Depression meetings

IamBeowulf

Does anyone know of any free community meetings for sufferers of anxiety/depression? Lots of bad stuff happening in my life at the moment and I'd like somewhere to vent, someone to talk to. Counselors don't seem to work as it's all focused on me, whereas I'd rather meet up with people in similar situations and talk it out that way

Thanks

cormie

There's one in Bray at the Holy Redeimer Parish Hall, I thiiiink!

Nevyn

www.aware.ie

IamBeowulf

Thanks

masterwriter

http://www.grow.ie/ Depends on where you are if there is one near you. Try checking with CIC or ring the head office

IamBeowulf

Thanks master writer. I just checked out their site and it seems they're quite similar to the AA meetings, i.e. they tie their teachings to religion and preach disconnection from one's inner feelings:

1. We admitted we were inadequate or maladjusted to life.
2. We firmly resolved to get well and co-operated with the help that we needed.
3. We surrendered to the healing power of a wise and loving God.
4. We made personal inventory and accepted ourselves.
5. We made moral inventory and cleaned out our hearts.
6. We endured until cured.
7. We took care and control of our bodies.
8. We learned to think by reason rather than by feelings and imagination.
9. We trained our wills to govern our feelings.
10. We took our responsible and caring place in society.
11. We grew daily closer to maturity.
12. We carried GROW’s hopeful healing and transforming message to others in similar need.

I really appreciate your help master writer, please don't get me wrong. But anyone who sees that site would agree, there's something a little creepy about them...

Wurly

WilmaRidesAgain wrote: »

Im not sure if its ok to post links (if not apologies -could not see anything in the charter)Anyway, this organisation has group meetings going on everywhere:http://www.recovery-inc.com Its good becuase you see people there who have gone through the exact same and worse as yourself and you learn methodology which you can use to get through life when the despair feelings get really bad.I know what you mean about the fight going out of you, believe me, anyway its really worth a try.Best of luck

This was posted on a different thread by a poster offering the OP advice on depression.

AngryBadger

EDIT: sorry wrong thread, because I'm a buffoon you see.

IamBeowulf

AngryBadger wrote: »

EDIT: sorry wrong thread, because I'm a buffoon you see.

I was wondering...:D

masterwriter

IamBeowulf wrote: »

Thanks master writer. I just checked out their site and it seems they're quite similar to the AA meetings, i.e. they tie their teachings to religion and preach disconnection from one's inner feelings:

1. We admitted we were inadequate or maladjusted to life.
2. We firmly resolved to get well and co-operated with the help that we needed.
3. We surrendered to the healing power of a wise and loving God.
4. We made personal inventory and accepted ourselves.
5. We made moral inventory and cleaned out our hearts.
6. We endured until cured.
7. We took care and control of our bodies.
8. We learned to think by reason rather than by feelings and imagination.
9. We trained our wills to govern our feelings.
10. We took our responsible and caring place in society.
11. We grew daily closer to maturity.
12. We carried GROW’s hopeful healing and transforming message to others in similar need.

I really appreciate your help master writer, please don't get me wrong. But anyone who sees that site would agree, there's something a little creepy about them...

You're welcome. I did not know there was a religious aspect though I did know about the 12 steps but since I never had any involvement with them I could not say

Filan

I've been a member of Grow for years and the religous aspect is optional. Members are free to abstain from this section if they wish and actual religous beliefs of anyone are never asked. I'm personaly an atheist and yet I believe that Grow do great work.

Yes Grow did actualy evolve from the A.A. . Grow was actualy founded by former A.A. members who were not alcoholics but needed somewhere to talk, as there was nowhere else to go, they originaly found themselves in A.A.. Therefore there is some common strands. Groups vary but in general I find the concept of sharing with others a positive experience. It is also a good experience to listen to others. Friendships can be formed and there is very useful lifestyle hints.

It isn't perfect and as I said the functioning of a group varies depending on the members. But it's free apart from a nominal E3 donation per meeting if you have it to spare and dosen't require an appointment. Counsellor's charge on average E70 an hour!...and some far more. As someone who has attended Counsellors for years, they have their place but so too do groups such as Grow.

Everyone's needs are different but I'd certainly recommend that you at least try Grow, there is little to loose by at least attending once and see what you think.

Good luck
A

LegacyUser

Filan, I would be very interested to attend one of these meetings. Can you tell me more about them. Need to talk to some one or people before I lose the plot.

JuliusCaesar

Mental Health Ireland has a list of organisations on their site:

http://mentalhealthireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=40

there's also ocdireland.org

I think they all run support groups.

Filan

Where in Ireland do you live?.

I'd recommend contacting a Grow office , anywhere and see where the nearest meeting is to you. Their number is in the book.

While your waiting there is some good websites, such as Live Journal which has a Depression/Anxiety section and has some very good respondants. The Samaritans helpline or No Panic also provide support run by trained personnel.

On a personal level writing things down helps.

I'd also ask myself what exactly is bothering me and what I want from life.

I wish you well

A

the glass woman

Not sure if this is any use to you but blanchardstown library in dublin 15 have one

IamBeowulf

I think I'm going to try Aware first. I really hope they help, things are getting tougher every day. Thanks everyone.

Agonist

I've been to both Aware and Grow. In my experience, Aware is focused mainly on diagnosed mental illnesses and is very helpful with advice and practicalities although naming meds and doctors isn't allowed.

Grow was better. It's got a broader focus, relationship breakups, anxiety, bereavement etc. It depends on who the members are at any given time. It is more specifically helpful with practical tasks to do each week. Attending Grow is a good way to integrate with the community. They organise social meetings during the week where problems aren't to be mentioned.

I'm an atheist and that meant I had to zone out of about 10% of each meeting. The meetings are very structured which reminded me of mass at first, ick :eek: Aware meeting are fairly random in comparison.

Grow has been shown to have positive effects on medication levels, hospitalisation and general wellbeing in studies done in Australia. For this reason it's funded by the HSE, or was while I was there.

I went to Aware a few times recently but couldn't get into it. I'm planning to go back to Grow any week now.
Both meetings end with a cup of tea and general chat.

Whatever you choose I wish you the best.:)

LegacyUser

Am returning to this one cos it's something I have been looking for myself for a while now. Going to go un-registered.

Have suffered from a 'functioning' depression myself going back years. Just took meds for a brief period. Tried counselling but didn't help me much. Think it was in part that I didn't 'click' with the particular counsellor but also that I just couldn't relate to whole concept, the silences, the indulgence of me talking about myself for an hour. This is, needless to say a personal view, I know counselling helps a lot of people. And I know that many people need to try a number of counsellors before they find someone they feel comfortable with. The idea of going through it again and again is daunting.

I went to some Aware meetings a few years ago, but found that the group was mostly heavily medicated people and I felt freaked out. Last week I went to a Grow meeting. People were nice but similar to the OP not sure I relate to the process of the 12 Steps. Whole thing had an almost corporate element about it, ('What is your goal?') based around this book. I'd be worried the other link mentioned on this thread (originally set up in the US) is like this. And Grow was led by people who had experienced depression or anxiety but there didn't seem to be any actual mental health professionals there.

Guess what I am looking for is a support group where I can discuss this with other people, that isn't linked to religion or too rigidly linked to 'a book' and that ideally is at least partly led by mental health professionals. Any ideas? I signed up for an anxiety support group based in the Mater last year and was told the waiting list was approx 18 mths. I often feel that it is so hard to get help and information on mental health in this country. I had the same problem looking for help around bereavement (one element of my story I suppose) but again my attempts to find a support group just failed, just seemed to be one-to-one counselling. Is there any funding from the HSE for this area? Seems like there are loads of people out there who could do with a service like this and are just struggling alone.

Any advice would be appreciated. I often feel like I am banging on walls, never getting anywhere.

April Raine

BrickWall wrote: »

Am returning to this one cos it's something I have been looking for myself for a while now. Going to go un-registered.

Have suffered from a 'functioning' depression myself going back years. Just took meds for a brief period. Tried counselling but didn't help me much. Think it was in part that I didn't 'click' with the particular counsellor but also that I just couldn't relate to whole concept, the silences, the indulgence of me talking about myself for an hour. This is, needless to say a personal view, I know counselling helps a lot of people. And I know that many people need to try a number of counsellors before they find someone they feel comfortable with. The idea of going through it again and again is daunting.

I went to some Aware meetings a few years ago, but found that the group was mostly heavily medicated people and I felt freaked out. Last week I went to a Grow meeting. People were nice but similar to the OP not sure I relate to the process of the 12 Steps. Whole thing had an almost corporate element about it, ('What is your goal?') based around this book. I'd be worried the other link mentioned on this thread (originally set up in the US) is like this. And Grow was led by people who had experienced depression or anxiety but there didn't seem to be any actual mental health professionals there.

Guess what I am looking for is a support group where I can discuss this with other people, that isn't linked to religion or too rigidly linked to 'a book' and that ideally is at least partly led by mental health professionals. Any ideas? I signed up for an anxiety support group based in the Mater last year and was told the waiting list was approx 18 mths. I often feel that it is so hard to get help and information on mental health in this country. I had the same problem looking for help around bereavement (one element of my story I suppose) but again my attempts to find a support group just failed, just seemed to be one-to-one counselling. Is there any funding from the HSE for this area? Seems like there are loads of people out there who could do with a service like this and are just struggling alone.

Any advice would be appreciated. I often feel like I am banging on walls, never getting anywhere.

I do not know much about grow but understand the lack of mental health professionals is by design. I don't think drugs/meds or doctors can be mentioned at the meetings as to my knowledge they do not like to interfere in the doctor patient relationship and grow is an adjunct to professional work not a part of it or a replacement. Do you have a mental health association where you are or if not ask mental health ireland http://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/ if they know of any suitable group. Good luck

starn

Aware meet every Thursday in the Arts block in TCD. Not sure if they meet out of term.