Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Psychological and Health problems caused by bed bugs (besides bites)
Support Group?
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bbsurvivor
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 1
Posted 5 months ago
Sat Jun 13 2009 21:27:21
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I live in NYC and really, really want to start a support group for people with PSTD from these things. Think it would be super helpful to talk to others who've gone through this madness as only those who've had them understand just how real the trauma is. I can't seem to find any out there, either in the city or in Brooklyn. Are there any or is anyone interested in joining one?
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I am not aware of any support groups in NYC... although I wouldn't be surprised if you find one.
If someone can suggest a good software.... perhaps we could organize a virtual group over Skype or another A/V meeting software online
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DangerousDave
junior member
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 45
Posted 5 months ago
Sun Jun 14 2009 14:57:27
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Yeah, I thought bedbugger.com was one big support group :)
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Bedbugger.com is the best support forum... not looking to understate the value the blog or this forum in any way.
Rather, I am intrigued by the idea of using a software like Skype for delivering therapeutic services to people that want to participate in a real time spoken word experience, but may not have any access to support groups that meet in person.
A virtual support group would also eliminate any concerns about cross infestation which would need to be addressed... if people met in a building.
Basically, I am thinking about small groups with a qualified moderator that would use A/V conference call software to meet for mutual support & education.
I was reading some of the previous comments on this subject & I was thinking about how support groups could be structured... when it occurred to me that Skype could be utilized so that people could have a virtual support group experience no matter where they lived.
The written word is effective, but a lot of the content & meaning is also dependent on facial expressions, body language, inflection & tone of voice... that are not conveyed well by written communication.
At this point, I am just floating the idea to see what other people think of the concept of virtual delivery of support group services?
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brbugfighter
junior member
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 36
Posted 5 months ago
Sun Jun 14 2009 17:44:13
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Hi Doug
I think the virtual support group is an interesting idea. But don't you think face to face meetings are probably more effective in terms of delivering the support some of us need? I mean if you are really looking for the full psychological benefits of a support group, isn't it better get out there in the world and see some real people, not names and faces on a screen? I have never participated in a support group in my life, just witnessed some at work as an observer and did psychoanalysis for 10 years + . But I assume that the level of involvement and catharsis is higher when people are together in the same room, looking at each other in the eye. On the other hand, I understand the issue of cross-contamination may raise concerns.
I think Skype has a limit on the number of users per session, so it may be not the best tool. Sincerely I don't know which is the best video chat tool for multiple participants, maybe others c can give better suggestions?
What I think would be a welcome addition to the wonderful Bedbugger site is a chat function. I think there are a lot of people who hang out here looking for information but others want to vent their frustations, look for a little sympathy or hope. Not everybody likes to post on forums and a chat function would probably make it easier to make that human connection just when you need it.
And a thought that occurred to me right now: is video really necessary? (Let's say in a chat situation rather than an online support group one, which is what I am pitching here).
My gut feeling tells me that considering the stigma a lot of people would prefer to remain unseen, just nicks, no faces, which is a contradiction, considering what I said above about face to face meetings.
Well, just some random thoughts to see if we can get the discussion going.
Brbugfighter
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Thanks for the feedback.
Attending in person would be ideal... I was originally thinking about organizing training sessions & trying to set up a network of therapists around the country... The main advantage would be that we could provide services to anyone... anywhere from the privacy of their home.
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 5,547
Posted 5 months ago
Sun Jun 14 2009 22:32:57
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I could work on a chat module, and see if i could provide that function.
However, I know that is not what Doug's suggesting. It certainly would not be professionally staffed.
Doug, Skype would likely be not so helpful if you have more than 2-3 people involved.
Gotomeeting.com is costly ($49 a mo. total to have 15 participants), but works well for virtual discussions (voice). You could have a therapist present in a virtual meeting. But a therapist is even more expensive than the meeting software. If someone ran such a therapy group, it might gain clients, but would be costly.
I think in any big city with real bed bug problems (NYC, London, etc.) you COULD fill an in-person support group, but it would be extremely hard to ensure that all participants took precautions to come without bed bugs on their clothing or stuff. I think we all realize that the minority of bed bug sufferers are even aware they should be handling clothing and other items (purses, shoes) with extreme care before taking them out of the home.
And people who were getting rid of their own bed bug problems would be taking a risk if exposed to others whose work to prevent spreading bed bugs was not as fastidious.
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DangerousDave
junior member
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 45
Posted 5 months ago
Tue Jun 16 2009 12:43:26
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While Nobugs states the obvious and backs up some very important points, since I first encountered bedbugs and basked in the calming sea of information and support on this forum, I still think about how it would be nice to meet some of the other people here from NYC to speak with, face-to-face. While perhaps a large [open] gathering might not be kosher, I wonder if a select few (perhaps some of the usual suspects), would like to get together some time.
I mean, hell, above all I keep wondering who this elusive and amazing person Nobugs is, do they wear a cape, do they have bedbug fighting superpowers? :D
You're awesome Nobugs, so wherever you are, I'd just like to thank you for your continued toil, effort, and hardwork :) -
DangerousDave
junior member
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 45
Posted 5 months ago
Tue Jun 16 2009 12:46:11
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Also perhaps, if a Chat module can't be setup, Nobugs, some other accommodations or similar setup can be arranged. #bedbugger, anyone? :)
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bedbugsbad
junior member
Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 48
Posted 5 months ago
Tue Jun 16 2009 13:11:27
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NoBugs,
Check out talkshoe.com
I have seen this used on another blog for phone conferencing. People can phone in and one person moderates. It's pretty cool, I think its free and may work for a support group type tool. A regularly scheduled session could be set up (say once a week) with some of the experts also participating (if they wanted to).
I want to second that enabling a chat fuction as suggested above would be fantastic. Real time back and forth between people would be invaluable.
BBbad
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bhdbrooklyn
newbite
Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 2
Posted 1 month ago
Sun Sep 27 2009 20:25:40
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I do not know if this thread is still active, but I am in NYC and desperately wanting to start some sort of in-person support group. I feel like no one close to me can relate, that I am still losing my mind, even though I moved out ogf my infested apartment almost 2 moths ago, and tossed virtually everything I have ever owned...or put it sealed up in storage. No, in the new place, I am still terrified I brought them with me, feel itchy and tingling in the bedroom, cannot sleep without taking some sort of tranqulizer..... I feel like family, friends, think I am over-reacting, being dramatic, but going through this all alone, with no one who could really empathize has been awful. Online is one thing, but really think it might help me to connect with some other survivors.
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I am still looking into implementing chat function here. This would not meet the needs of a support group -- which IMO should be staffed by a trained counselor.
I think Doug may be able to and still want to do something like that online (with voice). Someone in NYC should definitely set up an in-person group. But you really should have someone trained and licensed to run it.
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bhdbrooklyn
newbite
Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 2
Posted 1 month ago
Mon Sep 28 2009 8:30:09
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I am not sure what "IMO" means, forgive me.
I AM presently seeing a trained counselor, but again,
even the counselor has advised that I would benefit from personal interaction with others who have gone through this. If anyone out there is interested, please let me know. It is important to me and I would work to organize and make it happen. -
IN HELLS Kitchen
newbite
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 16
Posted 1 month ago
Mon Sep 28 2009 12:52:25
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Hi BBHDBrooklyn,
I live in NYC and just went through an infestation of my own. (We're 95% positive that we've eradicated them, but, you know, the problem with these guys is you never ever know if you're really rid of them until six months later.) I'd love to meet with a support group in NYC. I have a few friends that went through the whole experience and it felt so much better talk with someone else who went through it.
But it seems like you're really hurting to talk with some other people face to face. If you'd like to meet for a drink (i'm sorry if you may be dry, but for me, alcohol is always required when I talk about them), I'd be happy to meet with you to chat.
PM me if you walk to meet up and talk. WE can even be the most safe about it and meet walking in a Park . . . -
bhdbrooklyn - 5 hours ago »
I am not sure what "IMO" means, forgive me.
I AM presently seeing a trained counselor, but again,
even the counselor has advised that I would benefit from personal interaction with others who have gone through this. If anyone out there is interested, please let me know. It is important to me and I would work to organize and make it happen.Hi bhdbrooklyn,
IMO = In my opinion
I understand self-help can be useful too. I hope you get some responses.
What I am saying is not that you need a counselor, but that it may be best if a bed bug therapy group is led by a licensed one.
Keep in mind some folks prefer to meet in person. Others are going to be afraid that meeting people with current bed bug infestations might lead to more bed bug encounters (this has come up in the past).
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parakeets
oldtimer
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 866
Posted 1 month ago
Mon Sep 28 2009 14:45:08
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You could consider starting a "Meetup" group (www.meetup.com). New York city should have enough of a population base to support it.
One problem you will run into with in-person meetings --which I became aware of when I gave a one-time talk on my experience with bedbugs--is that people who are not sure if they have infestation, have a light one, or who are now recovered from an infestation, may be terrified to meet up with those who have a currently heavier infestation. When I saw people suffering from bedbug infestations coming into my lecture carrying big tote bags, I felt a pang just looking at those bags. Some people told me they were interested in my talk but woudn't even enter the room because some people in the room might have brought bedbugs with them.
Where would you meet? You can't meet in anyone's apartment. I once heard of an unrelated area-wide group that met in a community access room so members could go through their paperwork clutter together--until the managers of the room where they were meeting told them they were NOT allowed to bring their bags of clutter in with them because of the chance of bedbugs being brought in. It wasn't even a bedbug group.
I like the idea of meeting by phone or by web and then people can meet one-to-one if they want.
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DougSummersMS - 3 months ago »
I am not aware of any support groups in NYC... although I wouldn't be surprised if you find one.
If someone can suggest a good software.... perhaps we could organize a virtual group over Skype or another A/V meeting software onlineI second the Skype thing! I have a headset I use for Warcraft raiding (we use a Ventrilo VOIP server though) --- and you know, this sounds like a good idea!
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