Any people in Bay Area interested in creating a peer support group for depression?

[Margaret_712]

Not in place of one-on-one therapy, but in addition to it.

I keep thinking that people with depression should have an organization like AA.

A place where meetings are held where you can gather and talk or not talk.

Where their purpose is a community based on being real about your condition, with an eye towards healing. But, fully accepting that there is a bit/a lot of messiness inherent in being human.

Maybe there could be discussion themes or speakers or a format. I'm not sure if depressed people want 12 steps or any kind of program. What I think we do need is other people. We need connection with other people where we don't have to hide or feel ashamed or embarrassed or deal with stigmas. To share experiences and treatments and ideas and activities that help.

Not in place of therapy or coaching, but in addition to those.

There are SO many of us suffering because we feel alone. We are an involuntary army of very cool people and I really think it would be amazing if there were gatherings where you could show up and be messy, or be on the upswing, or be in full recovery, or fresh out of the hospital, and find a place of acceptance.

Depressed people also like to stay home. I know I do! But, every time I have a good connection with someone else dealing with mental health issues I feel SO MUCH BETTER.

AA has really helped a lot of people have lives. It is also problematic for many, and I am not a fan personally of the higher power/god language, so I am not suggesting using that model to the t. I'm just a little jealous of my cousin who can go anywhere in the world and find a group. And, has a group he goes to a few times a week. I know it has made his life richer.

Is anyone into this? Would anyone be into creating something like this?

[Nothing_but_books]

I wish I lived there. I'd love a group like this.

[Margaret_712 in reply to Nothing_but_books]

Right?! My vision is that it would be like AA and you could just find groups like this all over the place. Given the epidemic of mental health/lonliness, I REALLY think we need them! Every place and frequently.

I know I do.

[Margaret_712 in reply to Nothing_but_books]

Also - I'm a bird lover!💜

[Nothing_but_books in reply to Margaret_712]

Well then...

"I don't think I thought this through..."

[litethatnevergoesout]

this is really interesting a friend on here was just mentioning something exactly like this just the other day.

[Margaret_712 in reply to litethatnevergoesout]

It could be such a wonderful resource! It could be free or low-cost, and it could build community at best, create a few connections or conversations at the least.

[GlowingDarkly]

I also agree that this would be a very interesting thing, I could also use a group like this in my life!

[gajh]

They do have Depressed Anonymous. You can check out their website. They list in person meetings and also have zoom meetings. It is based off of AA.

[Margaret_712]

Thank you, gahh! I did just attend an Emotions Anonymous meeting on Zoom this evening for the first time. It was such a kind group of people.

[gajh in reply to Margaret_712]

Are you going to check out Depressed Anonymous? Will you continue with Emotions Anonymous too? I hope you can find an in person group in your area. Is there any way to connect one on one with people in a zoom meeting? A way to develop personal relationships or is all just focused on the group? I hope you can find the type of support you are looking for. I am so happy to have found this site.

[Nothing_but_books in reply to gajh]

I just checked both Depressed Anonymous and Emotions Anonymous for in person meetings. Nothing anywhere near me.

If we could somehow put in-person meetings together, that would be great.

[gajh in reply to Nothing_but_books]

That is the one problem with this site. We are all so supportive of each other, but we are spread all over the world. There is no way for us all to meet up in person. Also some of us are agoraphobic or just have a really hard time leaving the house so in person wouldn't work either. I wish there was a solution.

[Nothing_but_books in reply to gajh]

mrmonk has proposed an idea. (Thank you mrmonk.) I'd go, if there was such a meetup near me, but I haven't found one.

But we would lose each other that way.

Does anyone have an idea how we could do this without losing the connection we have to each other?

[gajh in reply to Nothing_but_books]

We absolutely would not have to lose the connection we have to each other here. A meetup would only meet one time a week at best. We are all here 24/7. It would be in addition to not instead of the support we get here.

[Nothing_but_books in reply to gajh]

I'm missing something. I was wondering if anyone had any idea how we could put together in-person groups with HU friends.

[Margaret_712 in reply to Nothing_but_books]

I would love that, but I think we are all in different parts of the country/world. I am in the SF Bay Area.

[Nothing_but_books in reply to Margaret_712]

I'm at the opposite end of the country. But we're such a huge group. Didn't HU at one time give us an option to see if other members lived nearby?

[Margaret_712 in reply to gajh]

There were things I liked about the EA group, and some things that felt somewhat sterile to me. Really sweet people, and they were more than ready to share phone numbers to connect outside the group. There is also a channel for find a sponsor. The first half hour of the meeting was dedicated to reading the AA literature. It is full of useful/wise words, and I appreciate how that orients the group towards its goals and values. But, it went on for a long time, and, as stated, can feel sterile. And, the lack of exchange leaves something to be desired. I think it's kind of unnatural for people not to respond to another person when they share their suffering. Maybe a different kind of group would have some kind of feature where you could share a problem, and then identify if you want 1. support 2. solutions 3. analytic feedback in terms of responses. I don't know. I need my group to make these decisions! I would love to co-create this!

[mrmonk]

I don't know if it would be the right platform for this idea, but could something like meetup.com be an option for organizing such a group in your area?

I'm not sure what would be an appropriate meeting place, but your concept is sound, promising, and much needed; outlined as you have here, I imagine folks who are struggling would respond in kind if it's something you wanted to undertake. Who knows, maybe the idea would catch fire and spread to other parts of the country.

Like they say, be the change you want to see in the world, right?

[Margaret_712 in reply to mrmonk]

Thank you so much for your response! I have looked at the groups on Meetup, and they are all online, so perhaps I could try to create an in-person group. Today that feels daunting.