State of Mind - Hearing Voices Support Group
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- Last Updated: Saturday, 07 September 2019 20:10
- Published: Saturday, 07 September 2019 20:10
- Written by Izabel Van der Ploeg
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This is the official website of the
HEARING VOICES NETWORK AOTEAROA NZ - Te Reo Orooro.
Our intention is that it will provide a better understanding of what it is like to hear voices and have visions, reduce stigma around the experience and provide practical advice and research about it. We would like to encourage contributions to this site, to enable us to be a virtual community for those that hear voices. If you would like to submit an article for the site, please email the secretary (see Contacts) with your submission.We are a society run by volunteers and would like to express our gratitude to all of you who continue to help us by donating your time, spreading information about our support groups and workshops, and provide valuable donations that enable us to continue our work. Make yourself at home, we hope your enjoy your visit. OUR SPONSORSThanks to the Lotteries commision, the International Society for the Psychological treatment of the Schizophrenias , Hearing Voices Network Cymru Wales, Microsoft and Balance NZ.
Realities Christchurch present a
FREE WEEKEND WORKSHOP
for
Young Adults who hear voices, have visions, and/or experience non ordinary realities, sponsored by Like Minds, Like Mine
Pῡkanohi Poare, Taringa Poare:Open Eyes, Open Ears
July 20 & 21st 2019
This bicultural workshop is a place where young adults (18years to 27 years) can come along and though korero, games, song , laughter and free shared meals:
· Explore what your experiences mean to you.
· Share stories and experiences with like minded others
· Discuss how these experiences effect your life and relationships with everything around you
· Look at ways we can support each other to overcome the challenges of discrimination and stigma in our lives
This workshop is Facilitated by Anne Scott and Louarnra Matenga. Both Anne and Louarna have experience of voices, visions and know how these experiences can be both distressing and to some bring joy. They have experienced the stigma that can be associated with being called mentally ill and look forward to sharing what they have learned from their journeys with you.
VENUE: SKILLWISE 344 Manchester Street Christchurch.
DATE AND TIME: 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday 20 and Sunday 21st July 2019
BOOKING INFO:
1) at YOUTH 298, Tuesday 9th July 12.00 to 1.00pm
2) EASTGATE McDonalds Thursday 11th July 12.40 to 1.30pm. Free burgers
FLIER , PROGRAM DETAILS AND REGISTRATION FORM ATTACHED
Financial assistance with childcare costs and transport are available.
The following article was written by one of our Support Group Facilitators and was published in our May 2009 newsletter.
Distraction techniques such as the use of MP3 players can be helpful to relieve distress from voices. But to be able to take control of your voices, you must accept that there is some link with yourself. Once this happens you start to take responsibility for your recovery and can start to work out the meaning of the voices. I would like to share some of my insights with you inthe hope they may help to do this.
Voices can be similar to dreams and nightmares. You can have good and bad experiences, which can be very profound and very real. Some people describe hearing voices like dreaming when awake. Interestingly one of the triggers for psychosis is sleep deprivation. Just as in dreams the voices can be presented in a symbolic way that makes it hard to see the association with ourselves. The voices may have larger than life personas that exaggerate the emotion involved making it hard to understand, just as Shakespeare tells stories that portray common themes and emotions, but we have to see past the costume and language before we can understand what is happening.