Online Punch

Vibrators are fantastic; sexual toys are one thing that won?t ever have a a moan spending hours with yourself until it gets you yourself off. Marital aids have been all over for decades, from the cucumber in the old days through to the brilliant and advanced sensual aids available online now.

If you yourself feel that your sexual life is in need of some urgent attention then x rated toys are perfect to add that additional spice you are looking for. You will often use sensual aids with your wife or on your own and the sexual fun is endless, just use your sexual fantasies. Try Inflatable Butt Plugs from Sex Bomb.

At times it can often seem that x rated toys are only designed for girls, well if you have ever been to a huge sex shop you yourself would notice innumerable marital aids for chaps. Sex websites stock everything from vaginas to penis vacuums. Guys from time to time think embarrassed about buying toys for themselves, yet with the internet now readily everywhere to everyone you can save any embarrassment and buy online and get a penis sleeve delivered in brown packaging. If you do not know which toy to order first you can always chat or write to the customer service guys for their advice.

Well, it’s that time of the year again! Just last week alone four of my clients were out sick with the flu, and at least another four friends suffered the same fate. Unfortunately, flu season isn’t over yet, and that means you stand a good chance of being exposed to the virus at some point.

While a lot of people will go to the gym no matter how sick they feel rather than miss a single workout, this is not recommended. However, it is recommended that you maintain your health throughout the entire year with a regular and consistent fitness regime in order to decrease your chances of getting sick in the first place. However, if you do find yourself feeling ill, it is often best to skip your workout, at least for that day. For starters, you are preventing the spread of the illness to others, but possibly even more importantly, you are not wearing your body down to a point that lowers your resistance further yet, resulting in a weakened immune system.

One basic yet effective method of preventing the onset of sickness after exposure is to simply wash your hands, thoroughly and often. It is amazing how many germs we come in contact with on a daily basis through common items that we touch, and hand washing, especially before eating or touching your face, can greatly reduce your chance of infection.

Another very important factor-getting adequate sleep-will help to keep your immune system at it’s strongest. Without the proper amount of rest your body is more susceptible to illnesses because it doesn’t have the strength to fight them off. The average person should be getting 6-8 hours of sleep per night, and more if you’re already sick. Sleep is something you can’t make up if you miss, either. In other words, sleeping 3 hours one night and 9 the next isn’t the same as sleeping 6 hours each night.

In addition to sleep, proper nutrition intake (including the right amount of vitamins and minerals to keep your body strong) is of the ultimate importance. During flu season I always increase my vitamin C intake to boost my immunity levels. Since vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, any excess will simply be passed out of your body through urine, and therefore is not a danger, such as an excess of an oil soluble vitamin like A or E.

Ideally, you should maintain as healthy a state of fitness throughout the year as possible in order to keep your immune system healthy and able to fight off most anything that comes its way. If you’re exercising on a regular basis, eating healthy foods stock full of vitamins and minerals, giving your body enough rest, not over-indulging in alcohol, and moderating your body’s stress levels, then you are maintaining a healthy state of living and taking the proper steps to keep your body happy and healthy.

Other health related programs should be considered in order to optimize your health and keep your body at it’s best. These health programs are what I refer to as “maintenance programs”, and entail chiropractic adjustments, message therapy, regular dental visits, yearly physician check-ups, as well as other preventative measures that you deem fitting, like acupuncture or acupressure and reflexology.

Hopefully this issue gave you some tips that may help to keep you in good health this flu season. The key points are summarized below for your convenience.

* Exercise regularly and consistently
* Wash your hands often
* Get adequate sleep
* Eat healthy foods
* Don’t overindulge in alcohol consumption
* Monitor your body’s stress levels
* Practice maintenance programs for optimum health

Have a great week and stay healthy!

©Melissa Allen is a certified personal trainer, Blackbelt & fitness consultant, as well as the owner of Optimum Condition personal fitness training and kickboxing instruction. She is a self-syndicated columnist and a member of the San Diego Press Club and the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. She welcomes input from her readers, so please contact her with any questions or comments that you may have by calling (619) 252-4993, email her at Opticondit@aol.com, or visit her website at http://www.optimumcondition.com

When surfing the Internet, there are many games that you may want to check out when you have some time - these include free cribbage, free chess, as well as free backgammon.

When looking for a free backgammon game, you will find that there are many sites that offer play against either a human or computer opponent.

Backgammon is a game that involves two players moving pieces along a board that are referred to either as checkers, pieces or men. The object of the game is to remove all of your pieces from the table before your opponent.

When you roll the dice, you should aim to move your pieces where they are protected by another one of your pieces on the board. If your opponent lands on one of your unprotected checkers, that piece is sent to what is called the bar, which places your pieces further away from your goal.

When looking to play a free backgammon game, there are many websites to look into that offer many different options. When playing at MSN, you can choose to engage in a Quick Match game, as well as consider three different game selections. These choices include: Rated, Standard and Short. Players can choose to play with their friends, as well as play against a computer opponent. The graphics on this website are inviting with bright colors. If your current window seems a bit too small, you will have the option of resizing your window without any interruption of play.

Visit Pogo.com and you will encounter an outlet for free backgammon that does not require any downloads. Players can engage in conversation with one another during play. Sometimes there are more than 1000 people at the same time playing at no charge. Other free games that can be enjoyed on this website besides backgammon, is cribbage, bridge, chess, hearts and solitaire.

On Yahoo.com, free backgammon is available for those who wish to play in tournaments, as well as play unlimited games between computer and human opponents. Players have the option of traveling through different levels of rooms, including social, beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels of play. Different rooms feature names such as Seahorse Grotto, Decent Digs, and Veteran Vortex. League play is available for the purchase of premium services. A list of the best opponents appears on the left side of the screen, along with rating points for each win and loss.

ItsYourTurn.com offers free backgammon games where individuals can choose to either play during a monthly or yearly period. Some can choose to pay a membership in order to have access to additional services and privileges. When choosing this free backgammon site, it is comforting to know that no Java, Flash, or downloads are required for play. Players have the option of choosing when they want to play, including whom they want to challenge. Any web browser can be used when one wishes to play a free backgammon game from this website. Additional avenues with this selection include the option to utilize MSN TV, Web TV, as well as a set-top box. The free games on offer are backgammon, chess, checkers, Go and Battleboats.

For more information on online gaming please visit our web site: http://www.net-planet.org

Should you refinance with bad credit? Yes, but only if you can get a
savings with a lower rate or need a more manageable monthly payment.
Luckily, with so many lenders competing for your business, you can often
find good rates and terms for bad credit auto refinance loans.

Has Your Credit Score Improved?

If your credit score has improved since you originally financed your
auto loan, then you probably qualify for better rates. Fortunately, time
is your chief ally when it comes to seeing your credit score improve.
Two years after a negative event, like a bankruptcy or foreclosure, and
it ceases to have a significant impact on your score.

Improvements in your income, investments, and cash reserves can also
increase your score. Reductions in your overall debt levels will also
boost your score.

Have You Compared Auto Loan Rates Recently?

The only way to see if you can get a better deal on your auto loan is
to compare loan quotes. In a few minutes you can have multiple offers
from broker sites. You can also research rates lender by lender.

Regardless of which strategy you choose, request quotes without giving
access to your credit report. Otherwise, you will see a dip in your
score due to multiple credit inquires. When requesting loan estimates,
makes sure you specify that you want a refi loan.

Will You See A Savings Or Benefit?

Even with a really good loan offer, you need to make sure you will see
a savings from refinancing. Take your best loan offer and calculate the
cost of both interest and fees. Compare that to the remaining interest
due on your auto loan.

If you have a short amount of time left, you may find that even with
lower rates, you won’t see a savings. However, there are times when you
may still choose to refinance. For instance, you can lower your monthly
payment by extending your loan term. You may also choose to refinance
after a divorce in order to keep the car in your name.

Refinancing a car loan is a decision that should be based on good
information. Check loan offers and compare it to your current loan. Then you
can decide what is your best option.

View our recommended lenders for
Bad Credit Car Loans.

Carrie Reeder owns ABC Loan Guide, an online resource with information about Car
Loan lenders and Mortgage Brokers Online.

Arranging a mortgage is seen as the standard method by which individuals and businesses can purchase residential and commercial real estate without the need to pay the full value immediately. Both banks and brokers have their strengths and weaknesses. A mortgage is the pledging of a property to a lender as a security for a mortgage loan for 9 percent. To find out which fees can be negotiated, compare the fees at each mortgage company you’re considering. While a mortgage in itself is not a debt, it is evidence of a debt of 8 percent. Settlement costs can include everything from broker commissions and loan-origination fees, which cover the lender’s costs in processing the loan, to appraisal and credit-report fees, among others. Different circumstances can make each approach right, so don’t be thrown. Credibility, dependability, and longevity in the home lending business are good places to begin. And of course, each loan and each borrower are different. Some will quote you precise, competitive rates 9 percent. See mortgage loan for residential mortgage lending, and commercial mortgage for lending against commercial property. So how do you find a lender or broker you can trust? Although most mortgage experts say that rates 9 percent are pretty much the same wherever you go, give or take this tiny 8 percentage. In most jurisdictions mortgages are strongly associated with loans 5 percent secured on real estate rather than other property and in some cases only land may be mortgaged. Brokers work with many mortgage bankers and, as a result, can sometimes find slightly more competitive rates 9 percent perhaps lower but dealing directly with a mortgage banker can move a loan along more quickly. In other words, the mortgage is a security for the loan that the lender makes to the borrower. Different lenders charge different fees. Get a new house with hypotheek met bkr registratie, 199292 euro in less than a week.

Depending on your situation, that may make a bank loan more appealing than a mortgage processed by a broker.

It is a transfer of an interest in land, from the owner to the mortgage lender, on the condition that this interest will be returned to the owner of the real estate when the terms of the mortgage have been satisfied or performed.

See which lenders are charging fees 4 percent and for how much. Many of these fees are fixed but some can be negotiated.

Start with credibility. It’s not easy to know if the prices quoted by lenders are reliable. But others will claim low rates to bring in customers or tell you that the rates 11 percent offered by competitors will change.

The gall bladder is a very important part of our digestive system. As we all know, fat cannot be dissolved in water. Therefore, a special system has evolved in our bodies for its digestion and its absorption through the intestinal wall. An essential factor in this process is something called bile, which contains substances that allow fats to be emulsified. It also stimulates the secretion of an enzyme concerned with the breakdown of fats. Although the liver secretes bile, it is stored in the gallbladder until needed.

Whenever we consume fat, it stimulates the gallbladder to contract, and bile flows down into the intestine. The gallbladder also concentrates the bile within it by removing water through its wall. Thus, if the gallbladder is removed from the body, the bile can still flow into the intestine from the liver, but fat digestion may be less efficient because the bile is not concentrated.

The most common disorder of the gall bladder is gallstones. It is thought that an abnormality in the functioning of the gall bladder causes gallstones. Gallstones occur frequently in developed countries, and could be associated with eating a diet that is high in fat and refined carbohydrates and low in fiber. Gallstones can give rise to inflammation and infection of the gallbladder and infection of the bile ducts.

This is called cholecystitis. A gallstone becoming jammed in the junction of the gallbladder and duct or in the duct itself causes this infection. This bacterial infection is present in more than 50 percent or more of such cases. The pain is sudden, severe and persistent. The patient usually vomits and feels ill and feverish. If the common bile duct becomes swollen, slight jaundice may occur as bile from the liver is prevented from passing into the intestine and enters the bloodstream instead.

When such symptoms and infections occur, removal of the gallbladder is the best solution.

Perfect Pocket Pets provides specific cages to all sugar glider owners who buy their babies from us. The cages are specially designed for baby sugar gliders to be able to learn how to use their very small hands, feet, fingers and toes for climbing and transport.

Perfect Pocket Pets cages do not include any metal that is galvanized or epoxy coated with substances that could include zinc - a very poisonous substance for small animals when ingested.

Zinc poisoning will occur when epoxy coated metals begin to flake and residue adheres to the sugar glider’s coat, which it naturally cleans off by licking.

Your sugar glider’s poop tray can easily be lined by using newspaper pine shavings as bedding. Newspaper is extremely cheap and quick to change (i.e. cleaning out the cage) whereas pine shavings may find their way out of the cage and do need more attention when collecting and replacing inside the cage. Do not use cedar shavings - they give off a chemical residue that can cause respiratory problems in small animals.

The water bottle that serves to give your sugar glider its fluid intake must be attached securely to the outside of the cage with the tube leading inside at a practical height from the cage floor.

The location of the cage is also important. The simple rule of thumb is to integrate your sugar glider as much as you can within your family. They are very social animals and will most enjoy being close to your family in a location where you spend the majority of your time.

A related factor is noise. Sugar gliders are fairly active at night, so perhaps control which toys you leave in the cage at night if a member of your family’s sleep is affected.

Credit remediation is a subject consumers often face with fear and trepidation, and for good reason. With the exception of recognizing that the best score wins, the average home shopper knows very little about the whole credit scoring process. Sub-prime borrowers who are eager to move into A-Paper territory often find themselves at a loss when trying to find ways to upgrade their credit history. The good news is there are ways to improve less-than-perfect credit scores and obtain a loan for the home you really want.

The first step in the process is making sure that you have a current copy of your credit report. Congress recently amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act so that consumers may now receive one free credit report annually. There are three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and Transunion. Since entries can vary across bureaus, you’ll want to request a free report from each of the three companies. (Go to www.annualcreditreport.com)

It’s also important to know just what a good credit score is. Most A-Paper scores generally begin around 680, although this number may differ slightly among lenders. Don’t despair if you come up shy, there is always room for improvement. Increasing your score just 5 points can save a significant amount of money. For example, if your score is 698 and you increase it to 703, then you could save yourself thousands of dollars over time as a result of a slight improvement to your loan’s interest rate.

While credit repair is necessary for some, it’s not the only way to increase your credit score. Even if you have stellar credit, you can enhance your score through these steps:

Evenly distribute your credit card debt to change the ratio of debt to available credit. Let’s say you have a credit score of 665. If you have debt on only one card, and four additional credit cards with zero balances, evenly distributing the debt of the first card could move you closer, and possibly into, that ideal bracket.

Keep your existing accounts open and active. The average consumer is usually anxious to close credit card accounts that have zero balances, but doing this can cause them to lose the benefits of a long-term credit history and increase their ratio of debt-to-available credit. The bottom line is don’t close those old accounts!

Keep credit inquiries to a minimum. Each inquiry into your credit history can impact your score anywhere from 2-50 points. When it comes to mortgage and auto loans, even though you’re only looking for one loan, multiple lenders may request your credit report. To compensate for this, the score counts multiple auto or mortgage inquiries in any 14-day period as just one inquiry, so try and stay within that time frame.

Remember, credit scores don’t change overnight. Improving them requires time and diligent effort on your part, so it’s a good idea to get the ball rolling at least three to six months prior to submitting your application for home financing.

If credit repair is what you need, you can either begin the process yourself or seek out a repair service. If you decide to make your own improvements, visit as many websites as possible to get information regarding credit laws and consumer rights. Diligently search through them and educate yourself to ensure that you don’t sustain any self-inflicted wounds. A good place to start would be the Federal Trade Commission’s website, which contains a wealth of helpful literature.

If you’re facing severe or complicated credit issues, then you’ll probably want to enlist the assistance of a professional credit repair company. Before you do, be sure to familiarize yourself with the FTC’s regulations on credit repair. With over 1100 credit repair companies to choose from, it’s important to be certain you are dealing with a reputable firm. Examine the FTC’s information on fraudulent practices to avoid falling prey to credit repair scams.

Addressing credit issues can be uncomfortable to say the least. But by taking these steps now, you’ll be that much closer to obtaining the home of your dreams.

Hal Tennant has been involved in the Real Estate and Mortgage industry since 1990. Over the years, many clients have used his expertise to improve less than perfect credit. Hal especially enjoys helping First Time Buyers through the maze of becoming a Home Owner. His goal is to make a client for life by providing service above and beyond the expected. For more information on this and other mortgage topics vist http://www.HalTennant.com

Patagonia spans the southern third of Chile and Argentina. It is probably the most famous and romanticised region of either country, it is also the most sparsely populated. It is a land of immense beauty, filled with turquoise lakes, mountains, volcanoes, fjords, icebergs and native forests.

Northern Patagonia is lush and green, the views of lakes and forested hills against a backdrop of snow-capped volcanoes, is stunningly beautiful and easy on the eye. This changes the further south you go as the environment becomes harsher and assumes a more rugged beauty, culminating in the ice fields and glaciers of the Torres del Paine and El Calafate national parks. In Parque National Laguna San Rafael towering cliffs of ice break off the San Valentin glacier and crash into the lake forming icebergs. If you see a picture of these icebergs you might think that their bright blue colour were a trick of the lens, but it is not. It is the result of ten thousand years of glacial compression.

Patagonia is also teaming with wildlife, with many endemic species such as the Huemul, a small deer that is the national emblem of Chile. Round the coastline there are penguin and seal colonies and great opportunities for whale watching (May to November).

It is an outdoors paradise with all nature of activities: horseback treks, rafting, summer skiing, kayaking, walking, climbing, etc. The area is also peppered with hot-springs due to the vigorous geothermal activity, which provide the perfect way to relax and recover after the rigours of travelling.

Andrew Chaundler worked and travelled in South America for many years before setting up Optimundo, a travel company that specialises in holidays in Chile and Argentina that are designed with expert knowledge of the region. See our website to find out about Patagonia and our tailor-made travel services.

If you’re reading this book, chances are that you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a mental illness. This is a scary time, filled with lots of questions, strange buzz words, and people pushing drugs at you. In the best case scenario, you need to know that you’re not alone. In the worst case, you need to know that you can survive this. Here’s what I, a humble devotee of mental illness, would recommend for the novice.

1. Don’t panic! I know that’s easier said than done. Right now you may feel as if you have absolutely no grip on reality… and that may very well be the case, if you’re having a psychotic episode. The key here is to get someplace safe. Where that might be is different for most people…some people feel safe inside a crowded shopping mall, but that was the worst place for me. If all else fails, go to your local emergency room. At the very least, if you do decide to do something harmful to yourself, you’re at the best place for it. Good ERs will have social workers that you can talk to. I’ve parked outside in the parking lot of an ER and waited for the wave of self-mutilating urges to pass.

2. You are not alone. This isn’t a particularly helpful thing to know when you’re in the midst of a crisis, but when you become more rational in your thinking you might be pleased to know that whatever you’re going through, there are others who have gone through it, are going through it, and will go through it. That’s what this book is primarily about. It’s the “hey, somebody else feels the same way I do” idea. Again, not much comfort at the time of a crisis, but it helps keep you from feeling too isolated during those thoughts of, “I’m not normal.”

3. Laugh. I mean, why not? If you’re depressed, you’ll feel like crying instead, and that’s fine too. But if you can develop a particularly sinister evil maniacal laugh, it just adds to the whole persona. And really, what good is going stark raving mad, if you can’t develop the maniacal laughter to go with it? Honestly, laughter does a lot for the body…it creates endorphins, it helps build muscle, it does all types of good stuff for ya. Also, laughter is really the only way to get through this. There’s going to be enough crying, gnashing of teeth, swearing, etc. Develop a good hearty laugh and find things to laugh at. Even if it doesn’t make sense to anybody else.

4. Keep an open mind. I know, I know, the irony is thick. You feel like your mind is slowly dissolving into little pieces, and I’m telling you to keep it open. But in order for things to help you through this phase of your life, you have to believe they will work. Some things sound pretty hokey - try ‘em anyway. I once had a therapist tell me I should sing to myself. Pretty stupid I thought, and it didn’t work for me. Doesn’t mean it won’t work for you. The therapist had a pretty good practice, and I’m sure it worked for some of his patients.

5. Find yourself a therapist and a psychiatrist. This is expensive. Hopefully you have insurance. If you don’t have insurance, go to your local county or state agency and get on whatever plan they have. Some docs and therapists will work on a sliding scale - you pay what you can afford. You may, if you’re spiritually inclined, find a church that has some type of family therapy program. They may be able to better direct you for your community.

a. You need a psychiatrist (a psychiatrist is an M.D. trained in brain disorders) who can prescribe and manage your medication. Despite what actors and some nutritionists say, medication is a huge help for most people. Pharmaceuticals are your friends. I wouldn’t be here today to write this if it weren’t for the miracle of modern drug therapy. Don’t let anybody talk you out of it. If a doctor tells you to take 20mg of Prozac during the day, then by jove, take 20mg of Prozac during the day. However, and this is my caveat, if you have a doctor who is prescribing 20mg of Prozac, 20mg of Paxil, 10mg of Zoloft, and you keep complaining about being drowsy all the time, and the doctor’s answer is to prescribe new or more medication, think hard about getting a second opinion. Some psychiatrists are big on overprescribing medication, not for any malicious reason other than being overzealous in keeping you safe. (If you’re conked out in bed 20 hours a day, it’s not likely you’ll be hurting yourself or others during those 4 hours that you’re awake.) Take your medication, but be sure to learn about your medication. And don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions. If he/she balks at answering, get a new doctor.

b. Some psychiatrists can be therapists. A lot of psychiatrists make lousy therapists. I’d advise you to look for an actual therapist. For most mental illnesses there’s a biological component (treated with meds) and a psychological component (treated with therapy). It’s been my experience that LCSWs (Licensed Clinical Social Workers) and MSWs (Masters of Social Work) are better at dialog then a psychologist (a Ph.D. in psychology). If you’re the type who gets better by talking to somebody who doesn’t talk back much, a clinical psychologist is for you. If you’re like me and you want to interact with somebody, a LCSW or MSW seem to work better. Also, find a therapist who has only been in practice for no more than 15 years or so. The ones who have practiced longer don’t seem to be up to date with new treatments, skills, or diagnoses. The newer graduates have been trained in newer techniques.

There is one inherent problem with therapy - it’s an intimate relationship that takes some time to develop. If you have a fear of intimacy (and lots of us with mental illnesses do) it’s a problem. It usually takes a good three or four sessions before you’re comfortable discussing big problems with a therapist… but it’s still three or four sessions that have to be paid for by you or by insurance. Don’t instantly write off a therapist (unless they are really weird… I’ve had many of those) but don’t spend too long trying to see if it’s going to work out. (I spent 16 months with one therapist who wasn’t working out, only because I didn’t want to have to go through the whole screening process over again.) Always remember, the therapist works for you! He/She may have all types of rules and regulations, but the bottom line is you pay the bill, and if you’re not comfortable, tell him/her upfront and they should understand.

6. Take some time off work. I admit, I was fortunate. My insurance policy at work allowed me to take 24 months off (at 66% pay) for reasons of mental disability. And my parents were able to help with bills during and after that two years. Not everybody can afford it. But I highly recommend, that if you can afford to, take sick leave, vacation, a sabbatical, whatever from work and /or school. Our jobs are the biggest stress maker. Once we eliminate that stress, we can get on with the business of getting better. Besides, I’m sure your mental illness is making you screw up at your job. If you’re depressed, you can’t concentrate on anything, and you’re blowing the small details. You probably feel you’re at risk of getting fired. Better, in my opinion, to be proactive than to have to react. If you’ve got some time on the books NOW is the time to take it. The World Health Organization suggests that by 2010 more time will be lost from depression and other mental illness than by the common cold or flu. Leave now, before it becomes hostile, before you need to go to the restroom and weep for half an hour at a time. If your job is making you that sick, I’d even recommend quitting and getting a different job. I don’t care what you make, or how many other people depend on you . . . if you off yourself because of a menial job, nobody’s better off.

7. Watch out for Stigma. In your mentally ill life, you’re going to meet bozoheads who are going to say something like, “well, just snap out of it.” Or “it’s all in your head.” Or you’ll find somebody somewhere stereotyping mentally ill people as being lazy or deadbeat, or a danger. Ya know, you don’t need that crap. That’s where groups like the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill come in handy. Their Stigmabusters alert warns you of up coming media events (TV and movies and the like) that portray mentally ill in one of the stereotypical ways. Support groups are also good resources to reach out to, when you feel the man is stepping on you. There’s nothing worse than being depressed and then watching a depressed person being portrayed as lazy . . . it makes you, well, even more depressed. Again, being proactive about things helps. Writing letters to TV producers, movie companies, and legislatures helps channel your individual frustration, and lets other people know that, “hey, we might have some problems, but we’re still human beings.”

8. Learn. The web is a great resource. Learn what you can about your particular diagnosis. Hopefully your psychiatrist and therapist are up on the latest, but they may not be. New therapies and medications are being produced every year. Maybe the Geodon isn’t working for you, but maybe Abilify will. Abilify is pretty new, not all docs know about it yet. Never hurts to vet it out with the doc. A lot of the information in this book is stuff that I learned just by reading various books, magazines, news articles and web sites. Knowledge is power.

9. Teach. Your experiences are different and unique. Even though what you may be going through is similar to several thousand people out there, what you’re doing and how you’re doing it, is different. Maybe there’s a way to showcase that. Maybe you can help newbies going through this at a support group, or volunteer at your local NAMI chapter. You’ll learn more about yourself and what you can and cannot do, by helping others go through it.

10. Don’t give up. If I had a nickel for every time I wanted to off myself, I’d be dead, but rich. Don’t give the devil the satisfaction. It’s a (and I hate using clichés) a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Some days are going to be better than others . . . some days are going to be down right shitty. It’s even possible that tomorrow may be worse than what you’re feeling now. But some day, somewhere, things will get better. It takes work. Going through a mental illness is one of the tougher things I’ve ever done. Most mornings, I don’t want to get up. Some days I don’t. But I’ve never stopped trying. I may have taken extended periods of time off, and that’s okay for you too . . . but don’t give up. Keep the hope of something better alive. That’s what it takes to get better - hope.

Stewart Young continues to learn about his illness while overcoming the many obstacles placed in his path by his illness and by society. Borderland: A Life on the Edge, is co-written with his ex-wife and former caretaker, Monique Young. The authors can be reached at monique@moniquewrites.com.