[Seaswept]

Has anyone ever gone to a nami meeting? and what was it like?
I found one in my area and may give it a try.

[creativelight]

I'm not aware of what NAMI stands for, would you spare me the details so I won't have to google it?

[Seaswept]

NAMI stands for National Alliance on Mental Illness. I wanted to find one just for bipolar but the only one in my area is on the night I work..figures.

[creativelight]

Originally Posted by Seaswept

NAMI stands for National Alliance on Mental Illness. I wanted to find one just for bipolar but the only one in my area is on the night I work..figures.

cool! Didn't know about it.

[BipolaRNurse]

There's one in my area, but I haven't gone because I'm more comfortable discussing BP with other BPers, right here online.

I would go (rather erractically) to one that I no longer have access to due to distance.

As for what it is like...
It can be very good. I found meetings to generally be helpful, just for that IRL connection with other BPs that we often lack. Or for finding out about local events relevant to mental health or local political issues if that is of interest to you. (For instance, there was some legislature that was to move the state mental hospital from the where people actually are to basically the middle of nowhere. People tended to have an opinion about that(!))
There are rules -- good ones. Like speaking from "I" statements. In other words, to NOT getting all preachy like, "YOU should do this, YOU should do that" (Which we all have experienced and it's not only unhelpful, it sucks!) Not yapping with someone else or interrupting while someone is sharing. Those kinds of things.
You can share or pass. No pressure.

One random factor that can really affect one's experience is that anyone can show up. Soooo, sometimes someone might be there that you don't really like. Hey, I'll admit it, sometimes I'd think (just to myself of course!!!), "oh crap, so and so's here". Not nice, but there you have it. Though all are supposed to be agreeable to the rules, sometimes someone's not, and if the facilitator doesn't speak up, that can be not great.

The thing about the randomness of the mix of participants also means that one should not write off going based on going a time or two. Maybe those were just not great weeks. Maybe don't go for awhile and then and try again. There tend to be some people who show up a lot over a long time, people who attend pretty regularly for a short while, erratically over a long while, a couple times, once, you get the picture. So it's constantly evolving.

As for apprehension over the first time one attends? Virtually everyone experienced the same thing, so no worries, there's plenty of empathy on that!

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

There's one in my area, but I haven't gone because I'm more comfortable discussing BP with other BPers, right here online.

Me too. I have never wanted to take this experience to RL.

[dillpickle1983]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

Me too. I have never wanted to take this experience to RL.

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

There's one in my area, but I haven't gone because I'm more comfortable discussing BP with other BPers, right here online.

Same for me. I LUV PC!

[Tiger_Lily]

I once went to a support group for young adults with mood disorders and found it very supporting. It broke up due to life happening and drawing us apart. I went a couple of times to another group and didn't have the same instant connection to the group members. Ultimately, it's probable that the connection would have developed, but I started working for the Health Services in Addictions and Mental Health and felt it would be too awkward to air my issues in front of former patients or current clients.

Haha, don't get me wrong -- I'm WAY more into (and certainly FAR more forthcoming) on PC too.

Thought of something else. Besides the support groups, NAMI can be a good resource for finding services which can especially helpful if new to an area. They also have common interest activity groups like writing, quilting, art, walking, gardening which can be good if you just want to get out a bit more w/o making some big committment (or cost) like taking a class at a school. Can't speak to what the different area chapters have to offer, though the one that I know is very active. (And even have their own building!)

There is also DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance), and they have stuff too, though I've no personal experience with them. (Ironically enough, after all I've said, it turns out there is one of those pretty close to here and I thought about it, but am leaning towards not going, lol, even though I could really probably use it... for reasons too numerous to name.)

[Seaswept]

Originally Posted by Innerzone

I would go (rather erractically) to one that I no longer have access to due to distance.

As for what it is like...
It can be very good. I found meetings to generally be helpful, just for that IRL connection with other BPs that we often lack. Or for finding out about local events relevant to mental health or local political issues if that is of interest to you. (For instance, there was some legislature that was to move the state mental hospital from the where people actually are to basically the middle of nowhere. People tended to have an opinion about that(!))
There are rules -- good ones. Like speaking from "I" statements. In other words, to NOT getting all preachy like, "YOU should do this, YOU should do that" (Which we all have experienced and it's not only unhelpful, it sucks!) Not yapping with someone else or interrupting while someone is sharing. Those kinds of things.
You can share or pass. No pressure.

One random factor that can really affect one's experience is that anyone can show up. Soooo, sometimes someone might be there that you don't really like. Hey, I'll admit it, sometimes I'd think (just to myself of course!!!), "oh crap, so and so's here". Not nice, but there you have it. Though all are supposed to be agreeable to the rules, sometimes someone's not, and if the facilitator doesn't speak up, that can be not great.

The thing about the randomness of the mix of participants also means that one should not write off going based on going a time or two. Maybe those were just not great weeks. Maybe don't go for awhile and then and try again. There tend to be some people who show up a lot over a long time, people who attend pretty regularly for a short while, erratically over a long while, a couple times, once, you get the picture. So it's constantly evolving.

As for apprehension over the first time one attends? Virtually everyone experienced the same thing, so no worries, there's plenty of empathy on that!

Thank you innerzone, your post was very helpful.
I e-mailed the contact for the group but have not heard back yet.
I'm looking for more of a human being connection that's why I want to go, hopefully meet and talk with some people that have been there or just listen.