Lived Experience Forum

[Emelia8]

Good evening all, including @Daisydreamer @NatureLover @Former-Member @Shaz51 @Former-Member @BlueBay and others joining in.

Hi and thankyou to @ARCVic 

Emelia

[Former-Member]

I'm PAX1741 I have a few diagnoses' one of them being OCD. It has been the case that my OCD has been more prevalent lately, and so I thought this talk would be good. 

[NatureLover]

Lovely to see you, @Emelia8  

[Daisydreamer]

For our community, here is your first question: Would you like to introduce yourself and what you are hoping to get out of the conversation tonight?

[ARCVic]

Question 1: We would love to hear more about yourself and ARCVic

Hello everyone. My name is Anu and  I am the coordinator for the support groups program at the Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria (ARCVic). As an individual with lived experience of Anxiety, Panic Disorder and OCD I started as a consumer and volunteer and have been associated with the organisation for over 7yrs now.

ARCVic was established as a grass-roots not-for-profit organisation a little over 30yrs ago as the Obsessive Compulsive and Anxiety Disorders Foundation of Victoria. You can find out more here...https://www.arcvic.org.au/about-us 

We provide information, support and referrals to individuals in the community with anxiety disorders, their families and carers via our Helpline. We also provide 1-on-1 emotional support to individuals with anxiety via our CARES4ME program with a matched volunteer based on peoples’ needs. Additionally we have over 15 support groups, both general and specialised for people with anxiety, their families and carers. Our Helpline can be reached on 1300 269 438 Mon-Fri (10am-8:30pm) except public holidays.

[Daisydreamer]

@Former-Member @NatureLover @Emelia8 @Shaz51 @BlueBay @Clawde 

Really great to see you all! We look forward to sharing this discussion together and learning from each other 🙂

Through out the discussion, feel free to share your thoughts, experiences and questions 💜

[Clawde]

:ok_hand:

[NatureLover]

That all sounds really good, Anu. Thanks for describing what ARCVic does. And you must have come on quite a journey yourself 🙂

[ARCVic]

continued....

Our organisation is supported by over 150 volunteers across all 3 of our programs (Helpline, CARES4ME and Support Groups) who all have a combination of lived experience or are working/studying in the field and are passionate about supporting others out there - including myself.

[NatureLover]

Wow, I live in Victoria and had no idea this support was out there @ARCVic