors Lillian (Upper Moreland) - Helloooo Joyce (Huntingdon Valley) - Hellooo Nancy of Abington. Read at your local library. Comfy chairs, away from all distractions. Sign up for free programs. Also volunteer at your local library.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/

Lots of us are ......
http://www.AgingHipsters.com/
 

Mindpoppers:  An 80-year-old friend, an extremely active, married woman, who exercises daily, says she's suffered from vertigo since she was a child. A recent attack of vertigo left her reeling for weeks. Her physician finally found the remedy:
2.5 mg of Valium taken as needed. The vertigo has subsequently abated and she's off the Valium.

READING for the Mature Him or Her
http://www.slate.com/

http://www.NewYorker.com/

Mind-boggling Blogging!
http://www.PaulEnglish.com

Kripalu Yoga Center, Lenox, Massachusetts: Mind-Body-Spirit
This former Jesuit monestary maintains its mountains of spirituality for seekers of all faiths!
www.kripalu.org/

Yoga State:  Gosh, I wish I could grow a beard like his!
http://www.sadhguru.org/

Can you think of a better Role Model for aging than yoga master Virginia Walden?
Read her bio; click onto her Pictures from Pasadena (menu button on R, go south)
Note: Yoga has been found to be of extraordinary help for people w/bad backs!
http://www.YogaNow.net/studios/main.asp?StudioID=2103

"How deeply you touch another life is how rich your life is." - Yoga Master
http://www.ishafoundation.org

The Right to Live with Dignity, The Right to Die with Dignity
www.DeathWithDignity.org

Compasssion & Choices, new name for Hemlock Society (Socrates drank Hemlock)
www.CompassionAndChoices.org

No One is an Exception
http://www.EthicalBurial.org/

Audubon Society: Let your mind soar like the birds!
http://www.audubon.org/

"And on the 6th Day, God said, "Let us make Man in Our Own Image and Give him Dominion over every living thing..." [Genesis 1:26]. This Covenant requires us to take care of our beautiful Mother, The Earth & Creatures Great and Small
http://www.savebiogems.org

This Englishwoman has true courage and compassion. If you love animals, read her seminal book on chimpanzees: "In the Shadow of Man," 1971. You'll never forget the opening pages, where she talks about the terror she felt about taking on a new adventure, but did it anyway!
http://www.JaneGoodall.org

Energy explosion! Youssou N'Dour of Senegal, West Africa
http://www.youssou.com/

Explore... Drive the Backroads
www.VisitPA.com

Our Nation's Website:  Great Favicon! (logo)
http://FirstGov.gov/

NYC!  Feel the Energy! With Great Leadership, esp. in Times of Crisis - Read Mayor Bloomberg's bio. [Wealth + Compassion]
http://nyc.gov

A Whole New World
www.FamilyTreeMagazine.com

http://www.EllisIsland.org

Truth or Fiction:  Urban Myths
www.snopes.com

Spirituality: "Everything is a Manifestation of God"

Religion & Spirituality: One of our Keys to Recovery

His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama
www.DalaiLamaDC.org

Rabindraneth Tagore, 1913 Nobelist from India, friend of Gandhi and of Yeats
http://www.schoolofwisdom.com/gitanjali.html

Won Buddhism: Buddhism for the 21st Century, invented in S. Korea, imported to the U.S., with nearest temple in Glenside, PA
http://www.wonbuddhism.info/
Click here to Learn How to Meditate

Intriguing...
http://www.BecomingLikeGod.com

Some of our members attend....

Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia:
Meet people - do volunteer work
www.ccphilly.org/

True Christian Ministry - to the Impoverished, the Homeless, the Addicted
New Life Church, Glenside, PA

This Man's story is Amazing...
http://TheStoryOfJesus.com/

To coincide with Easter, 2006, the below video was mailed out free to countless homes from San Bernardino, CA, with the much-needed note: No solicitation will follow.
www.JesusDVD.com
www.JesusVideo.org

Find Your Thrill at...
http://www.PebbleHillChurch.org - Doylestown, PA - Liberalism on the march
(Being Liberal is Not for Sissies: It takes immense courage to treat every human being as an equal. We must look truth in the face and ask ourselves, "Do I treat all people with equality?" If not, what is it I see in them that I do not like in myself." In this, the beginning of wisdom.

Find out why there are no right angles or straight lines in Pennsylvania's...
http://www.BrynAthynCathedral.org/

Nepal: The place where it smells like snow and pine needles and maybe God...
www.AwStevenson.com

Info-mania
http://en.wikipedia.org

Learn Internet terms such as WOMBAT, thanks to our Friend, Bob, The Info-Man!!!
http://www.biocrawler.com/biowiki/Internet_slang

Prepare NOW for new 12-Step Program: Bloggers & Googlers Anonymous: "Help! My name is Michelle and I can't get off the Internet and go to sleeeeep!" ["One night at a time, Michelle, one night at a time" - Your Sponsor]
http://SearchEngineWatch.com/searchday/article.php/3548411

A Stone's Throw Away, Warrington, PA: Doylestown Hospital Wellness Center and the
Fabulous Susan Duval.....
http://www.WellnessDH.org/

A R T - ARTISTS ARE THE CONSCIENCE OF THE WORLD!!!

Dance to the Music, in Your Living Room or With the Inpatients at Horsham Psychiatric Clinic, in Ambler, PA

Famed Dancer Martha Graham died dancing at 96.

Following in her footsteps is The Mark Morris Dance Company.

Getty Art Museum, LA
http://www.getty.edu/visit/

Isamu Noguchi
http://www.Noguchi.org

Envisioning Information in Ways Undreamt
http://www.edwardtufte.com/

David Smith: He Became His Name

The Miracle of Spanish Architect "Antonio Gaudi"

Our Claudia! Painter, collage artist, ever-evolving, never does the same thing twice!
http://members.aol.com/ccmcgill/claudia.htm

Great Jazz! "Our Ethan" (son-in-law of Ruth Z. Deming)
http://TheBadPlus.com/

If you love New Age, click on WXPN's
Echoes

Great Writers - Great Interviews
Powells.com

Gwendolyn Stewart Photographs Everyone, from GW Bush to poet Anne Sexton
www.gwendolynstewart.com

Rhythm: Hamza El Din -  Al Oud - from Nubia = R.I.P. in Otherlands: Your Music Lives Forever
http://www.africaguide.com/country/sudan/music.htm

New Museum of Himalayan Art in NYC
http://www.rmanyc.org/

Our Great Friend Helene Ryesky writes for The........
http://www.PhotoReview.org/

Abington, PA Art Center
http://www.abingtonartcenter.org

Cheltenham, PA Art Center
http://www.cheltenhamarts.org

The Incomparable Chanteuse...Our...
http://www.TheatreFest.com/ClaudiaBeechman/index.html

Kimmel Center, Philadelphia
www.kimmelcenter.org/

Literature - "Ah, Bartleby! Ah, Humanity!"
www.Bartleby.com

Go theatrical!
www.NewMystics.com

Wow! Send a Message with Your Very Own Stamp!
http://Photo.Stamps.com

Still Great After All These Years!
www.PBS.org/

Music and Talk of the Times
www.wxpn.org

OK, Charlie, stop showing off how smart you are & let the guests speak! [We love you anyway!]
http://www.CharlieRose.com/

Never forget the 6 million Jews and Others, exterminated,
similar to the devastation that occurs for people with mental illness
http://www.yadvashem.org/

A New Directions' member participated in this memorial to the 6 million Jews. Not only Jews were annihilated. So were homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, Gypsies, and others deemed different.
http://www.spielbergfilmarchive.org.il/kv/intro1.html

Why Are Jews The Object of Persecution?
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Cuba.html
http://www.danheller.com/cuba-jews.html

What's the Difference between a Schlemiel & a Shlemozal? Preserve The Yiddish Language!
Yivo Institute, NYC

Commemorate Your Hero: "From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli..."
http://www.WWIIMemorial.com/

Nobel Prize
www.nobel.se/

Playwright/Poet/Political activist Harold Pinter, 75, wins Nobel Prize for Literature
http://www.HaroldPinter.org/

Great Job! Great Pay! Lifetime Guarantee!
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp

Fun at Discount Prices - includes both Philly and the Burbs
PhillyFunGuide.com

Doylestown, PA:  Now here's a fantastic town for you!
http://doylestownalive.com/indexbca.htm

Philadelphia Museum of Art
www.PhilaMuseum.org

Movies + Discussion
http://www.countytheater.org

The Four-Minute Celebrity
www.YouTube.com/

Best Adult Evening School in Philadelphia Area - Main Line Area
www.MainLineSchoolNight.org

Best Adult Evening School in Philadelphia Area - Montgomery County
Cheltenham Adult School

And there's the Doylestown, PA, Wellness Center
Click here!

Entertainment in our Own Backyard!
http://www.KeswickTheatre.com

Stop in or Brew your own
http://www.dunkindonuts.com

Euro-Pro Shark Vacuums - no bags! great for cat hair!
http://www.SharkCompany.com

The Sox Lady of Furlong, PA - Why are diabetic socks great? No elastic.
http://www.soxlady.com

Paradise....
http://www.meadowbrook-farm.com

Trees, water, earth, sky
www.PennypackTrust.org

Beauty Unsurpassed! Fallingwater is "Poetry in Motion"
http://www.paconserve.org/

Water! Lake Galena: A place as beautiful as its name
http://www.BucksCounty.org/departments/parks-recreation/PeaceValley/

So, if spiders are not insects, what are they? Click on....
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth/index.html

Look at all the GreatSpots in The City of Brotherly Love!
Click here!

Metropolitan Museum of Art
http://www.metmuseum.org

The British Museum, London
www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/

The Brooklyn Museum
Great exhibits and Permanent Collection

Ah, Matisse! Your Life is not Complete until You've Visited Philadelphia's....
www.BarnesFoundation.org

Museum for German and Austrian Art
http://www.neuegalerie.org/enter.html

Presenting Judith!
http://hometown.aol.com/judabah/

Get published online! - Great Links!
http://www.poeticdiversity.org/

Read 'em online
http://www.poetry_live.podomatic.com/

Great poetry from website in Great Britain
http://www.PoetryConnection.net/

No excuses! Get Your Artwork Outa the Closet
www.NYFA.org/ - Best nat'l database
www.PaCouncilontheArts.org/
www.PewArts.org/ - click on Resources
www.Leeway.org
www.Sourcebooks.com - the real stuff (Frank Deford)
http://www.newpages.com/litmags/ - List of literary sites

The Icarus Project - run by folks from "Our Crowd"

Philadelphia Inquirer, Neighbors Section, Wants Your Artwork!
Buy a Sunday Inquirer, or click onto www.Philly.com
They publish: Poetry, Photography, Essays.
There's nothing like the thrill of seeing your published work.

Philadelphia Visual Artists Get Together Online
http://InLiquid.com/xindexx.html

Mouthwateringly delicious
http://www.poetshouse.org/

The Creative Gene(ius)
http://www.JimDenevan.com/

A Table for Two, please!
http://www.OutstandingIntheField.com/

Listen to Archived shows on NPR
www.npr.org

The Universe
www.StarDate.org

Where am I?  Who am I?
www.411.com

A Child is Waiting
http://www.AdoptionForum.org/

PennSound - Largest Collection of Poetry Sound Files on Net
www.writing.upenn.edu/pennsound

Independent Thinkers Beholden to No One But "The Truth" - Who said, "What is Truth?"
http://truthout.org

Master sleuths
http://www.TheSmokingGun.com

Karen Caterson Interviews.....
http://www.Square-Peg-People.com/Square-Peg-Spotlight.html

Our Phone Greeter Nick Breslin: Breslin Builds a Better Deck. Many people in Our Crowd find owning their own business more pleasurable and profitable!
http://BreslinContracting.com

Our Bob Bendesky and Family!
http://users.rcn.com/bendesky/index.html

Writing poetry or literature, or even journaling, can be a great creative outlet. Write just for yourself or for publication. The more you write the better you get. Train yourself by reading masterpieces of world literature. Click onto - what else? - www.Bartleby.com. Start reading one of their great writings - print it out on easily readable sheets of paper - and in no time you'll have expanded your mind. Is that not one of the reasons why we're here, Dear Reader?

Philadelphia Artists Unite at the "Space between Brilliance & Madness"
Click on The Icarus Project

Call up your local B&N or Borders Books and say, "Hey! I'd like to know if you run poetry groups there."  They'll put you on hold, play some ads about specials they're hosting..... and then, when the guy returns, you'll say, "Fantastic, Jason! See you in twenty."  Or, suggest to management, you start your own group!

www.BordersStores.com/

www.BarnesAndNoble.com/

Elcy's Coffeeshop at Glenside Train Station, Easton & Glenside, Glenside, PA 19038
215-884-5600
Every Wednesday from 7 to 9 PM: Open mic, music, poetry, great food, great company

ArtsBridge Writers Group - Lambertville, NJ  08530 - 2d Sat. of month
New members welcome! Contact Judith Lawrence at 215-638-2493 or judithlawrence@comcast.net  "Poets are the conscience of the world"
http://www.artsbridgeonline.com/writersgroup/writers.shtml

New Poetry/Artist's Group:
First Saturday of the Month at 2 pm
Click on Morrisville, PA, Free Library - Pennsylvania & Palmer Avenues
Host: Gloria del Vecchio <tmmr870@cs.com>

First Friday, Poetry & Art: 7:30-10 PM, Edison-Furlong Road, Doylestown, PA http://www.PebbleHillChurch.org

New Artists Studio in Doylestown, PA!
http://www.AlchemyOpenStudio.org/files/invitation.html

No excuses! Get Your Artwork Outa the Closet
www.NYFA.org/ - Best nat'l database
www.PaCouncilontheArts.org/
www.PewArts.org/ - click on Resources
www.Leeway.org
www.Sourcebooks.com - the real stuff (Frank Deford)

Creativity on the march!
http://www.sacfreepress.com/poems/about.html

Philadelphia Inquirer, Neighbors Section, Wants Your Artwork!
Buy a Sunday Inquirer, or click onto www.Philly.com
They publish: Poetry, Photography, Essays.
There's nothing like the thrill of seeing your published work.

Philadelphia Visual Artists Get Together Online
http://InLiquid.com/xindexx.html

Poets have a way of making the Familiar Look New! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_poetry_groups_and_movements

He wrote his Great American Novel
http://www.echoditto.com/node/754