12 step groups for anxiety?

[Zoecat]

Hello, I have been trying to find any 12 steps groups (like AA) for people with anxiety of depression, in the UK. I haven't found any in SW England - there is an Emotions Anonymous group, but just one group in the north somewhere, but mainly in the US. There is another 12 steps anxiety anonymous group, but again it's in the US. There seems to be 12 step groups for pretty much everything except anxiety and depression for some reason (?) (eg. drugs, alcohol, eating disorders etc). Sometimes I think I should become alcoholic just to get some community support (joke!!).

I have general anxiety which fluctates from mild to really bad, which can turn into depression, periodically. One of the worst things for me is a sense of isolation and being alone, and some kind of informal support community group, - with some positive structure like the 12 steps, i think would be helpful, but I can't find anything like this.

Does anyone know of anything like this?

Thanks!

[Catherine S]

They have everything in the US don't they lol! I must say ive not heard of this in UK. 12 steps...hmm...we could do our own, here's my contribution...

Step 1. Don't drink alcohol whilst having a panic attack

Step 2 anyone?

[Zoecat]

: )

ah well, i was wondering if anyone else wld find this useful or not...

[Catherine S]

I think people would find it useful, its a shame really.

[Sam100322]

Step 2 don't do drugs except good ones that help you
:-)

[Anna C]

Step 3 Do some exercise that you enjoy everyday.

[aprilmoon]

Find a hobby that you enjoy,and relaxes you.

[anthrokid]

The reason there are no 12-step programs for anxiety or depression is because they haven't been proven to be effective in clinical populations. Technically speaking, services for mental health can only be offered if they are shown to be clinically effective and reduce symptoms for the client over a period of time. 12-step programs do show results for drug and alcohol treatments - however, no trials has ever shown a significant improvement for anxiety or depression alone.

[Zoecat]

Hi anthrokid, where have you got your information about failed trials for 12 step programmes for anxiety and depression?

In Australia and Ireland there is a 12 step programme for people with mental health problems
http://grow.ie/the-12-steps-to-recovery/

And in the US there is http://www.emotionsanonymous.org/ - a 12 step programme for emotional difficulties inc. depression etc.

I have no idea of the success of these groups.

These and AA groups etc are not mental health services as such (ie. not provided or funded by the state); they are community peer support groups, so clinical trials are not required for them to exist.

I see it as extension of forum's like this, but with actual personal contact with people in your community with a structured positive programme to follow - which you opt to follow completely voluntarily; whilst also helping to reduce isolation, stigma and 'normalise' the widespread problems - a real problem for many with mental health problems.

[anthrokid]

I'm studying/training in my 5th year to be a clinical psychologist. We are required to know evidence-based interventions and practice for all mental health problems, developmental disorders and addiction. We are required to know what interventions are considered clinically effective and those that are not.

Oh yes, sorry for that. I understand that they are community run organisations. I didn't word that very well. What I intended to say was that because of these protocols for mental health services, many organisations (even community ones) would be hesitant to offer a 12-step program because they may be criticised/scrutinised for offering something that isn't considered to work as it's own intervention yet.

I'm not saying that trails for 12-step programs for anxiety and depression have failed, just that to date the trend in research shows that there is no long-term effectiveness of using a 12-step intervention for treating anxiety and depression. It would definitely be a helpful source of extra support to be involved in such a group, but it won't necessarily lead to full recovery without other treatment. Like you said, it's like an extension of this forum where people can interact with eachother and understand what is happening for them and feel less stigmatised. Sorry, in my reply I was referring to the use of a 12-step program to treat depression/anxiety, not as a supportive factor.