Helpful Links and Board Rules

[malibu]

First - if you are having an emergency - domestic violence, overdose, thoughts of suicide - please call 911 immediately. While this board can help you talk through your feelings and be a great sounding board, no one here is equipped to help you if you are in crisis.

Some quick rules:

1. Treat others with respect and care. I think that goes without saying; posters here are coming to the board for support, help, and a listening ear. Please be respectful and constructive.

2. Let's treat this board like an AA group, stressing the part of "Anonymous". While many of us know each other through screen names, please do not reveal any identifying information about anyone in your life currently struggling with any kind of addiction.

3. Addictions can come in many forms - food addictions or eating disorders; drug/alcohol addictions; self-harming; pornography; even shopping too much and putting oneself into financial ruin. Please be respectful of those sharing their stories and experiences, even if they differ from your own.

Now, some helpful links:

To learn more about how addiction works in the brain, I highly, highly recommend watching this video: watchonlinefreemovies.biz/en/movie/165740/Pleasure+Unwoven-2006. It can also be purchased on Amazon.

Alcoholics Anonymous: www.aa.org

Narcotics Anonymous: www.na.org

Self-Harming help: self-injury.net

                            www.selfinjury.com

Domestic Abuse: www.thehotline.org or call 1-800-799-7233

Eating Disorders: www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

                         www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders/index.shtml

Gamblers Anonymous: www.gamblersanonymous.org

Al-Anon for Families of Addicts: www.al-anon.org

Alateen for Children of Addicts: www.al-anon.alateen.org

Again, if you are having a crisis, please call 911 to get immediate help.

Finally, if you are here as a family member, spouse, or friend of an addict, remember there is nothing you can do for an addict until they want to help themselves. Also remember that an addict's behaviors are NOT YOUR FAULT and are purely the choices made by the addict. I'm learning that it's very common for addicts to blame others for their addictions, no matter what that addiction may be - but always, always remember that you are NOT to blame for an addict's choices. Remember the three C's: you cannot Cause addiction, you cannot Control addiction, and you cannot Cure addiction.