Willow
04-12-2005, 08:57 AM
Hi All... I found a local resource for people who have difficulty with relationships and isolation and such. It's called Bridges and there is a page on about.com about it. I'm going to check it out and see if it helps. Here's my correspondence with the leader of the group. My first contact message is at the bottom of his message.
Hi Amy:
While there, to my knowledge, is no specific support group in Metro
Nashviille dealing mainly on gaining interdependence, I do have a possible
suugestion.
I am a facilitator for Bridges, a 10-year-old support group which began In
Tennessee and spread throughout the country very quickly.
Bridges focuses on many things, specifically learning how to deal with your
own feelings, problem solving, focusing on solving problems much more than
dwelling on them, etc.
I don't know if you have any of these problems, but many of our group
members deal with depression, relationship problems, stress, family issues,
dating issues, anxiety, fear, etc.
You mentioned something about isolating yourself, feeling safe, trusting
with only a very few friends.
Bridges has helped many adults come out of isolatinm, one in particular I'll
mention.
My best friend, who I met 13 years ago, rarely left his apartment, reallly
didn't want to associate with anybody, would talk maybe a maximum of 4-5
minutes on the phone, etc. He was a true loner.
When I said he didn't want to associate with anybody, I must emphasize he is
very friendly, helpful, courteous, kind, compassionate, thougtful, etc.
He was just extremely, extremely shy about being around any of his friends
because it made him feel nervous because he did not feel he knew how to
relate well enough to other persons to maintain a successful friendship.
In 1995, when he first began coming to Bridges, he came out of his shell; he
found people, some of whom are cuurent friends of his who have given him
confidence in who he is, etc.
My friend is still pretty shy, he still spends a lot of time by himself, is
pretty introverted, but has gotten to the point where, in many ways, he
prefers being with friends rather than going, say a week or so without
seeing anybody.
In some ways, Bridges turned his life around.
I know you mentioned it would be very hard to attend a group because you
"would have to force yourself "to go. I know what you mean, but I'll tell
you something I and many others have learned from first-hand experience.
Once you go to that first meeting, you're halfway there to getting better.
That sounds like oversimplification, but it isn't. It takes courage, it's
not easy, but I feel strongly you can do that. You will feel safe, etc.
I'm not exactly sure exactly what you mean about not feeling you "have to
look normal," to be accepted, but I have an idea or two. One could be
talking about physical looks, mannerisms, etc., than some may feel "are not
normal."
Amy, please don't worry about that. I'll assure you: Bridges has a very
wide diversity of adults with differing problems, such as maintaing high
self-esteem, etc. I guarantee, whatever your problems are, you wil be
accepted as a worthy, deserving-to-be-loved person, which I have no doubt
you are.
I would not guarantee this it weren't 100% accurate.
At Bridges, no one is forced to speak, pressured into talking "just to
reveal things, etc." It's very laid-back, and there are many great people
there you'll feel safe there. They are very accepting; They (and I) don't
care what you've done, how you perceive yourelf, etc. You are accepteed
unconditionally for you are.
The Bridges group averages between 4-15 per meeting. We meet on the second
Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m., and the fourth Tuesday of each month at
7:30 p.m. for hour-long sessions.
We meet at The West End Church of Christ, located off the I-440 West End
Exit going toward St. Thomas Hospital.
I know this is most likely far too short notice, but we meet April 12 at
6:30 p.m., and would love to have you visit the group and see if you're
comfortable with the other members, whether you feel Bridges may address
your needs, etc.
In case you get this e-mail in advance of mid-afternoon April 12, want to
go, or wish to talk more about what Bridges may offer you, please feel free
to contact me at 399-8961 (home) or 424-8145 (cell phone). I do return
calls as promptly as possible, and, when I'm away from home, check my
messages several times a day.
I hope this e-mail has been helpful. If per chance Bridges doesn't suit
your needs, I have access to many resources throughout Metro Nashvillle,
such as many other supportr groups and what their primary functions are.
Thanks very much for writing, and contact me any time if you want to. Of
course, you can send an e-mail message to me April 12---or anytime, for that
matter---but if want to try to go April 12, it might be better call because
I don't always check my e-mail with the same frequency or at the same times
daily.
Take Care,
Woody
3Amy Karns <life4amy@joimail.com>
>To: woody_cade@hotmail.com
>Subject: about.com
>Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2005 14:44:26 -0500
>
>Hi Woody,
>
>I found you on about.com
>
>I wonder if you know about a support group in or near nashville where I can
>learn healthy interdependence. I tend to isolate myself and haven't
>developed a network of friends where I feel safe. I would have to force
>myself to go at first because the thing I need most is the thing that I'm
>most uncomfortable with.
>
>Maybe if I didn't feel like I had to "look" normal, I could learn more
>about actually being normal and letting people into my "want to" spot....
>where I would "want to" be with them instead of wanting to be by myself.
>
>Thanks much
>Amy
Hi Amy:
While there, to my knowledge, is no specific support group in Metro
Nashviille dealing mainly on gaining interdependence, I do have a possible
suugestion.
I am a facilitator for Bridges, a 10-year-old support group which began In
Tennessee and spread throughout the country very quickly.
Bridges focuses on many things, specifically learning how to deal with your
own feelings, problem solving, focusing on solving problems much more than
dwelling on them, etc.
I don't know if you have any of these problems, but many of our group
members deal with depression, relationship problems, stress, family issues,
dating issues, anxiety, fear, etc.
You mentioned something about isolating yourself, feeling safe, trusting
with only a very few friends.
Bridges has helped many adults come out of isolatinm, one in particular I'll
mention.
My best friend, who I met 13 years ago, rarely left his apartment, reallly
didn't want to associate with anybody, would talk maybe a maximum of 4-5
minutes on the phone, etc. He was a true loner.
When I said he didn't want to associate with anybody, I must emphasize he is
very friendly, helpful, courteous, kind, compassionate, thougtful, etc.
He was just extremely, extremely shy about being around any of his friends
because it made him feel nervous because he did not feel he knew how to
relate well enough to other persons to maintain a successful friendship.
In 1995, when he first began coming to Bridges, he came out of his shell; he
found people, some of whom are cuurent friends of his who have given him
confidence in who he is, etc.
My friend is still pretty shy, he still spends a lot of time by himself, is
pretty introverted, but has gotten to the point where, in many ways, he
prefers being with friends rather than going, say a week or so without
seeing anybody.
In some ways, Bridges turned his life around.
I know you mentioned it would be very hard to attend a group because you
"would have to force yourself "to go. I know what you mean, but I'll tell
you something I and many others have learned from first-hand experience.
Once you go to that first meeting, you're halfway there to getting better.
That sounds like oversimplification, but it isn't. It takes courage, it's
not easy, but I feel strongly you can do that. You will feel safe, etc.
I'm not exactly sure exactly what you mean about not feeling you "have to
look normal," to be accepted, but I have an idea or two. One could be
talking about physical looks, mannerisms, etc., than some may feel "are not
normal."
Amy, please don't worry about that. I'll assure you: Bridges has a very
wide diversity of adults with differing problems, such as maintaing high
self-esteem, etc. I guarantee, whatever your problems are, you wil be
accepted as a worthy, deserving-to-be-loved person, which I have no doubt
you are.
I would not guarantee this it weren't 100% accurate.
At Bridges, no one is forced to speak, pressured into talking "just to
reveal things, etc." It's very laid-back, and there are many great people
there you'll feel safe there. They are very accepting; They (and I) don't
care what you've done, how you perceive yourelf, etc. You are accepteed
unconditionally for you are.
The Bridges group averages between 4-15 per meeting. We meet on the second
Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m., and the fourth Tuesday of each month at
7:30 p.m. for hour-long sessions.
We meet at The West End Church of Christ, located off the I-440 West End
Exit going toward St. Thomas Hospital.
I know this is most likely far too short notice, but we meet April 12 at
6:30 p.m., and would love to have you visit the group and see if you're
comfortable with the other members, whether you feel Bridges may address
your needs, etc.
In case you get this e-mail in advance of mid-afternoon April 12, want to
go, or wish to talk more about what Bridges may offer you, please feel free
to contact me at 399-8961 (home) or 424-8145 (cell phone). I do return
calls as promptly as possible, and, when I'm away from home, check my
messages several times a day.
I hope this e-mail has been helpful. If per chance Bridges doesn't suit
your needs, I have access to many resources throughout Metro Nashvillle,
such as many other supportr groups and what their primary functions are.
Thanks very much for writing, and contact me any time if you want to. Of
course, you can send an e-mail message to me April 12---or anytime, for that
matter---but if want to try to go April 12, it might be better call because
I don't always check my e-mail with the same frequency or at the same times
daily.
Take Care,
Woody
3Amy Karns <life4amy@joimail.com>
>To: woody_cade@hotmail.com
>Subject: about.com
>Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2005 14:44:26 -0500
>
>Hi Woody,
>
>I found you on about.com
>
>I wonder if you know about a support group in or near nashville where I can
>learn healthy interdependence. I tend to isolate myself and haven't
>developed a network of friends where I feel safe. I would have to force
>myself to go at first because the thing I need most is the thing that I'm
>most uncomfortable with.
>
>Maybe if I didn't feel like I had to "look" normal, I could learn more
>about actually being normal and letting people into my "want to" spot....
>where I would "want to" be with them instead of wanting to be by myself.
>
>Thanks much
>Amy