Support Groups

Hi @Rosie you certainly are a super adaptable and intelligent human, props to you. It's no easy feat and I do think that despite these difficult journeys they create very insightful human beings. This is a great thread, I look forward to the community's input. My experience of support groups is they are incredibly welcoming, and very open and non-judgemental. Of course a lot of this depends on facilitator, but definitely think they're worth a go. Will see what the other members say 🙂

@Rosie Hi again!

Your episode of psychosis sounds very scary and confusing, but I think it is still fantastic that you ticked off substantial achievements in life - getting on top of substances and weight etc.

That will always stand you in good stead.

I did not want to try dating sites either, cos it felt too heavy! I preferred to just talk about life and found various people here on this forum. Thats my life where talking mental illness seems more normal than dating issues ... oh dear ...

Hi @Rosie, lovely to meet you. 🖐😊

In my area there's an excellent attitude toward MH issues due to a local psych hospital, clinic, outreach programs, a drop-in centre purpose built for activities and much more. Obviously we're lucky to have such resources because most regional areas in Australia are screaming out for help.

Personally, I don't know of any 'groups'. The drop-in centre is where most meet up to chat, discuss topics of concern or get creative. It seems to attract people with psychosis type diagnosis' more than anxiety/depression disorders.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'support' group. What is it you really want from a group? And what do you have to offer others? Is it more social connections you're after? If so, a drop-in centre may be what you're looking for.

If your area doesn't have one, maybe you could join forces with your local clinic and create one. Put together a submission to the local or state govt's to supply a place or funding for one. This might be a great project for that intelligent brain of yours eh? 👍😉

Anyway, it's food for thought. Again, lovely to meet you Rosie.

Kind thoughts;

Hope 👵

hi @Rosie I went to an anxiety support group because I was lonely and I wanted to make friends. I found several local groups on the internet, run by my state-wide anxiety organisation. It cost $3 each time.

We sat in a circle and everyone complained. Everyone was very negative and if someone was ranting on and on the facilitators didn't do anything. The facilitators were student or qualified psychologist volunteers. They did almost nothing, despite the group guidelines often being breached.

I found it very lonely, invalidating and negative. Listening to all the complaining triggered my MI symptoms very badly so all I learnt there was how to tune out in the face of stress. I didn't make any friends, people were very clicky and unfriendly at tea-break in the kitchen.

I much prefer the company of well people. I go to meetups and enjoy them & made nice friends that way.

hii @Rosie whilst my exprience of support groups was very negative, all the other people in my support group seemed to get a big benefit out of it so you may enjoy it too. One lady described the group as soothing and most of the others seemed to have been going to the same group for months or even years so they must have felt very at home there & found it therapeutic to attend. I have two friends with MI who only like support groups, they don't do any form of socialising that isn't a support group/MI group that has a qualified facilitator. They say it makes the world of difference in thier lives and that they feel better after attending group.

So you may need to attend a group to see how you respond. You may really enjoy it & find it beneficial. I found social support was definitely a case of trial and error and I had to try many things that I didn't like before I found socialising that I do like.

Have you found a group to attend yet?