Outings - invited to join SD support group & want to go but am scared to go. What would you do?

[419can.dance]

I have been in group therapy now for almost a year and was just invited to join a Service Dog support group! Yay! However. There is no way I could possibly be in public with such a large group (8 people)
I want to go.
I’m scared to go.
What do I do?
What would you do?

Also... where is the chat now?

 

[EveHarrington]

Can you push yourself to go?

The info about chat is in the update threads that Anthony keeps posting to. I don’t want to say more because by the time you read this what I say may be out of date as he is still working on the update.

 

[Changing4Best]

Decide on an appropriate reward for yourself, when you have gone. Look forward to that reward and be brave and courageous and go! (Praying for you).

 

[419can.dance]

Can you push yourself to go?

The info about chat is in the update threads that Anthony keeps posting to. I don’t want to say more because by the time you read this what I say may be out of date as he is still working on the update.

I want to say yes I can push myself to go. Yet worried just like the trip to the store I will turn right around and go back home.

 

[blackemerald1]

Oh @419can.dance - congrats for being asked. Congrats for staying in the group for 12 months too.

Do what you want to do and go,
Be scared but still go,
Just go,
I would go! :)

 

[419can.dance]

Decide on an appropriate reward for yourself, when you have gone. Look forward to that reward and be brave and courageous and go! (Praying for you).

A reward! That seems simple enough. I love finding the simple rewards in life.

Oh @419can.dance - congrats for being asked. Congrats for staying in the group for 12 months too.

Do what you want to do and go,
Be scared but still go,
Just go,
I would go! :)

The year has been so crazy! The first six months I forced myself to go. Now I look forward to it each week.
Now to force myself to go out. ??‍ Who knows I may like it. ?

 

[blackemerald1]

I forced myself to go. Now I look forward

Take this strategy and put it to work with this new challenge. :)

 

[Friday]

Also... where is the chat now?

For these types of questions, use Contact Us to get in touch with staff directly :) Thanks!

 

[Friday]

What would you do?

I would start here...

There is no way I could possibly be in public with such a large group (8 people)

Looking for ways to challenge this statement. Because if I believe it, and let it stand, I wouldn’t go.

Like, maybe I could be with such a large group in public for 5 minutes, or maybe with service dogs it could change things and I would have fewer/different problems being in public, or maybe I could get in touch with the group and ask about outings that are more private (say at a park, beach, or community center) to start out with.

All different ways to ease myself into doing what I want to do.

Then I’d give myself permission to leave after 5 minutes if I needed to, and treat the outing(s) as an experiment. I know I’m probably going to be uncomfortable to start, but by experimenting, I broaden my world.