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Hello Fabulous People!
The next meeting of the SF Fibromyalgia and CFIDS Self-Help and
Advocacy Group is this Sat, Feb 3rd, 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:
Minimizing Relapses
No description due to computer problems
FUTURE MEETINGS (the 1st Saturday of every month, 2:00-4:00):
Workshop topic:
Mar 3rd - Advice to a New Patient
Apr 7th - Handling Vacations and other Special Events
May 5th - Bringing Meaning to Chronic Illness
June 2nd - The Importance of Advocacy
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.
MAKING SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS (adopted from Adult Survivors of Childhood
Abuse,ascasupport.org)
Supportive comments include statements that are empathetic, nurturing,
encouraging, affirming, and/or validating. Supportive feedback is not
a time to give a mini-share. It is an opportunity to be supportive
directly to the presenter. Also, even though a supportive comment has
already been made by someone, repeating the supportive comments in
one's own words is helpful for the sharer to receive again from
another person. We often need to receive the same support many times
before it takes root. When we support the presenter, we are also
supporting each other and ourselves. We all absorb supportive
comments vicariously.
Some examples of supportive feedback:
empathy --- What you described must have been difficult and painful
for you.
I feel sad that you had to go though all that junk.
nurture --- I think you were courageous to do what you did. I think
you are just wonderful.
encourage --- I think you are doing a great job. I have confidence in
you. Just keep on doing it.
affirm --- I agree with you. It takes a lot of hard work to transform
our lives.
validate --- What you said made so much sense. I can really
appreciate how you are feeling.
Supportive feedback does not include advise, suggestions, or a
personal mini-share.
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 B2/3. 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. If you don't have email, but have a fax machine, fax 415 379
3734 to ask that you be notified by fax. If you don't have email or a
fax, call Barbara at 415 571 3486 on, or after the Wednesday before
each meeting.
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 www.topica.com/lists/CEFSFB .
Questions, comments, suggestions: Email hosnar@... 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: Barbara - phone contact,
Cathy -
publicity, Cosi-phone contact, Deborah - healthcare provider info,
Janet -advocacy/healthcare provider info, Jim - contact
list/healthcare
provider info, Sally - treasurer/advocacy, Sarah - healthcare
provider info,
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@...
Website: www.cfidsselfhelp.org.
The next meeting of the SF Fibromyalgia and CFIDS Self-Help and
Advocacy Group is this Sat, Feb 3rd, 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:
Minimizing Relapses
No description due to computer problems
FUTURE MEETINGS (the 1st Saturday of every month, 2:00-4:00):
Workshop topic:
Mar 3rd - Advice to a New Patient
Apr 7th - Handling Vacations and other Special Events
May 5th - Bringing Meaning to Chronic Illness
June 2nd - The Importance of Advocacy
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.
MAKING SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS (adopted from Adult Survivors of Childhood
Abuse,ascasupport.org)
Supportive comments include statements that are empathetic, nurturing,
encouraging, affirming, and/or validating. Supportive feedback is not
a time to give a mini-share. It is an opportunity to be supportive
directly to the presenter. Also, even though a supportive comment has
already been made by someone, repeating the supportive comments in
one's own words is helpful for the sharer to receive again from
another person. We often need to receive the same support many times
before it takes root. When we support the presenter, we are also
supporting each other and ourselves. We all absorb supportive
comments vicariously.
Some examples of supportive feedback:
empathy --- What you described must have been difficult and painful
for you.
I feel sad that you had to go though all that junk.
nurture --- I think you were courageous to do what you did. I think
you are just wonderful.
encourage --- I think you are doing a great job. I have confidence in
you. Just keep on doing it.
affirm --- I agree with you. It takes a lot of hard work to transform
our lives.
validate --- What you said made so much sense. I can really
appreciate how you are feeling.
Supportive feedback does not include advise, suggestions, or a
personal mini-share.
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 B2/3. 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. If you don't have email, but have a fax machine, fax 415 379
3734 to ask that you be notified by fax. If you don't have email or a
fax, call Barbara at 415 571 3486 on, or after the Wednesday before
each meeting.
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 www.topica.com/lists/CEFSFB .
Questions, comments, suggestions: Email hosnar@... 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: Barbara - phone contact,
Cathy -
publicity, Cosi-phone contact, Deborah - healthcare provider info,
Janet -advocacy/healthcare provider info, Jim - contact
list/healthcare
provider info, Sally - treasurer/advocacy, Sarah - healthcare
provider info,
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@...
Website: www.cfidsselfhelp.org.
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