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Causes of Hair Loss
The normal cycle of hair growth and loss means that some amount of hair loss will occur in every individual’s life. It is said that at any given point in time, about 10% of the hair on our scalp is in a resting phase which sheds after a couple of...
Diabetes: Diabetic Foot Ulcers May be Cure by A Vitamin A Compound
A compound of vitamin A called topical Retin-A also known as
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healing of foot ulcers in patients with diabetes, according to a
report of the Archives of Dermatology.
Though previous...
Fiberlady Reveals All For the New Year
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Vitamins in Natural Medicines
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Weight Loss Helps Prevent Diabetes
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Which Self Help Group is Right For You?
Are you going through a tough time in your life? Do you feel like you’re all alone with your problem?
Chances are that there are a lot of other people who are facing a similar difficulty right now, perhaps even other people in your own community. You can find the help and support you need to get through this period, as well as find helpful advice and good friendships by joining a support group made up of other people who are struggling with the same problem that you are.
Whatever your current problem happens to be, whether you are struggling with an addiction, or perhaps someone you love is an addict, or if you are finding life hard because you have just been diagnosed with a serious illness, or if you don’t have many friends to turn to because you are socially isolated, joining a support group is a way to quickly fill your life with kind and caring people who will help you on your journey.
What is a support group? It can be a formal or informal group of people who get together on a regular basis to share certain aspects of their lives with others and to offer each other emotional support.
Sometimes these are also called self help groups.
Perhaps the most famous of the support groups that exist today is Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.). This organization started in about 1935 in Akron, Ohio, when two alcoholics found that talking to each other about their drinking and following a simple program helped keep them both sober.
Since that beginning, the A.A. organization has spread throughout the world and millions of alcoholics have learned to stay sober by helping each other.
The A.A. model has been adopted by people dealing with addiction problems other than alcohol, so today there are support groups that deal with addictions to narcotics, cocaine, food, and many other substances and activities.
In addition, there are support groups that use the A.A. model to help the partners or children of addicts. Being the spouse or child of an alcoholic or addict brings with it certain painful problems that are often best understood by other people who have lived a similar experience.
Support groups that use the A.A. framework are often called “12 Step Groups”. That is because these groups base their founding principles and traditions on the 12 steps which were proposed by the initial founders of the first Alcoholics Anonymous groups.
One of the key principles of the support groups using the A.A. model is the tradition of secrecy. People who attend these meetings use only their first names. They do not publicly advertise their participation in 12 Step groups. Everything said at these meetings is meant to be kept strictly confidential by those who attend.
It is because of this tradition of secrecy that those who attend the meetings can feel free to discuss extremely personal matters.
Not only have 12 Step groups enabled millions of people to overcome their
addictions, reclaim their lives and gain peace of mind, they also foster close friendships and emotional intimacy for many of those who attend.
Not all self help or support groups are fashioned on the 12 Step A.A. model. Many support groups today exist to help people battle specific diseases. For example, there are support groups for people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and many less common illnesses. Some support groups also raise money and awareness to combat specific diseases.
Support groups for people with diseases can provide a lifeline for people who are newly diagnosed with some frightening ailment. They can provide information, help, and hope, suggest new treatments and doctors, and give the kind of emotional support that can only come from other people who truly understand what it means to face this particular problem.
Self help groups also exist for many emotional problems and social situations.
There are support groups for single parents, for widowed seniors, for teenaged mothers, and for parents of twins and triplets. There is even a support group for people who have developed emotional problems after winning the lottery!
You can usually find information about the location and times of support group meetings by checking in a local newspaper or telephone book.
If you decide to try visiting an existing support group, it’s best to go several times before you decide whether or not it’s right for you. Sometimes a group can have an “off” night when things don’t quite work well, and yet other meetings might be much better.
Of course it is often easier to find a support group for an obscure problem if you live in a large city rather than in a small town. But you are not limited by geography as long as you have a computer—nowadays there are many support groups on line.
Using the Internet you can access people who are willing to talk about your problem, at any hour of the day or night, in any corner of the world.
Whatever type of problem you have, it’s quite likely that somewhere in the world there is a group of people who are already trying to deal with the same problem.
And if you can’t find the right kind of support group locally, another option for you is to try start up a support group right where you live. Not only will you be helping yourself, but you will also be helping others, and you’ll probably meet a lot of interesting and friendly people at the same time!
About the author:
This article is by Royane Real, author of several self help books available at her website, including “How You Can Have All the Friends You Want – Your Complete Guide to Finding Friends, Making Friends, and Keeping Friends” To increase your circle of friends, download it today at http://www.royanereal.com
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| American Diabetes Association Home Page |
| Their mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by this disease. Available in English and Spanish. |
| www.diabetes.org |
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| Diabetes Information - American Diabetes Association |
| The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, ... Take the first steps toward better diabetes care by visiting the Diabetes ... |
| www.diabetes.org |
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| Diabetes UK home page - Diabetes UK |
| Diabetes UK is the largest organisation in the UK working for people with diabetes, funding research, campaigning and helping people live with the ... |
| www.diabetes.org.uk |
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| Canadian Diabetes Association |
| To promote the health of Canadians through diabetes research, education, service, and advocacy. |
| www.diabetes.ca |
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| Diabetes information including treating type 2 diabetes at ... |
| Offers dietary recommendations, including recipes and tips on managing blood sugar levels. From GlaxoSmithKline. |
| www.diabetes.com |
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| Diabetes |
| Web site for Diabetes. ... publishes Diabetes. Stanford University Libraries' HighWire Press ® assists in the publication of Diabetes Online ... |
| diabetes.diabetesjournals.org |
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| CDC Diabetes Public Health Resource |
| The diabetes information homepage of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, provided by the CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation. |
| www.cdc.gov |
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| CDC - Health Topic: Diabetes |
| Diabetes · Diabetes and Research Diagnostics · Diabetes Surveillance Report · FAQ's on Diabetes · Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon ... |
| www.cdc.gov |
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| National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse |
| Provides educational materials to increase knowledge and understanding about diabetes among patients, health care professionals, and the general public. |
| diabetes.niddk.nih.gov |
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| Diabetes mellitus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| For diabetes mellitus in pets, see diabetes in cats and dogs. ... Type 1 diabetes mellitus - formerly known as insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM), ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
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| MedlinePlus: Diabetes |
| (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - Links to PDF ... Select services and providers for Diabetes in your area. ... |
| www.nlm.nih.gov |
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| MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Diabetes |
| Diabetes affects about 18 million Americans. There are many risk factors for ... These levels are considered to be risk factors for type 2 diabetes and its ... |
| www.nlm.nih.gov |
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| Diabetes |
| What to expect from your diabetes diagnosis? Get up-to-the-minute information about medications, insulin, blood sugar management, nutrition requirements, ... |
| diabetes.about.com |
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| WebMD Diabetes Health Center - Information on Type 1 and Type 2 ... |
| Find in-depth information here about diabetes prevention, diet, ... Study Shows Burned-Out Staffers More Likely to Get Type 2 DiabetesGo To Article ... |
| www.webmd.com |
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| WebMD Health - 404 Error |
| Allergies|Anxiety Disorders|Arthritis|Asthma|Back Pain|Bipolar Disorder|Cancer|Children's Health|Cholesterol|Depression| Diabetes|Diet & Nutrition|Erectile ... |
| www.webmd.com |
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| Diabetes Overview |
| Defines diabetes, including the various types and treatments. Provides information on the impact and cost of the disease, its increasing prevalence, ... |
| www.niddk.nih.gov |
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| Diabetes News - The New York Times |
| A free collection of articles about diabetes published in The New York Times. |
| topics.nytimes.com |
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| children with DIABETES Online Community |
| An online community for kids, families, and adults with diabetes, featuring message boards, chat rooms, and questions/answers from medical professionals. |
| www.childrenwithdiabetes.com |
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| International Diabetes Institute - Diabetes Research, Education ... |
| The International Diabetes Institute is the leading national and international centre for diabetes research, diabetes education and diabetes care. |
| www.diabetes.com.au |
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| Diabetes New Zealand |
| Educates and informs people about diabetes, its treatment, prevention, and cure of diabetes. |
| www.diabetes.org.nz |
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