No Panic conference Friday 17th June in Telford

[nomorepanic]

Hi all

The charity "No Panic" have their annual conference again this year and we will have a stand there promoting No More Panic.

Alex and I are going along with Di (diane07) and her partner.

We will be staying on the Thursday night at the Holiday Inn (where the conference is).

It would be lovely if we could have a meetup on the Thursday evening before the conference and everyone is welcome to attend the conference on the Friday as well.

The details of the conference are here:

http://www.nopanic.org.uk/page18.html

Key speakers that will be doing presentations are :

Professor Antony Sheehan
Professor Kevin Gournay
Professor Roz Shafran
Professor Paul Salkovskis

It is free of charge to sufferers and carers.

If you would like to attend the conference then you do need to pre-book as lunch is provided so they need to know numbers.

Please email ceo@nopanic.org.uk (ceo@nopanic.org.uk) or phone No Panic on 01952 590005 and they will send you a booking form to complete.

We hope to see some of you there if you can make it. :yesyes:

[Paddington]

depending on adam's shifts i hope to come to the thursday meet up .Would be lovely to see you .xxxx

[nikk_dolittle]

I will try and come along but I might need some help booking my tickets to stay over night. I find it hard to do it.

Would be good to do this, this year.

xxx

[Beeble]

I'm interested in the meet too, also is the conference just for health professionals??

[noutams]

As I live in the Shrewsbury area it's only 8 miles away so I'll be there.

[nomorepanic]

The conference is aimed at sufferers and carers mainly but professionals can go along to gain more information from the prestigious speakers.

[eight days a week]

This sounds fascinating, it'd be lovely to meet more people and gain more insight, and I have long-lost family in the area I really need a good excuse to visit the area for!

I'm seriously considering coming up from Kent for this, I think it'd be great on so many levels :)

[diane07]

I can't wait for this, me and ray had a fab time last time we went, going to book my room this week :yesyes:

[Dawn2]

I am deff coming to the conferance:D Even though I will have spent the previous at a car rally at santa pod.
Could you send me the details of where you are staying? So that I can book a room for thursday.
I will put my booking form in the post in the morning.
Many thanks Dawn

[ditzygirl]

I'll keep this in my diary - I would love to join you. Just depends on finance and elderly parents.

Fingers crossedxxx

[nomorepanic]

We are all staying in the Holiday Inn in Telford where the conference is.

It will be great to see some of you there!

[bluesparkle]

I'm coming ...I've booked time off work , will book room when its pay day

[nomorepanic]

Hey great news Rach - be lovely to see you again.

[nomorepanic]

Don't book rooms yet - me and Di are finding the best deals online so will let you know lol

[bluesparkle]

ok excellant ...
give me a shout when you know
x

[amandaj]

im def going to try to come be nice to see you all x

[~glowly worm~]

Hi there,

could someone please tell me a bit more about what the conference will involve?
Many Thanks,

~glowly~

[nomorepanic]

Hi there

Have a click on the link that I provided to the No panic website and it will give details about the conference.

[~glowly worm~]

Thanks so very very much for this,

all will depend on getting my travel phobia under control to make the looooooong journey :/ But it sounds perfect

~glowly~ x

[~glowly worm~]

p.s sorry Nic just realised you had info already, thanks again!

~glowly~ x

[eight days a week]

Any update on the best deal on rooms Nicola?

(I can't even entertain the idea of trying to go if I don't know where to stay)

:)

[diane07]

The rooms are £52 a night or £62 a night with breakfast, thats in the holiday inn where the conference is.

[nomorepanic]

Di and I didn't find it any cheaper with any other online hotel boking services so we will probably book direct with Holiday Inn so we are sure we get a bed!

[LauraCow]

Since I live in Telford anyway, I'll book it off work and come along.

:)

[~glowly worm~]

Thank you for that Nic, will book a room asap.

[PUGLETMUM]

:)being alot better in the last four months due to citalopram, id like to know if myself and my husband would still be able to come to this (do we book tickets? i havent read the whole thread:blush: sorry i havent got time lately) - i dont live far away so would just be coming for the day

[Dawn2]

I have booked my hotel room:yahoo:And when I get home to sunny Middlesbrough I will have the house to myself:yesyes:because my hubby and son are going away on Friday morning sheer bliss.

[eight days a week]

Thanks a lot Di and Nicola :)

Right, I must get on and book a room, I'm so up for coming along and meeting everyone :yesyes:

[annette1]

What a shame its a week day, I'd be there if I could but I'll be at work.

Hope you all have a great time.

Annette x

[eight days a week]

I'm hoping to book a hotel room in the next two days :)

[nomorepanic]

Just bumping this up to see if anyone is still coming along and has booked themselves on the conference and/or staying overnight in the hotel?

[nomorepanic]

bumping again

[nomorepanic]

I will PM all those that said they may come and does anyone else want to come along for the meetup on the Thursday night?

[nikk_dolittle]

I wanna come Nic :( I wanna come Nic :( I wanna come Nic :( I wanna come Nic :(


Oh wait............

I'm coming I forgot........ :doh:

Watch out ya never know what I will have me! :unsure::yahoo:

[diane07]

I shall be there as i have to keep an eye on nikk :winks:

[Dawn2]

I'm still comming,I've got my room booked I carnt wait.But given that I'm going to Santa Pod on the Friday-Sunday before hand I might be a little bit knackered:sign20:
As by the time I get back from the conference I will have driven a total of 830 miles aprox:yesyes: It's agood job I like driving :yesyes:

[eight days a week]

Well, better late than never, I've just booked my room and train tickets :yesyes:

I'm staying from the Thursday to the Sunday as I have family in the area I've never met.

I've already PMed Nic, but does anyone know any details about the meet (rough times and stuff) in case my family want to meet sometime that night?

Also, is anyone hanging around on Friday as well?

See everyone soon :)

[eight days a week]

I just emailed the organisers and they said that technically today is the last day to book in to the conference, but if you call tomorrow between 10am and 2pm they'll squeeze you in.

(That was lucky!)

<edit> Phoned up just now (Weds) and it was no trouble at all booking a ticket for the conference :)

[nikk_dolittle]

Hotel room all booked. Leftlets printed just to be folded, Train tickets being booked tonight.... Time off work........ How do I ask for that!!!

lol xx

ps watch out as Im shy around people!

[nomorepanic]

I will PM you again Peter about some details

A HUGE thanks to Nikk who has not only helped us iron-out some small flaws in the leaflet but she is also printing them all at work and folding them up. This has saved me a lot of money and time.

Thanks Nikk - you are a star.

[nikk_dolittle]

No need Nic :) But thank you. You know where I am for sort of things - just shout me!

just so you know printing these would of cost you £90 for double sided colour printing! the £9.99 for the quality paper :P But for nowt, you have a bargin :shades:

xxx

[nikk_dolittle]

Train fares have gone up!!!!!!! :(:mad:

£160.40 return :(

sod it......... am coming! ;)

[nomorepanic]

Blimey Nikk that is a lot of spiders!!!!

[nikk_dolittle]

It is.... about 50 of them lol

xx

[eight days a week]

Hotel room all booked. Leftlets printed just to be folded, Train tickets being booked tonight.... Time off work........ How do I ask for that!!!

lol xx

ps watch out as Im shy around people!

Don't worry, so am I (very!) - after so many years though I guess I've just learned to hide it, it doesn't mean it's not there though!


I will PM you again Peter about some details

Thanks a lot Nic, that's great, I got your PM and will stay in touch :)


Train fares have gone up!!!!!!! :(:mad:

£160.40 return :(

sod it......... am coming! ;)

Wow, that's a lot! I used trainline.com and they were much cheaper...maybe you could take a look and cancel the original tickets if you can? :huh:

Anyway, really looking forward to seeing everyone :yesyes:

[Dawn2]

Bloody hell nikk! I'm going to wellingbrough and the conferance from middlesbrough this week and it's not going to cost me that much in petrol. I thought rail travel is supposed to be cheap?
See you on Thursday xx

[bottleblond]

Have a fab time y'all!!! :hugs: xxx

[amandaj]

have a great time all just wish i could of been therexxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[nikk_dolittle]

I wanna come too nic :(

Its not fair...

xx

[diane07]

I thought you were coming nikk?

[nikk_dolittle]

Shhhh!!!!

I am coming!! :P

[~glowly worm~]

sometimes, if u are having more than 1 train and u book direct with the train company u can get cheap tickets?

Like u look at the operator on trainline and go to their site (ie...first g. western) and book for that leg then another company and book with them for the next leg ...

Sorry if this is complicated :/

Secondly... check to see if 2 single tickets (one for way there and one for way back) redcuces the cost.

Hope this helps...if not please feel free to ask again, it may not b useful but worth a mention x

Hugs,

~glow~ xx

[Hazel B]

I'm so sorry that I can't come, I am back to work full time and can't get time off.

I hope it goes well. :D

[diane07]

Two more days to go :yahoo:

I can't wait.

di xx

[nikk_dolittle]

Will see everyone tomorrow that is coming along!

(am sooo scared already!)

[diane07]

You'll be fine nikk, just text me on the journey if you need to. xx

[snowgoose]

have a lovely time all of you .........smashing to meet up and the conference will be informative and also give those who go the knowledge that Nics site is a life saver :hugs:

no dancing on tables ladies .........and no alcohol consumed ok? :D:yesyes:
twinsets and pearls only .....perhaps the odd pot of tea allowed ha !!

have great time and make sure you get the best value for your breakfast next day ......what doesnt get eaten ..doggie bag it .:winks:

xxxxxxxxxxx

[eight days a week]

Thanks everyone, really looking forward (with a bit on anxiety of course!) to tomorrow :yesyes:




have great time and make sure you get the best value for your breakfast next day ......what doesnt get eaten ..doggie bag it .:winks:



And sell it to me when you get outside...muggins here forgot to order breakfast :roflmao:

[diane07]

You don't have to order brekkie now, you can order it on fri morning xx

[nomorepanic]

We haven't ordered breakfast yet Peter - you can do it on the morning if you feel like eating it.

[eight days a week]

Thanks guys :)

I did phone up about breakfast, but they told me it's £9.50 per room...

Being skint I might try looking for someone to share a 'room' breakfast ticket with if I can - I only have one slice of toast and a bit of cereal in the mornings - I'm not paying a tenner for that!! :roflmao:

[bluesparkle]

hope you all have a good time...
im sorry i cant be there this time..
nic ive pm`d you
rach
x

[bottleblond]

Alex is misbehaving already :lac:

[Hazel B]

Hope you all have a great time.:)

[nikk_dolittle]

Nic has me doing the raffle's :(

After nearly shutting me away in the cupboard :(

Xx

[clair..]

hi everyone i was just wondering if there are any meetings in Newcastle?

[diane07]

Can't believe Alex has changed my status :lac:

[nikk_dolittle]

Poor Di :( Lisa will sort him out for you Xxx

[nikk_dolittle]

Wow what a conference. Was really informative.

A huge thank you to nic who was a complete angel to me and who helped me down from a panic attack. Without her I wouldn't of done it.

At times it was hard but I did it, even with only an hour and 1o mins sleep in 2 days!

Was great to meet Diane even tho she left us :( and dawn2 also eight-days-aweek.

Photos to follow!
Xxxxx

[nikk_dolittle]

PLus Nic and alex saw one of my spiders yayyyyyyyyyyy

Nic wants one as a pet.

xxxxx

the star of this was Lisa singing lol was soooooooooo funny!

[bottleblond]

:roflmao:

[eight days a week]

I got back on Sunday night after a really long weekend away (extended to see family in Shropshire) and only just now have the energy to post!

It was lovely to meet everyone, and a very big 'thank you' to Nic (and Alex) for organising everything and getting everyone together - great job, and I hope all your effort was worthwhile - it was certainly very much appreciated by us :yesyes:

(A special mention, as Nikk says, to Lisa and Donald who could only join us via telephone - but what calls they were! I just hope troosers have been found by now!! :roflmao:)
The conference was absolutely fantastic and far, far more interesting and informative than I could ever have imagined or hoped! There were three professors - top, top people in their roles - in attendance who gave four lectures between them.

Warning - long(ish) conference summary follows!

I missed the first half of one of them and was gutted when I came back in because although it hadn't sounded that interesting to me, again it was absolutely spot on. I'd thoroughly recommend anyone who can to get along to next year's conference. Some of the stuff they talked about was way beyond what my therapist has shared with me, and other stuff they talked about was on the same topics but a different take or emphasis. In particular, for me (please correct me anyone who was there if I'm wrong):

- Professor Paul Salkovskis (one of the top CBT bods in the country) said that he was 100% certain that anybody can be cured of anxiety disorders! This was news to me, and has raised my expectations of what to expect from the NHS. I had my last CBT session today, and I'm not cured. I'm much, much, much better than I was, and able to take much less medication, but I'm not cured. I'll be nagging them for more treatment until I am now!

(Today my therapist even asked me how I'd feel if I was discharged from the service altogether at this point. I said 'rotten, it's not right' and then went on to - hopefully - get the point across that I won't be satisfied until I'm helped even more. And I'll stick to that, and fight for it if I have to. Professor Paul gave me the expectation and confidence to do that)

- He highlighted an issue with relapse rates for people having CBT and taking medication. I'm going to contact him about this to make sure I wrote it down right before I quote him. One part I am sure about is that he said that people who relapse after CBT on meds should be entitled for 'booster' sessions to help them after their treatment has officially ended. I put this to my therapist today and she's agreed I can ask for booster sessions if I'm struggling. And she leaves in August but I'll be demanding to be re-referred if I need to be.

- There was a lot of very encouraging stuff about perfectionism. I really suffer from it, but had over the last few years come to see it as a huge negative and source of my problems. Professor Roz Shafran (one of her specialisms) as well as Paul put a very positive slant on it, which helped me a lot - just in one day :)

I could go on and on - it was a fantastic conference from start to finish. Highly recommended for anyone (unlike the pasta arrabiatta at the Holiday Inn :shades: :roflmao:) who can get themselves along - I'll be going every year for sure if I can.

(Funniest moment of the actual conference - when Paul was talking about horrific spider phobia, and Nikk was sitting on her mobile texting away - probably setting up deals involving tarantulas :roflmao:)

So many thanks again to Nic and also Di - without your friendly and encouraging posts I wouldn't have gone or been able to make it, no chance :bighug1:

Additional (non-conference) stuff for people who went along, and may (?) be interested

I had a really wonderful time meeting long-lost family. They were really welcoming and very kind people.

We went for dinner in Shrewsbury on Saturday night and it's a lovely town, absolutely gorgeous, full of history but also lively nightlife. I can't wait to go back, and if anyone gets to a conference in Telford in the future it's definitely worth a look for a day out.

On Sunday we hiked up the Wrekin (a huge volcanic hill in the otherwise pancake-flat Shropshire) and it was fantastic. You can see the whole county as well as into Wales and almost up to Liverpool (I think). One of the best views I've ever seen in Britain. Also recommended.

More local to the conference venue, Ironbridge is meant to be a great day out, and I can't wait to visit again to go there.

This post was not sponsored by the Mayor of Telford and the Wrekin (because he is far too dull to have the imagination to bribe me :roflmao:)

My cousin is not the weird guy from the Holiday Inn on Thursday (sorry Nikk!!)

[nomorepanic]

It was an absolute pleasure to meet fellow NMP'ers last Thursday/Friday. Yes I know I am late in replying as well. I am still unpacking and sorting out the conference stuff and I will get the pics up asap as well. I just need to remember how I access the gallery on here lol.

Nikk, Peter and Dawn came a long way to the conference and well done to them for doing the long drive there.

I had a lovely evening Thursday in the bar with Di, Ray, Alex, Dawn, Peter, Nikk and Mark (who came over from work for an hour to see us as well).

We also had a good day at the conference and many thanks to Peter, Nikk and Dawn for helping us sell raffle tickets and teds at our stand.

I always enjoy listening to Paul S talk and Kevin Gournay too.

Thanks to everyone for coming along - it was so lovely to meet you all.

[nomorepanic]

P.S. A big thanks to Lisa (bottleblond) as well for being such a good sport when we called her and she sang Scottish songs to us all. Cheers mate - it was a good laugh

[diane07]

It was lovely to meet everybody, sorry i couldn't stay longer but had to get back home to get some probs sorted.

I loved listening to Lisa sing down the phone, she has a fantastic voice and i am sure she will be entering The X Factor real soon :wacko:

Cant wait for the next one and hopefully i can stay the full duration.

di xx

[nikk_dolittle]

We also had a good day at the conference and many thanks to Peter, Nikk and Dawn for helping us sell raffle tickets and teds at our stand.



I was told to sell them as Di did a runner!!!!! :winks:

xx

[nikk_dolittle]

(Funniest moment of the actual conference - when Paul was talking about horrific spider phobia, and Nikk was sitting on her mobile texting away - probably setting up deals involving tarantulas :roflmao:)


I was actually lol They arrived today in the post!!!! :wacko: I should of just went and got mine and cured everyone - even nic loved them!!!! :doh:

[nomorepanic]

pictures now added to the gallery

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/gallery2.php?g2_itemId=7565

[nikk_dolittle]

Nic I loooooooook bad in them :( :(

[nomorepanic]

Nikk - can you email me your pics to add too??

[nikk_dolittle]

Will do tonight Nic.

:)