Peer support group starting in San Francisco

altostrata · 12-16-2006, 11:48 PM

I just posted this on craigslist and got TWO responses within a couple of hours. This might just happen!!!!

If you are interested in attending, please send mail to ssripeersupport@comcast.net (that's me!).

Antidepressant withdrawal syndrome peer support group
Reply to: ssripeersupport@comcast.net
Date: 2006-12-16, 3:47PM PST

We are forming a peer support group for people experiencing withdrawal symptoms from antidepressants such as Paxil, Effexor, and Zoloft. This can happen while you are tapering off a medication or after you have stopped taking it.

The peer support group will practice non-drug alternatives to control anxiety and help each other cope with symptoms. We do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

The group will take place Monday or Tuesday evenings very close to the Civic Center BART stop in downtown San Francisco. There is no charge for participation.

This group is held under the sponsorship of a county-funded non-profit mental health clinic in operation more than 15 years. The group and clinic have no affiliation whatsoever with any religious or quasi-religious organization.

If you are interested, please send mail to the address above. We will contact you soon to confirm date, place, and time. All responses are confidential.

elisa · 12-16-2006, 11:52 PM

Congratulations Alto!! You ROCK!!

Katesmom · 12-16-2006, 11:53 PM

This is HUGE, alto! I hope it works out because it is very needed!

elisa · 12-17-2006, 12:01 AM

Don't know if I'm dreaming but I'm seeing the possibility of a lot of branches of the Peer Support Group opening up in any other major cities as soon as the word spreads that this is working!!

scotty · 12-17-2006, 10:50 AM

Go Alto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

summer bee · 12-17-2006, 10:56 AM

alto, this is AWESOME -- i am so glad that you are getting something like this started!!

mstimc · 12-17-2006, 09:48 PM

Hi Alto--

We travel to The City at least once a year. Will your group accept visitors from So Cal?

altostrata · 12-18-2006, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstimc

Hi Alto--

We travel to The City at least once a year. Will your group accept visitors from So Cal?

Of course!

mstimc · 12-18-2006, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by altostrata

Of course!

Cool! Thanks! (notice I referred to San Francisco as The City rather than the "F" word--some of us Southern Californians have a little class!)

Kitsyl · 12-18-2006, 12:50 PM

Great idea, Altostrata, and I hope it goes well!

Just think of the difference your group is going to make to so many people. Once day, hopefully, there'll be similar groups all over the world. And one day, hopefully, they won't be necessary :-)

mstimc · 12-18-2006, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitsyl

Great idea, Altostrata, and I hope it goes well!

Just think of the difference your group is going to make to so many people. Once day, hopefully, there'll be similar groups all over the world. And one day, hopefully, they won't be necessary :-)

Hi Ktsyl--
Just curious--for those of us who are metrically challenged, how much is 21 kg in pounds? I've dropped about 10 lbs. since October!

Homerbcool · 12-18-2006, 03:08 PM

1kg = 2.2 pounds
2.54 cm = 1 inch
1 meter = 39.6 inches
1 kilometer = .6 miles
I u.s gallon = 4 litres (4,54 litres to imperial or CDN gallon)

mstimc · 12-18-2006, 03:21 PM

Thanks, Homer!

eileen · 12-18-2006, 03:28 PM

Alto, this is wonderful. Wow!
eileen

altostrata · 12-18-2006, 09:09 PM

If you can think of any good places to post the announcement in my initial post, please feel free to do so. Remember, replies go to ssripeersupport@comcast.net, a special mailbox I set up.

Thanks, everybody.

elisa · 12-18-2006, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by altostrata

If you can think of any good places to post the announcement in my initial post, please feel free to do so. Remember, replies go to ssripeersupport@comcast.net, a special mailbox I set up.Thanks, everybody.

Thinking about making it a sticky?? That would be wonderful!!

altostrata · 12-18-2006, 11:43 PM

Well, that would be an honor, but what I was thinking of is if you belong to any other online groups or sites where members might be interested, please post the announcement there.

I'm going to have to do a mass media kind of promotion, since I don't know where San Franciscans with discontinuation syndrome may be reading.

I'll probably take out ads in the local papers after the holidays. But free publicity on the Web can't hurt!

Kitsyl · 12-19-2006, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstimc

Hi Ktsyl--
Just curious--for those of us who are metrically challenged, how much is 21 kg in pounds? I've dropped about 10 lbs. since October!

44 pounds (2.2 lbs = 1 kg).

Congrats with your weight loss, Mstimc!

mstimc · 12-19-2006, 12:45 PM

Thanks!

altostrata · 12-19-2006, 08:31 PM

FIVE people have responded to my postings on craigslist and a couple of other places, like www.dr-bob.org and healthyplace.com forums. (I think the craigslist postings are the most effective.)

I believe we'll have our first meeting the second week of January.

I can use your help -- please post the announcement in the initial post in any forums you visit where it would be appropriate.

scotty · 12-19-2006, 08:33 PM

You're stickied here!!

altostrata · 12-19-2006, 08:40 PM

And thanks so much for that!

scotty · 12-19-2006, 09:09 PM

I just wish I was closer to San Fran!!! I would SO be there!!!

altostrata · 12-21-2006, 11:31 AM

You have an open invitation, Laurie, as does everyone on paxilprogress.

I hope to figure out how to do this, and I'll travel to help set up groups if anyone wants to do it where they live.

mstimc · 12-21-2006, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotty

I just wish I was closer to San Fran!!! I would SO be there!!!

Scotty--If you've never been to San Francisco, a word to the wise--NEVER, NEVER call it "Frisco". They hate that word up there!

12-16-2006, 11:48 PM	#1
altostrata Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 4,652	Peer support group starting in San Francisco I just posted this on craigslist and got TWO responses within a couple of hours. This might just happen!!!! If you are interested in attending, please send mail to ssripeersupport@comcast.net (that's me!). Antidepressant withdrawal syndrome peer support group Reply to: ssripeersupport@comcast.net Date: 2006-12-16, 3:47PM PST We are forming a peer support group for people experiencing withdrawal symptoms from antidepressants such as Paxil, Effexor, and Zoloft. This can happen while you are tapering off a medication or after you have stopped taking it. The peer support group will practice non-drug alternatives to control anxiety and help each other cope with symptoms. We do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The group will take place Monday or Tuesday evenings very close to the Civic Center BART stop in downtown San Francisco. There is no charge for participation. This group is held under the sponsorship of a county-funded non-profit mental health clinic in operation more than 15 years. The group and clinic have no affiliation whatsoever with any religious or quasi-religious organization. If you are interested, please send mail to the address above. We will contact you soon to confirm date, place, and time. All responses are confidential. __________________ '97-'99 Prozac 10mg, tapered, no problem '02-'04 Paxil 10mg, tapered 1mg/wk Oct '04 10/04-12/04 Hypomania, sweating, brain zaps 12/04-7/05 Insomnia, weepy, pseudo-anxiety, anorgasmia 1/05-1/06 Wellbutrin 100-250mg 9/05-4/06 Disabled -- fatigue 1/06-5/07 Vits C, D3, E, mag, zinc, fish oil, acupuncture, whey protein isolate, melatonin help 1/08-1/09 Disabled -- severe insomnia Recovering with aid of an extraordinary MD. See http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/...?p=582889#post

12-16-2006, 11:52 PM	#2
elisa Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 11,509	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco Congratulations Alto!! You ROCK!! __________________ On A/D's since 1995, switching due to side-effects on 30 different brands of TCA's, SSRI's, SNRI's, Antipsychotics, Benzo's & Imovane. 6 ECT's. Tapering from 225 mg Effexor XR May 17, 2004. (Equiv. to 60 mg Paxil) Last taper Effexor XR Jan 17, 2006 down to ZERO. Currently protracted withdrawal. Sept 2006: 25 mg Doxepin. March 13/09: 10 mg Desipramine

12-16-2006, 11:53 PM	#3
Katesmom Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 13,706	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco This is HUGE, alto! I hope it works out because it is very needed! __________________ Katesmom aka Kim started Paxil Oct. 2003 for PIH Paxil free since 19 Jul 2005 ". . .the cruelest lies are often told without a word. . .the kindest truths are often spoken, never heard." -- Ben Folds

12-17-2006, 12:01 AM	#4
elisa Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 11,509	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco Don't know if I'm dreaming but I'm seeing the possibility of a lot of branches of the Peer Support Group opening up in any other major cities as soon as the word spreads that this is working!! __________________ On A/D's since 1995, switching due to side-effects on 30 different brands of TCA's, SSRI's, SNRI's, Antipsychotics, Benzo's & Imovane. 6 ECT's. Tapering from 225 mg Effexor XR May 17, 2004. (Equiv. to 60 mg Paxil) Last taper Effexor XR Jan 17, 2006 down to ZERO. Currently protracted withdrawal. Sept 2006: 25 mg Doxepin. March 13/09: 10 mg Desipramine

12-17-2006, 10:50 AM	#5
scotty Administrator & Advocate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 38,590	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco Go Alto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ AKA Laurie "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

12-17-2006, 10:56 AM	#6
summer bee Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: pennsylvania Posts: 1,665	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco alto, this is AWESOME -- i am so glad that you are getting something like this started!! __________________ 06/26/2006: 10mg; found paxilprogress.org 06/28/2006-01/20/07: a long, zappy time of tapering paxil-free for: TWO YEARS! video: tapering off of paxil. facebook: the dangers of antidepressants. la times: my paxil withdrawal story "all systems begin and end in silence; nothing needs solving, nothing is a problem..." - al zolynas, the algebra nightmare

12-17-2006, 09:48 PM	#7
mstimc "Mr. EPPA" Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Southern Calif. Posts: 8,138	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco Hi Alto-- We travel to The City at least once a year. Will your group accept visitors from So Cal? __________________ MSTIMC --Tim C. "If there's no baseball in Heaven, then I ain't goin'! --Casey Stengel 20 mg per day since late 1999 November 2006--Found this site and right way to taper April 15, 2008 ZERO! Supplements: Prayer, Multi-vitamin, fish oil, Prayer!

12-18-2006, 12:50 PM	#10
Kitsyl Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: England Posts: 842	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco Great idea, Altostrata, and I hope it goes well! Just think of the difference your group is going to make to so many people. Once day, hopefully, there'll be similar groups all over the world. And one day, hopefully, they won't be necessary :-) __________________ Diazepam 'Family' (28 years) - Cold turkey 2000 Seroxat (Paxil) 20mgs Since 1998. Slow w/d since Aug 2005 05/06: 8.2mgs : 06/06 : 8mgs : 07/06 : 7.4 : 08/06: 7mgs : 09/06 : 5mgs : 10/06 : 4.4mgs : 11/06 : 4mgs : 12/06 : 3.4 mgs : 01/07 : 3mgs : 02/07 : 2.75mgs : 02/07 : 2.4mgs : 03/07 : 2mgs : 04/07 : 1mg : 05/07 : 0.5mg 06/07 : 0.1 mgs : 07/07 : ZERO! Almost 2 years later: Drug and symptom free.

12-18-2006, 03:08 PM	#12
Homerbcool "colors outside the lines" Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 15,949	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco 1kg = 2.2 pounds 2.54 cm = 1 inch 1 meter = 39.6 inches 1 kilometer = .6 miles I u.s gallon = 4 litres (4,54 litres to imperial or CDN gallon) __________________ That's one of the curses of anxiety--we make possibilities into certainties.....Tim

12-18-2006, 03:21 PM	#13
mstimc "Mr. EPPA" Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Southern Calif. Posts: 8,138	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco Thanks, Homer! __________________ MSTIMC --Tim C. "If there's no baseball in Heaven, then I ain't goin'! --Casey Stengel 20 mg per day since late 1999 November 2006--Found this site and right way to taper April 15, 2008 ZERO! Supplements: Prayer, Multi-vitamin, fish oil, Prayer!

12-18-2006, 03:28 PM	#14
eileen Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 9,272	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco Alto, this is wonderful. Wow! eileen __________________ June 13/07-reducing by .05mg. every four weeks to present. October 29/08-Paxil Free 2006-Cut Trazodone from 150mg to 100mg. Sept 07/09- Trazodone 75mg. Started this journey of horror with AD's in 1994, Put on Paxil 30 mg in Feb/1995 I will survive!

12-18-2006, 09:09 PM	#15
altostrata Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 4,652	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco If you can think of any good places to post the announcement in my initial post, please feel free to do so. Remember, replies go to ssripeersupport@comcast.net, a special mailbox I set up. Thanks, everybody. __________________ '97-'99 Prozac 10mg, tapered, no problem '02-'04 Paxil 10mg, tapered 1mg/wk Oct '04 10/04-12/04 Hypomania, sweating, brain zaps 12/04-7/05 Insomnia, weepy, pseudo-anxiety, anorgasmia 1/05-1/06 Wellbutrin 100-250mg 9/05-4/06 Disabled -- fatigue 1/06-5/07 Vits C, D3, E, mag, zinc, fish oil, acupuncture, whey protein isolate, melatonin help 1/08-1/09 Disabled -- severe insomnia Recovering with aid of an extraordinary MD. See http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/...?p=582889#post

12-18-2006, 11:43 PM	#17
altostrata Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 4,652	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco Well, that would be an honor, but what I was thinking of is if you belong to any other online groups or sites where members might be interested, please post the announcement there. I'm going to have to do a mass media kind of promotion, since I don't know where San Franciscans with discontinuation syndrome may be reading. I'll probably take out ads in the local papers after the holidays. But free publicity on the Web can't hurt! __________________ '97-'99 Prozac 10mg, tapered, no problem '02-'04 Paxil 10mg, tapered 1mg/wk Oct '04 10/04-12/04 Hypomania, sweating, brain zaps 12/04-7/05 Insomnia, weepy, pseudo-anxiety, anorgasmia 1/05-1/06 Wellbutrin 100-250mg 9/05-4/06 Disabled -- fatigue 1/06-5/07 Vits C, D3, E, mag, zinc, fish oil, acupuncture, whey protein isolate, melatonin help 1/08-1/09 Disabled -- severe insomnia Recovering with aid of an extraordinary MD. See http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/...?p=582889#post

12-19-2006, 12:45 PM	#19
mstimc "Mr. EPPA" Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Southern Calif. Posts: 8,138	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco Thanks! __________________ MSTIMC --Tim C. "If there's no baseball in Heaven, then I ain't goin'! --Casey Stengel 20 mg per day since late 1999 November 2006--Found this site and right way to taper April 15, 2008 ZERO! Supplements: Prayer, Multi-vitamin, fish oil, Prayer!

12-19-2006, 08:31 PM	#20
altostrata Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 4,652	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco FIVE people have responded to my postings on craigslist and a couple of other places, like www.dr-bob.org and healthyplace.com forums. (I think the craigslist postings are the most effective.) I believe we'll have our first meeting the second week of January. I can use your help -- please post the announcement in the initial post in any forums you visit where it would be appropriate. __________________ '97-'99 Prozac 10mg, tapered, no problem '02-'04 Paxil 10mg, tapered 1mg/wk Oct '04 10/04-12/04 Hypomania, sweating, brain zaps 12/04-7/05 Insomnia, weepy, pseudo-anxiety, anorgasmia 1/05-1/06 Wellbutrin 100-250mg 9/05-4/06 Disabled -- fatigue 1/06-5/07 Vits C, D3, E, mag, zinc, fish oil, acupuncture, whey protein isolate, melatonin help 1/08-1/09 Disabled -- severe insomnia Recovering with aid of an extraordinary MD. See http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/...?p=582889#post

12-19-2006, 08:33 PM	#21
scotty Administrator & Advocate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 38,590	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco You're stickied here!! __________________ AKA Laurie "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

12-19-2006, 08:40 PM	#22
altostrata Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 4,652	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco And thanks so much for that! __________________ '97-'99 Prozac 10mg, tapered, no problem '02-'04 Paxil 10mg, tapered 1mg/wk Oct '04 10/04-12/04 Hypomania, sweating, brain zaps 12/04-7/05 Insomnia, weepy, pseudo-anxiety, anorgasmia 1/05-1/06 Wellbutrin 100-250mg 9/05-4/06 Disabled -- fatigue 1/06-5/07 Vits C, D3, E, mag, zinc, fish oil, acupuncture, whey protein isolate, melatonin help 1/08-1/09 Disabled -- severe insomnia Recovering with aid of an extraordinary MD. See http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/...?p=582889#post

12-19-2006, 09:09 PM	#23
scotty Administrator & Advocate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 38,590	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco I just wish I was closer to San Fran!!! I would SO be there!!! __________________ AKA Laurie "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

12-21-2006, 11:31 AM	#24
altostrata Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 4,652	Re: Peer support group starting in San Francisco You have an open invitation, Laurie, as does everyone on paxilprogress. I hope to figure out how to do this, and I'll travel to help set up groups if anyone wants to do it where they live. __________________ '97-'99 Prozac 10mg, tapered, no problem '02-'04 Paxil 10mg, tapered 1mg/wk Oct '04 10/04-12/04 Hypomania, sweating, brain zaps 12/04-7/05 Insomnia, weepy, pseudo-anxiety, anorgasmia 1/05-1/06 Wellbutrin 100-250mg 9/05-4/06 Disabled -- fatigue 1/06-5/07 Vits C, D3, E, mag, zinc, fish oil, acupuncture, whey protein isolate, melatonin help 1/08-1/09 Disabled -- severe insomnia Recovering with aid of an extraordinary MD. See http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/...?p=582889#post

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