ARE MEET-UP'S No-Go'S

[baxwalker]

Just out of interest - have any of you had successful meet ups - or are they just a non starter. I would have thought they were an ideal chance to socialise with guys n girls with similar problems. My thread about a Canterbury meet hasn't received one response. However i do realise the unfortunate need that you ladies to be careful these days with so many weirdo's about.

There must be some way round this.

Any suggestions?

John

[nomorepanic]

John

Ok - the successful meet-ups that I have been to are ...

1) here at my house in Bedforshire
2) at a member's house in Durham
3) in london in the royal festival hall
4) 2 x trips to Alton Towers
5) at a conference in London
6) at a member's house in East Midlands
7) at a park in the Midlands

There are some pictures towards the end of this page ...

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/NMPcms.php?nmppage=pictures

All of these meet-ups were organised by either myself or one of the forum moderators and were very successful.

I am not sure how many other meet-ups have actually occurred as not everyone posts about them.

Maybe no-one lives near you or wants to get to know you better first.

The meet-ups are only successul if someone takes control of organising it and making sure everyone knows where and when and has contact details of all those interested in going.

I haven't arranged any this year but hope to do some again next year.

Hope that helps!

People will forget what you said
People will forget what you did
But people will never forget how you made them feel

Nicola

[jill]

Hi John :D

[8D] I remember reading about the meet up at Alton Towers, I have been looking for the thread to show you just how much they all enjoyed themsleves, but don't seem to be able to find it :(.

Sorry you did not get a respones to your thread on Canterbury, as Nic said, maybe no one live near you.

TAKE CARE

LOVE JILLXX

[clickaway]

Hi John,

Don't give up on these meet-ups, but there are many reasons why they don't happen, and unfortunately November is not the ideal time. By the time you have got responses and an ideal date, you will face many stumbling blocks such as Christmas, bad weather and dark nights. Some women may feel uneasy about meeting a male stranger alone too.

Many people on here aren't very good at travelling very far as well.

I went to the meet up in London in August 2005 and I think they were 8 of us there, two of which had travelled over 100 miles.

The chances are there is a member in Canterbury, and thre will be others in neighbouring towns. I am hoping for a meet up in the south east in the spring/summer and hope we can both make it!

Regards,


Ray


http://www.anxietyrelease.org.uk/

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.
~Mark Sanders and Tia Sillers

[mynydd]

It is dissapointing when meetups dont happen- months and months of talk then nothing.

[baxwalker]

Hi all

It's nice to hear that there have been some very successful meets and that you all enjoyed yourselves.

I can understand the problem for a lady meeting up with an unknown male - you just can't be too careful these days. And of course a couple of guys meeting up usually attracts some strange glances too :D.

As already mentioned - there's only a handful of people who seem to have either the skills or the inclination to make the arrangements etc.

Kind regards

John

[gabs]

I posted about trying to meet people in Northants but have had no replys. I realise that it is probably better to try and establish friendships online first as it is better for the other people to have an idea of who the other person is and what sort of support they may need and may be able to offer.

Gabs

[NPS_Paul]

I haven't been to one through this site, but when my group therapy ended a few years ago 4 of us continued to meet for coffee for some moths. It only ended when the no drinking during or before meeting was broken by one and then another person. Both then began to bring their agression as well as bad behaviour.
It saddened me that i had to stop the 4 of us meeting. I continued to see one lady at her house, and the other lady sometimes came too. I then found out drugs had been used as well before our therapy group and meet ups too probably.
I don't think it is just women who need to be wary, statistics say young men 18-25 are most likely to suffer violent attack. Reading above that moderators have organised meets in a professional way gives confidence and i hope i'll one day be able to attend one. Love to all readers, Paul.

Love to all members

[nomorepanic]

Paul

I am not sure what sort of meet-ups you went to but I never needed to consider drink and drugs etc. They never even came into it. What sort of meet-ups did you have ????

Ours were all panic sufferers and we had a great time and were very successful

People will forget what you said
People will forget what you did
But people will never forget how you made them feel

Nicola

[kazzie]

Hi I met up with another member when i was on holiday this year. There was her and her hubby and son and me and my hubby. We had a lovely pub lunch and my husband really enjoyed talking to her husband about living with sufferers and we all had a great time. Meet ups dont have to have loads of people there.

luv kaz x

[NPS_Paul]

My meet up was after an nhs therapy group ended. All the people were phobia and anxiety sufferers. We came to a decision before the group ended to meet up, but i said only if over coffee/ tea in cafes. This is how it began and i was very happy. But after a few months a couple of the people wanted to meet in a wine bar, but insisted they'd only drink coffee. Eventually i agreed, i trusted them. After afew weeks though they started ordering drinks, again reassuring me.
But after a few more weeks they started turning up drunk. I made it clear i wouldn't put up with this and it was either back to coffee or i'd leave. They said alcohol or they wouldn't come. So we went our seperate ways.

I in no way suggest any meets organised by people on this site would be similar to my experience. But after being beaten up by someone who was drunk when i was younger, i do not touch alcohol and will not mix with anyone under the influence. I had to take this individual to court and they were convicted. Later went to prison. Love Paul.

Love to all members