Acronym Update 04/25/08

Dear Friends,

Here is a special Update for today, 4/25/08

April 25th will always be a special day for me. 04/25/2005 was the last day that I took psych meds. My life has changed dramatically since then. I am so thankful and blessed to be sitting here and able to tell you this story. I have very strong opinions about the mental health system and feel I’ve earned the right to express them because of the recovery I have made. I am grateful for the prayers that family, friends, and YOU said for me at a time when I didn’t understand faith and stood galaxies away from the Lord.

By September of 2004, I was taking 7 different medications and 21 pills (total) per day. Many of you can remember what a zombie I was. I missed or rescheduled appointments often and had trouble handling any assignments greater than an hour. Those of you whom I’ve come to know within the past three years probably cannot believe what I am telling you. It’s all true…… that’s all you need to know.

In addition to staying medication free, I have also lost 52 pounds (51 in the past 18 months). I’ve come to know that most licensed professionals in the mental health business are frauds or have been completely deceived by insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry. In my honest opinion, most of the best care you can get for psychiatric conditions cannot be covered by insurance. That means you’ll have to PAY CASH, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have to break the bank. There are also a lot of free resources out there, but you have to seek them out. Any cures, therapies or methods of support that don’t involve drugs are an easy target for (undeserved) prejudice, ridicule, and vicious attacks.

At this point, I would like to thank several individuals and organizations that helped to facilitate my recovery and have helped me maintain a steady walk into wellness. Links will be provided (if possible), so that you can use these resources for your own benefit.

University of Bridgeport Naturopathic Clinic
Comprehensive health care for the whole family. Less than $35 per visit. Your insurance may cover lab work. Definitely worth a 90 minute drive if you can’t afford the $150 + that a Naturopath in private practice typically charges.

Angels Depot Resource Center
Non-profit holistic counseling practice based in Manchester, CT. VERY AFFORDABLE. Singles and Families.

Dr. Peter Hawkes, MD. He is an 80+ year old psychiatrist from New Britain, CT. He does not give free samples and definitely IS NOT a pawn of the drug companies. I saw him briefly at the end of my 6+ years on psych meds. I DO NOT know if he is still in practice. The last contact number I have for Dr. Hawkes is 860-224-1853.

The Freedom Center. The Freedom Center is a peer support and advocacy organization based in Northampton, MA. They dare to tell the truth about medications and treatment inside psychiatric institutions. Attending their weekly support group, staying plugged in with their website and bulletin board really helped me get a grip on my condition in back in early 2005. The vast amount of knowledge I was able to absorb by way of the Freedom Center, was an invaluable part of my recovery. Please check out their new publication: Harm Reduction Guide to Coming off Psychiatric Drugs.

Know The Cause. Official website of the Know the Cause TV show, a daily program focused on nutrition and alternative health, hosted by Doug Kaufmann. This program is broadcast daily on TV stations all over the USA, but your best bet is to watch it for free on the website. Learn the surprising link between fungus and many health conditions….. You’ll also find information on the Phase One and Phase Two diets — sensible plans that truly allow you to eat your way to wellness.

Meryl Fingrutd, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. Northampton, MA. She was a therapist that I saw at the end of my treatment for bipolar disorder back in early 2005. She boldly told me I WAS NORMAL and saw no reason to see me beyond one visit. I will always respect her for that. She has a sliding scale to accommodate low income clients and does accept Medicare. Phone: 413-584-1402.

My church: I’m so thankful for the leaders, men, and women I’ve come to know who have always encouraged me to go just a little further on my life’s journey each day.

I’m sure I’m missing a few on that list, but nonetheless it will give you or someone you love some wonderful alternatives to the standard menu of health options.

I’ll leave you with a Scripture verse that continues to give me hope for an even brighter future.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Always remembering 4/25,

Kevin

Acronym Update 04-19-08

Dear Readers,

For your information:   A NEW option for purchasing a Mac.

Considering that Comp USA stores are history,  you are pretty much left with the Apple Store at one of 3 malls in Connecticut (WestFarms, Danbury, Stamford Town Center), ordering by phone or purchasing online  if you want to buy a computer made by Apple.

Kaplan Computers of Manchester, CT (http://www.kaplancomputers.com)  has been granted the status of “Apple Authorized Reseller.”   I have never been a customer of this store, nor do I know the principals, but I just wanted to make you aware of this option so that you can take it into consideration the next time you look to purchase.   Kaplan has been selling computers for many years and I know for a fact that Apple does not take fly by night companies into their reseller family.   A business needs to have hardware sales well over $100,000 per year to qualify and meet other benchmarks.

Apple does not allow their resellers to deviate from the MSRP by more than $5 on any product, so choosing where to buy your Mac is really about convenience and service.

One approach to buying that I’ve advised my customers to take in the past is to take a look at various computer models in local stores (Mac or PC), and then order your system from an online retailer (ie.  B&H Photo or J&R – both in New York).   They often will give you free shipping on large purchases and no sales tax will be charged on the item.   On a typical purchase of $1200, you would save $72 by using this method.   For many of you with a large sedan or SUV, that $72 would pay for a full tank of gas.

Buying in-store and paying the 6% premium (also known as sales tax) may be worth it depending on your needs, especially if you need to start using your new computer …… IMMEDIATELY.

Make the best of the weather wherever you are this weekend,

Kevin

Acronym Update 04/10/08

Dear Readers,

Topic:  Increased cable TV rates!

Your cable TV rates are increasing.   Two major cable operators in Connecticut (and nationally) have announced they are raising their prices.

Cox is increasing the basic portion of your bill (ie. channels 2 through 22 or thereabouts)  by approximately $3.
The expanded basic portion of your bill containing the most popular pay channels (such as ESPN, NESN, TNT, USA, etc.) will also be increasing by $3.    So if you only have analog service, expect your bill to increase by $6…..and even more if you subscribe to higher tiers of service.   You may check out the entire article in today’s Hartford Courant by clicking here.   http://tinyurl.com/5nf46b

After raising Standard Cable (basic + expanded basic) rates by $3.50 or more earlier in the year, Connecticut’s largest cable operator — Comcast — has decided to raise your bill by $1 because they are adding Sports Net New York to their offerings.   SNY has the exclusive rights to broadcast all New York Mets baseball games.   Now that the Metropolitans spend nearly as much as the Red Sox and Yankees on payroll,  they need their own network to help offset the high costs of doing business.    YOU are going to pay for it.

There are lots of hot button issues that will lead you to choose one political candidate or another this fall, but maybe you should really look into who supports “a la carte” cable pricing.     This solution would allow you to buy individual channels or small groups of channels sorted by theme.   Should we really have to pay $60 to watch a handful of channels that we truly enjoy?

Yours truly,

Kevin

The Acronym. April 2008 Newsletter.

The Acronym, April 2008 edition is now online. Enjoy!

http://www.theacronym.com/acronym0408_final.pdf