No waiting list
Run by people with anxiety
Attend as many or few as you want
No time limits - we've been here ten years
Group members are welcome to attend either our Thursday or our Wednesday group. Our groups are held at the following times:-
Every Thursday 10am - 12noon (usually room 2, upstairs)
Every Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm (usually room 4, downstairs)
What are groups like?
The purpose of the groups is to share experiences of anxiety, learn together, a social aspect, normalise anxiety/depression/low mood and to share coping strategies. The group size is 5-12 members usually.
Topics
We talk about a very large list of topics (around 100 have been covered over the years). This includes individual conditions like social anxiety and depression, but also coping strategies, sleep. travel, the workplace, families, self esteem and anger. The list is not exhaustive, we really have done scores of topics. We welcome suggestions from regular members, but choose topics for the benefit of the group. We do not offer bespoke tailored sessions or therapy.
Recent and future topics:-
| Weds 16th October |
Compulsions and checking behaviours |
Weds 6th November |
Loneliness |
| Thu 17th October |
morning anxiety and GAD |
Thu 7th November |
Sleep and intrusive thoughts |
| Weds 23rd October |
Sleep and SAD |
Weds 13th November |
Families |
| Thurs 24th October |
Self care |
Thu 14th November |
Happiness & Humour |
| Weds 30th October |
Personality disorders |
Weds 20th November |
TBC |
| Thurs 31st October |
Sleep |
Thu 21st November |
TBC |
Christmas Social provisionally 3rd December 2019
We use padlet which is anonymous to collect ideas and topic suggestions
https://padlet.com/nopanicsheffield/feedback for both Weds & Thursdays
Format
Wednesdays have a quick introduction, a topic for the first hour, a break of about 15 mins and 45 mins of 'how was your week?' which is member time to talk about how they are getting on or things coming up or anything they want to?
Thursdays have a quick introduction, a how was your week that lasts for 10 minutes, a topic for the rest of the first hour, a break of 20 minutes and the remainer of the session is a subtopic, or coping strategies or other things members choose such as arts and crafts (where possible) and mindfulness.
Location of Quaker Meeting House 10 St James' St, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S1 2EW
Where?
We rent out rooms for Quaker Meeting House for running our sessions, S1 2EW, a peaceful city centre location. We are not affiliated with QMH or any other organisations, religious or otherwise such as the NHS or IAPT, other than the national No Panic organisation. Photos are provided courtesy of Quaker Meeting House.
Room 2 above, which is where the Thursday morning groups are usually held.
Room 4, above, is where the Wednesday night sessions are usually held.
What we can't talk about in detail or do topics about
Whilst anxiety, depression and low mood are extremely broad topics, as the groups are open we cannot talk about literally everything. We want people to share in a safe environment, but that also means that others are quite likely to find some material triggering or distressing. Please do not discuss in detail at groups specific details of child abuse, sexual abuse, suicide and self harm as other members or even volunteers may find this quite distressing. A 1-1 conversation with a facilitator if they consent may be appropriate for a small amount of discussion, but these issues need dealing with in detail by a suitably trained therapist or specialist service. You're very welcome to still come to the groups and members with these experiences do attend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone attend No Panic Sheffield Groups?
Yes anyone over the age of 18 who has anxiety/depression/low mood. You do not need to be referred by a GP or other professional. Just get in touch with us by email and we will arrange for you to come to a group. We have members travel from Dronfield and Rotherham too.
Can I bring a friend or support worker?
Yes, you can bring a friend, family member or support worker to our group. They can stay for none, part of all of the group.
Are there any things you cannot deal with in the group?
We are not a specialist service, so we cannot really deal with some of the more challenging areas that members may want to talk about such as trauma of a very graphic nature, rape, child abuse, self harm and suicide. Members are welcome to come to group, but we ask that people be mindful of what they share on these topics as it could be upsetting to other members or volunteers.
Is information I share at group kept confidential?
All group members are asked to respect the confidentiality of the other members and not to discuss the issues raised at the group with anyone outside the group. We do not have any links to other organisations such as the council, NHS or DWP.
Is there a charge for No Panic Sheffield Groups?
No – we do not charge for our groups but we do ask for a small donation of £3 to help cover our room hire, and 50p per tea/coffee for refreshment costs. The cost is subsidised and the actual cost per person per session is about £7 and this is subsidised by small grants given by outside organisations.
How can attending a group help me?
Our facilitators are trained in the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approach, and help members to develop a positive outlook towards coping with anxiety. Group members also share experiences and helpful ways they have developed to cope with their anxiety.
How many sessions should I attend?
There is no set number of sessions you need to attend. Many members have been attending our group for years and prefer to come along regularly to keep their anxiety under control, others come as and when they need support. We welcome members to attend as often as they need, there is no end limit on attending sessions and you can come as frequently or as infrequently as you need.
How many people attend groups each week?
Our groups are attended by a diverse range of people of all ages and backgrounds. We offer support to everyone who needs help with anxiety. The number of people at each meeting varies considerably from a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 15 people. You need to be over 18 to attend our groups. We ask that you are ready to participate in a group environment. The group may not be appropriate for everyone, some people will need help on a one to one basis from a health professional and should contact IAPT if this is your preferred approach.
What if there is not a group at a convenient time and location for me?
We only offer groups in Sheffield city centre as this is a central location and we don't have the resources to hold groups elsewhere. There are a number of telephone support groups available run by organisations such as Anxiety UK 08444 775 774, Mind , No Panic 0844 967 4848
What age ranges attend the group?
We have members from 18 to their 80s. Whilst it is natural for some people to feel more comfortable with people their own age range, both groups are mixed and there are advantages to this.
What specific conditions do people have who attend your groups?
Everything. We have had the nine most common conditions as listed on Mind's website, plus many others such as bipolar disorder, hoarding disorder, trichotillomania and schizophrenia over the years. We do not offer bespoke therapy, however we get asked about conditions a lot, there are enormous overlaps between conditions in symptoms, which may be difficult to see as a new member. Groups are open so who comes every week varies. Please do not be disappointed if you don't meet someone else with your condition. A member may also not wish to disclose it to someone else.
If you would like further information, are concerned whether it might be the right group for you or have particular needs/triggers we need to know about please contact us by email. Quaker Meeting House has several rooms on three floors, there is a board at reception displaying which room we are in for each meeting.
