Social Anxiety Support

Drew · 07-08-2009, 10:30 PM

One common complaint we've seen is a lack of groups and we're considering ways of addressing this.

Please share your thoughts. It would be very much appreciated!

mountain5 · 07-08-2009, 10:56 PM

I started a meetup.com group in my area, but it hasn't gotten enough people to be functional yet...I don't live in a major city. I do go to social anxiety meetups in St. Paul occasionally.

Drew · 07-08-2009, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountain5

I started a meetup.com group in my area, but it hasn't gotten enough people to be functional yet...I don't live in a major city. I do go to social anxiety meetups in St. Paul occasionally.

Do you have to pay for a Meetup group that isn't yet active?

Thanks for sharing your experience!

lyssado707 · 07-08-2009, 11:07 PM

The first 3

mountain5 · 07-08-2009, 11:09 PM

Yes, if you initiate a group on meetup.com, there is a fee involved. I paid for 6 months and I'll probably have to renew soon. There was a 50% off deal going on when I signed up.

I'm not sure what the current prices are, but it's easy enough to make a test group for yourself and see what they're charging.

EagerMinnow84 · 07-08-2009, 11:30 PM

I asked my psychiatrist if she knew of any strictly social anxiety group at the hospital I go to once every 3 months and she said there isn't. I never knew finding a social anxiety group would be so difficult! And I live in a big big big city!

VCL XI · 07-09-2009, 01:04 AM

There's at least one in my area. I have no interest currently.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaan Pehechaan Ho

I have been to a SA group gathering and didn't like it. It actually made my SA worse because I didn't know how to act around other people with SA. I was so quiet that even people with SA thought I was weird. You would think you will feel better because you are around people with the same problem, but it's not any easier - it's just like meeting "normal" people.

I've never been to one, but I imagine that's exactly how it would turn out for me. A local group's activities were rather summercamp-y, which would've been pure torture for me. Stuff like skating rinks, arcades, amusement parks, tourist spots, etc. I'm not into that stuff at all, so it wouldn't matter who I'm there with.

If anyone wants to start an SA street gang though, PM me.

veron · 07-09-2009, 06:29 AM

I'm not really sure. I think I could possibly go to one meeting and see how it goes from there... But considering that probably nobody in this city has heard of the term "SA," that won't be happening any time soon

Drew · 07-09-2009, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagerMinnow84

I asked my psychiatrist if she knew of any strictly social anxiety group at the hospital I go to once every 3 months and she said there isn't. I never knew finding a social anxiety group would be so difficult! And I live in a big big big city!

Yah, and I know therapists who have the problem of filling groups that they want to start. We are going to work on bridging that gap.

Many thanks to everyone who has voted and/or shared their thoughts and experiences.

anonymid · 07-09-2009, 08:07 AM

I went to a couple social anxiety meetups soon after I moved here six months ago, but haven't gone to any since.

nothing to fear · 07-09-2009, 08:22 AM

i guess you mean for therapy and not just the socializing?

i did a group for social anxiety - it costs money because it was run by two psychologist, but it was a bit helpful. we did CBT type work in the open and would set goals for ourselves and did exposure within the group (which was prob most helpful, since it was forced). i don't know how all of the groups work but i'd definitely recommend it to anyone who has the chance.
i'm also doing it again, but this time it is for a research study which is cool and since i'm a volunteer it is for free

Drew · 07-09-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nothing to fear

i guess you mean for therapy and not just the socializing?

We foresee three types of groups:
1) therapy run by therapists
2) therapy peer-to-peer (because some people insurance won't cover group therapy and/or they just can't afford it)
3) social groups to just get together and do fun stuff together (or volunteer!)

Hadron · 07-09-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VCL XI

If anyone wants to start an SA street gang though, PM me.

Haha. Count me in dude

.

Drew · 07-09-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VCL XI

If anyone wants to start an SA street gang though, PM me.

Hmm, maybe we could consider that as a group type as well

Black_Widow · 07-09-2009, 10:06 AM

At this stage, I really doubt I could find the courage. Though it's certainly something to consider for the future, if other things I'm trying at the moment don't work out.

Saqq · 07-09-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nothing to fear

i guess you mean for therapy and not just the socializing?

i did a group for social anxiety - it costs money because it was run by two psychologist, but it was a bit helpful. we did CBT type work in the open and would set goals for ourselves and did exposure within the group (which was prob most helpful, since it was forced). i don't know how all of the groups work but i'd definitely recommend it to anyone who has the chance.
i'm also doing it again, but this time it is for a research study which is cool and since i'm a volunteer it is for free

Hey

is there any spots still left for that group? or it is currently ongoing -- pm or text/call whatever

Thanks

TorLin · 07-09-2009, 10:53 AM

I already belong to a good social anxiety group in my area

Metallic · 07-09-2009, 11:03 AM

My psychologist said that they used to have a group thing offered at the counseling center, but it wasn't specifically social anxiety. She said if she can get enough people that actually have social anxiety to want to do it, then she might get one started, but I'm still not sure if I'd be able to make myself go.

I also went to that meetup.com website and joined the group for social anxiety in my area, but I haven't gone to a single meeting. Everyone in it is much older than me so I'm not sure if I'd feel comfortable.

tiberius · 07-09-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metallic

Everyone in it is much older than me so I'm not sure if I'd feel comfortable.

Hey, it's a social meeting for the socially anxious. Nobody's comfortable!

rickthegreat · 07-09-2009, 12:51 PM

There is an SA support group 2 hours from where I live.

I have thought about making it there but have not. I did do the phone group thing though but did not like it.

View Poll Results: Would you join a social anxiety group in you area? (you can select multiple options)
I'd join a therapy group run by a psycologist or therapist (pay per session)	48	29.27%
I'd join a peer-to-peer therapy group based on commonly used CBT for social anxiety disorder (free except for CBT materials)	63	38.41%
I'd join a social group that focuses on doing social activities (free except for any activities done)	89	54.27%
I'd like to join a group, but think I would be too anxious to join one	50	30.49%
There are already group(s) in my area and I've attended one	12	7.32%
There are already group(s) in my area and I haven't attended one	16	9.76%
I have no interest in joining a group of any kind	22	13.41%
Other (include your comments in a reply post)	4	2.44%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 164. You may not vote on this poll

07-08-2009, 10:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
Drew Status: Administrator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Gender: Male Posts: 1,381	Would you join a social anxiety group in you area? One common complaint we've seen is a lack of groups and we're considering ways of addressing this. Please share your thoughts. It would be very much appreciated!

07-08-2009, 11:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
lyssado707 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Humboldt County, CA Age: 22 Posts: 3,228	The first 3 __________________ In Loving Memory, http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...6/P1000595.jpg http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...P1000480-1.jpg Marmalade January 1991-February 19, 2007

07-08-2009, 11:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
EagerMinnow84 Status: Living in Technicolor Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dancing with Gene Kelly Gender: Female Posts: 1,189	I asked my psychiatrist if she knew of any strictly social anxiety group at the hospital I go to once every 3 months and she said there isn't. I never knew finding a social anxiety group would be so difficult! And I live in a big big big city! __________________ I don't know, I kind of like him. He's the exact opposite of everything I really hate. In a way, he's such a clueless dork, he's almost kind of cool

07-09-2009, 08:07 AM	#10 (permalink)
anonymid Status: gulping for shape Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chicagoland Gender: Male Age: 30 Posts: 2,077	I went to a couple social anxiety meetups soon after I moved here six months ago, but haven't gone to any since. __________________ "He who has not the courage to suffer either death or life, who will neither resist nor flee, what can we do with him?" - Montaigne

07-08-2009, 10:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
mountain5 Status: SAS Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Minnesota Gender: Male Age: 24 Posts: 655	I started a meetup.com group in my area, but it hasn't gotten enough people to be functional yet...I don't live in a major city. I do go to social anxiety meetups in St. Paul occasionally.

07-08-2009, 11:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
mountain5 Status: SAS Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Minnesota Gender: Male Age: 24 Posts: 655	Yes, if you initiate a group on meetup.com, there is a fee involved. I paid for 6 months and I'll probably have to renew soon. There was a 50% off deal going on when I signed up. I'm not sure what the current prices are, but it's easy enough to make a test group for yourself and see what they're charging.

07-09-2009, 06:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
veron Status: SAS Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Belgrade Gender: Female Age: 22 Posts: 490	I'm not really sure. I think I could possibly go to one meeting and see how it goes from there... But considering that probably nobody in this city has heard of the term "SA," that won't be happening any time soon

07-09-2009, 08:22 AM	#11 (permalink)
nothing to fear Status: silence is sexy Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Gender: Female Age: 20 Posts: 4,841	i guess you mean for therapy and not just the socializing? i did a group for social anxiety - it costs money because it was run by two psychologist, but it was a bit helpful. we did CBT type work in the open and would set goals for ourselves and did exposure within the group (which was prob most helpful, since it was forced). i don't know how all of the groups work but i'd definitely recommend it to anyone who has the chance. i'm also doing it again, but this time it is for a research study which is cool and since i'm a volunteer it is for free __________________ everything was beautiful, and nothing hurt. ~ i really like music. and photography, though i'm nothing special.

07-09-2009, 10:06 AM	#15 (permalink)
Black_Widow Status: SAS Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South-East London, UK Gender: Female Age: 28 Posts: 928	At this stage, I really doubt I could find the courage. Though it's certainly something to consider for the future, if other things I'm trying at the moment don't work out.

07-09-2009, 10:53 AM	#17 (permalink)
TorLin Status: MayTheForceBeWithYou Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Gender: Male Posts: 17,058	I already belong to a good social anxiety group in my area __________________ MTFBWU (May The Force Be With You) - TORLIN AIM, MSN, YIM: T0RL1N Skype: Tor_Lin Visit me at; ToryLing.com \| LivingAnxious \| Facebook \| Myspace \| Last.fm

07-09-2009, 11:03 AM	#18 (permalink)
Metallic Status: Suit up! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Carolina Gender: Female Age: 21 Posts: 381	My psychologist said that they used to have a group thing offered at the counseling center, but it wasn't specifically social anxiety. She said if she can get enough people that actually have social anxiety to want to do it, then she might get one started, but I'm still not sure if I'd be able to make myself go. I also went to that meetup.com website and joined the group for social anxiety in my area, but I haven't gone to a single meeting. Everyone in it is much older than me so I'm not sure if I'd feel comfortable. __________________ sometimes even to live is an act of courage. When I get sad, I stop being sad, and be AWESOME instead. True story.

07-09-2009, 12:51 PM	#20 (permalink)
rickthegreat Status: SAS Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 160	There is an SA support group 2 hours from where I live. I have thought about making it there but have not. I did do the phone group thing though but did not like it.