During the Covid-19 pandemic
You will want to contact meeting facilitators in your area about whether their meetings are being held or if they have moved online. We have added some online meeting resources, not all specific to psychiatric drug withdrawal, but places where you may continue to find support for recovery.
Benzo Warrior Community – Zoom Meetings
Please join the Benzo Warrior Community on Facebook to find out how to attend ONLINE peer support meetings. All those in varying stages of benzodiazepine withdrawal and recovery are welcome.
The purpose is threefold:
COACHING * CONNECTION * COPING
INNER COMPASS INITIATIVE // NEW OFFERINGS!
Saturday, April 24th, 1-2:30PM EST
The first of what we hope will be a regularly occurring Zoom gathering, this virtual meet-and-greet is an opportunity for psychiatrists, psychopharmacologists, psychologists, social workers, counselors or therapists, physician assistants, psychiatric nurse/nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and mental health researchers to connect, share the challenges and successes of working differently in the system and supporting people as they negotiate their relationships to psychiatric drugs and diagnoses, and getting to know the Inner Compass Initiative team. Registration is required. Click here to sign up.
Meet-and-greet for family and friends
Saturday, May 22nd, 1-2:30PM EST
The first of what we hope will be a regularly occurring Zoom gathering, this virtual meet-and-greet aims to bring together family members and friends with loved ones who are taking or coming off psychiatric drugs or otherwise struggling in the mental health system. Supporters need support too, and so our intention is to help folks connect, share about struggles supporting loved ones, and get to know the Inner Compass Initiative team. Registration is required. Click here to sign up.
ONGOING OFFERINGS
Inner Compass Conversations ~ most Saturdays from 1-2PM EST
These livestream conversations held in our closed “Inner Compass Conversations” Facebook group are an opportunity for the ICI team to connect with our community, share experiences and resources, and often feature special guests. Since we started running them last year, our Conversations Community has grown a great deal, and becoming a critical and vibrant space in which to stay connected. (If you aren’t yet a member of our Inner Compass Conversations Facebook group, please join here!)
Saturday, April 17th @ 1PM EST – Live Q&A w/ Laura & Sheila
Our Q&As are our most popular Conversations Series. This week, Sheila Joins Laura for an open discussion of all things psychiatric drugs, diagnosis, healing and withdrawal. Bring your questions and a hot beverage and make sure to share your own experiences and support with others in the chat.
Saturday, May 1st @ 1PM EST – Addiction vs. Physical Dependence
Some members of the psychiatric drug support community identify as being “in recovery” from addiction, while others do not. Can you be “addicted” to a drug you are taking as prescribed? What are the distinctions between physical dependence and addiction, and why are they important? Join Cooper and Nicole as they share their own thoughts and experiences around this important but often misunderstood topic.
Saturday, May 8th @ 1PM EST – ‘Cope & Heal’ Series w/ Laura & Angie: Cognitive Function
Join Laura and Angie as they discuss their struggles with cognitive function while taking and coming off psychiatric drugs, and how they’ve helped their central nervous systems to heal.
Saturday, May 15th @ 1PM EST – Trauma-sensitive yoga while coming off psychiatric drugs
Angie chats with guest Erin Golden about trauma-sensitive yoga as a practice during psychiatric drug withdrawal.
To join the Inner Compass Conversations Facebook group, click here (please make sure to answer the membership questions to be added!)
Contact person: Laura Delano
In The Rooms is a free online recovery tool that offers 130 weekly online meetings for those recovering from addiction and related issues. We embrace multiple pathways to recovery, including all 12 Step, Non-12 Step, Wellness and Mental Health modalities.
Our primary purpose is to live our lives to the fullest by minimizing the effects of chronic pain and chronic illness in our lives and helping others to do the same. We define recovery as: The ability to live peacefully, joyfully, and comfortably with ourselves and others.
Native American Wellbriety 12 Step Meetings
White Bison offers Wellbriety (sobriety/wellness) recovery and addiction prevention learning resources to Native American/Alaska Native communities nationwide. Many non-Native people also use White Bison’s healing resources, attend its learning circles, and volunteer their services. Online Wellbriety meetings have emerged during the pandemic that welcome ALL nationalities and ALL types of recovery groups.
CANADA
TORONTO
*GAM – Gaining Autonomy Self-Management of Medication
When: Every Monday – 1 to 2 PM
Where: Sound Times East 280 Parliament St, Toronto, Access Sound Times on Poulette Street (the back of our building)
Tel 416.979.1700
Description: Learning and understanding psychiatric medication and its effects on all aspects of a person’s life. Creating spaces of open dialogue around one’s needs and preferences with respect to medication. It’s about making decisions, self-advocacy, engaging external supports, limiting risks and taking charge. GAM bypasses the debate ‘for or against’ medication and shifts the focus instead on the subjective quality of life of the person who is taking the medication.
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
VANCOUVER BC
*Coming off of Benzodiazepines & Sleeping Meds Support Group
When: First Wednesday of every month.
Organized by: Allison P.
Description: Our sole purpose is to provide a support group for each other by sharing our experiences of benzodiazepine or sleeping medication (z-drug) withdrawal and listening to others do the same. This group is founded on a fierce belief in the human spirit, and our innate capacity as human beings to heal from trauma and to regenerate.
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
NEW ZEALAND
AUCKLAND
When: Every Thursday, 06:00 PM ONLINE
Website: https://www.themindtribe.org/safetaperingsupportnz
Contact person: rachel@themindtribe.org
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
UK
NORTH WALES
Prescribed Medication Withdrawal Peer Support Group
(formerly in Prestatyn now meeting via Zoom)
Description: A peer group to help people coming off prescribed drugs. Please join us, with your successes or problems, to support each other in a friendly group. Anyone within travelling distance of Prestatyn is welcome, as we hope to return to physically meeting in the future.
Second Zoom meeting is booked for March 10th at 6 pm GMT and continues fortnightly. Anyone interested in joining may contact Mary at the email below and be added to the Zoom list.
Contact Mary Hennessey ellen.hennessey@btinternet.com
SOUTH WALES
*Prescription Awareness Support Team (PAST)
Who – We began as a small group of concerned individuals with personal experience – realising there was no support or independent information to patients and users of prescription pharmaceutical drugs.
What – PAST is raising awareness and providing support for anyone wishing for help, information and assistance.
Where – We began in Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan.
Contact – message the PAST team: https://past.wales/contact
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
*Prescription Support Team (PST) Meeting
When: Every Thursday 6:00 to 7:30 PM
Where: Ty Canna 40 Market Rd, CF5 1RZ Cardiff
Description: Our team members have had personal experience of long-term use, dependency and withdrawal of prescribed medication. Come along for a chat and a cuppa!
Contact: facebook page https://goo.gl/AQoT9y
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
*Prescription Support Team (PST) Meeting
When: every Monday 1:00 to 2:30 pm
Where: New Link Wales, Meridian Court, North Rd, Cardiff CF14 3BE
Description: Peer led support. We offer support to individuals who are on short or long term prescription medication and want to manage their condition through discussions on mental health, physical health, self love, CBT, DBT, ACT, etc.
We also offer support to individuals who are tapering off a prescription, online, or over the counter medication and wish to have the support that is so needed!
Please call 07707 957001 or email info@pstcardiff.co.uk
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
WORCHESTER, UK
Worcester Withdrawal Group
United States
CONNECTICUT
ILLINOIS
*Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Chicago
Organized by: Jim Thompson
A support group for people trying to use the Ashton Manual to taper off of benzodiazepines. We offer support during your taper and afterwards.
Web: https://www.meetup.com/benzo-withdrawal-chicago/
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
INDIANA
*You’re Not Alone – Jonathan Wagner Benzodiazepine Awareness Foundation
A support group for people affected by Benzodiazepine and Suicide
We are here to Provide support for individuals and families living with the Benzodiazepine nightmare and Suicide of our loved ones
When: Meetings are held every 2nd Tuesday of the month
Where: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
3711 Ridge Road
Highland, IN 46322
6:30-8:30pm
Please visit our website for updates and any new information: https://www.yourenotalonejw44.org/support-meetings
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
MASSACHUSETTS
This support group is now virtual on every Wednesday from 5:00PM to 6:30PM. To join the group by computer and/or phone:
- Click https://advocates-telehealth.zoom.us/j/483620699?pwd=T2VBeTM1dlJQZzN5dXB1Vnd4VEJYdz09
- Enter Password: 351410 when prompted.
To join the group by phone:
- Dial +1 646 558 8656
- Enter Meeting ID: 515 506 104# and Password: 351410 when prompted.
Withdrawing from Psychiatric Meds, facilitated by members of the Advocates Peer Specialist team, is a non-clinical, mutual support group. The group is a safe place for people trying to come off or reduce their psychiatric medications to connect with like-minded people who are trying to, or have, accomplished the Herculean feat themselves, and who are committed to providing mutual support and understanding, share ideas and strategies, or just validate each other.
This group is open to anyone in the Framingham, MA community, not just individuals from Advocates, and participation is completely confidential.
For more information or to request ASL interpreters contact: PeerSupportGroups@Advocates.org.
*Peer Support Group on Psychiatric Drugs
Where: 187 High St, Holyoke, MA 01040 USA (Suite 302)
Contact: email zoe@westernmassrlc.org
MISSOURI
*Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Meetup
Organized by: Angela Peacock ENDED
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Benzos – a Dance with the Devil Support Group Meetup
When: Thursdays 7:00 pm
Where: Concord, New Hampshire
Description: This group is for anyone who is struggling as a result of taking benzodiazepines. Whether you’re currently taking one as prescribed, in the process of tapering or experiencing withdrawal after coming off, all are welcome.
For those in this situation, it is imperative to be surrounded by compassion and support in these difficult times. My hopes in creating this Meetup group is to find others like me in the local area who want to get together offering comfort, understanding and company to our fellow warriors.
Web: https://www.meetup.com/Benzodiazepine-Support-Group-Meetup/
Organized by: Katherine L.
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
OHIO
Holistic Mental Health Network of the Greater Cincinnati Area
When: Every second Thursday of the month 7:00 to 9:00 pm via Zoom due to Covid-19
TEXAS
Austin Benzo Withdrawal Support Group
Communities for Recovery Building
Saturdays at 4 pm.
