Hello Fabulous People!

 

The next meeting of the SF Fibromyalgia and CFIDS Self-Help and Advocacy Group is this Sat, May 5th, 2-4 pm.

FORMAT OF THE MEETING
During the first part of the meeting, we'll have workshops (details
below). In the second part we'll have a discussion about the
following topic.

Topic for this month is:

 

Bringing Meaning to Chronic Illness

One challenge of chronic illness is bringing meaning to life in the face of loss. Many of the activities and roles that defined our lives have been taken away or severely reduced. For example, we may no longer work or have a limited role in the family.

Question for the month: what have you done to create or find a sense of purpose in your life in response to illness and loss? You might discuss how your life is better because of the illness or activities you pursue beyond the illness.

NEWCOMERS

Please arrive about 15 minutes before the meeting so that I can go over the meeting format and rules w/ you.  Please allow extra to find the room.

 

FUTURE MEETINGS (the 1st Saturday of every month, 2:00-4:00):
Workshop topic:
June 2nd - The Importance of Advocacy

July 7th - the CFIDS and FM Self-Help Program

Aug 4th - the Energy Envelope

Sept 1st - Pacing

Oct 6th - Weekly Targets - Setting and Meeting Goals

Nov 3rd - Stress Management

DESCRIPTION OF WORKSHOPS
In the first part of the group we'll have workshops. Each group
member will have an allotted amount of time, about 4 to 9 minutes
depending upon how many people are present. Each person has a choice of the following:
1. sharing without feedback - The person will share without
interruptions or comments for the entire allotted time.
2. sharing and receiving feedback - The sharing portion is, again,
without interruptions or comments. You can also ask the group any
questions you may have.
OR
3. requesting information or advice - A group member can use his/her
entire allotted time asking for and receiving information.

Whatever you decide, remember that you must be done within the
allotted time - this includes time for feedback. The point is to give
each person the opportunity to have the entire group help him/her. If
there is time,the person who has shared may choose to received
questions and supportive comments.

Unless the person says otherwise, please do NOT interrupt anyone who is sharing. Only give feedback if the person requests it, and then
stick to the kind of feedback requested. Under no circumstances do you criticize or offer advice, unless the person specifically asks for it.
Unfortunately, many of us do not have places where we can truly be
heard. This group provides a forum for doing this - without being
given unwanted advice, without being dismissed, without being
criticized, and without being invalidated.

DO NOT GIVE ADVICE UNLESS IT'S ASKED FOR
This group provides a safe place for us to be truly listened to
without being told what to do. If you start your feedback by saying
things like:
"Have you tried..."
"You could..."
"You should..."
then you are probably giving advice. Please remember that the feedback portion is for the benefit of the person asking for it.

This group is for people with FM,CFIDS, and/or chronic myofascial
pain - or those who think they may have one of these disorders.
Friends and family are also welcome.

 

Providers are welcomed as observers for the purpose of creating a better understand about the impact of these illnesses on our lives. Please inform the group facilitator that you are a provider BEFORE the meeting starts. During the workshop portion of the meeting providers can give a brief introduction about what kind of health care professional they are, and why they want to observe the meeting. Providers are not allowed to come to the meeting to market their services.

The information we share at these meetings is **confidential**. By
attending this meeting, you agree to not share information about
members with those outside of the group. (Disclaimer: I cannot
guarantee that all members will abide by this rule.)

LOCATION
Davies Campus of the California Pacific Medical Center, at Castro St. and Duboce St. Rm B1. Enter the North tower, take the elevator to level B.

 

Parking in the garage is free. Take a ticket when you enter and insert it into the slot when you leave. Sometimes you won't receive a card when you enter. In either case, you won't be charged. Public transportation: N, J,22, 24, 6, 7, 66, 71. Wheelchair accessible.

This is a ***FRAGRANCE FREE*** meeting. And please DO NOT come to the meeting if you are CONTAGIOUS.

Please make an effort to be on time to the meeting, as late arrivals
can be disruptive, especially to those who are sharing. It's better
that you come to the meeting late, than not at all, but please make a
concerted effort to come on time.

To receive meeting notices, get on the group's email list by send a
blank email to SFFSSG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. You will receive an email with a link that you will need to click in order to confirm your subscription. You can also get on the email list by going to http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SFFSSG/. If you are planning to go to meetings, I strongly suggest that you get on the email list so that you can receive important notices. While meeting times and location will probably be the same every month, they are subject to change. While meeting times and location will probably be the same every month, they are subject to change. If, and only if, you don't have email, call Cosi 415 564 2275 or Deborah 415 332 5279.

Please note that SFFSSG is an email newsletter, ***NOT*** an email discussion group. This email list will only have administrative messages to the group. If you're interested in an email discussion group for the Bay Area, check out http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/CEFSFB .

Questions, comments, suggestions: Email hosnar@hotmail.com or if you don't have email, call phone contacts. Please don't be offended if I take a while to respond to emails or not at all. I get A LOT of inquiries and I'm doing the best I can. Again, my email discussion group is a great place to get info about the Bay Area.

Sharon P.
aka knotty girl

Our SUPER FABULOUS team of volunteers: Cathy - publicity, Cosi-phone contact, Deborah - phone contact and healthcare provider info, Jim - contact list/healthcare provider info, Sally - treasurer/advocacy, Sarah - healthcare provider info/literature, me -everything else

***--From CFIDS Self-Help: Materials for Alumni/On-going Groups by Bruce Campbell. Campbell also offers a free on-line course, and sometimes an in-person course. Phone: 650/856-2109. Email:CFIDS_Self_Help@Yahoo.com
Website: www.cfidsselfhelp.org.