SONA Support Survivors Grief, Divorce & Loss Meetup Group

**Established Members Only: Must have attended first timers' meeting**

This is a support group focused on using journalling as a tool to heal from trauma.

As survivors of narcissistic abuse, the story we tell ourselves about who we are and what we've faced can be an incredibly powerful way to take back a narrative that was stolen from us.

Writing out thoughts and feelings is also an extremely effective way to reduce stress while processing complicated and layered emotions, which all of us with CPTSD can find difficult to manage. It can be very helpful with organising a lot of the overwhelming chaos and noise we often feel in our brains, as well as a super cathartic way to safely express yourself.

PARTICIPATING
What you choose to share in this group is very much up to you, loosely based around the topic of journalling. You can read out a journal entry you've written in the previous week or at any other point in your life, talk about your struggles with journalling, what you've found to be helpful - or really anything you're feeling like sharing. I want this to be a safe space for you to express yourself and heal.

ABOUT ME
I am a survivor of childhood trauma and abuse, throughout which I kept diaries, wrote stories and journalled much of what I was going through. I believe it was one of the things that kept me sane when it felt like the entire world was falling apart. It helped remind me who I was at my very core, even as everyone around me seemed determined to take that away.

That said, I have also struggled to journal consistently, despite knowing how helpful it has been. I know what it's like when you're unable to force yourself to write, and so hopefully can share some strategies on how to overcome those difficulties through what I've personally found helpful.

I'm very interested in what everyone else's experiences in the group have been - so please do join me! Xx

**ZOOM LINKS WILL BE SENT OUT THE DAY OF THE MEETING VIA YOUR MEETUP MESSAGES**

GROUP RULES
1. Do not contact other members directly without first going through an organizer. This is a big safety issue. We want to make sure contact is wanted. TELL AN ORGANIZER IMMEDIATELY if someone contacts you without consent. We take that very seriously here. Please WRITE to an organizer through Meetup. Please refrain from asking openly in the zoom meeting because it can put people on the spot. Also, don’t share personal contact information in any public forum for your own safety.
2. Recognize we are PEERS not professionals or experts. We are not psychologists, attorneys, or medical doctors. This group should be in conjunction with one-on-one therapy. Never a substitute. We cannot create a feeling of perfect safety, so one must largely manage one's own triggers by muting or signing out for a period. We are volunteers and cannot give any one member personal time. The beauty of the group is to get multiple perspectives.
3. Cameras must be ON and microphones should stay muted until it is your turn to share. Unless you write to an organizer with a reason to have it off in advance. Having it off for brief periods is allowed as long as your camera remains on for the vast majority of the meeting.
4. We are all-inclusive here. No matter what race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious or political affiliation, we accept everyone. We have many people on the spectrum and we do give extra time to share. Thank you for understanding. We will not tolerate derogatory language towards any population of people. No stereotyping or making sweeping statements. Also, do not bring up race, gender or any other identity unless you are of that identity.
5. Please use “I” statements, unless people explicitly ask for advice. People are in different situations, and different things help different people. We support one another with compassion rather than judgement, so please be careful about telling someone what they should do.
6. Do not bring up controversial topics unrelated to narcissism/trauma/CPTSD.
7. Please RAISE YOUR HAND and you will be called on when it is your turn. There will be no interrupting one another, or talking over someone else.
8. Do not raise your voice at another member or the organizer. Behavior like this will get you kicked out of the group immediately.
9. No soliciting or peddling of products.
**We appreciate you following the rules and respecting everyone's healing process!**

## Details

DESCRIPTION:

This is a support group designed for people trying to get back into the dating/romantic scene after a divorce

This will be a one hour informal session for those in moving on hosted by Wajeeha H. This is not the group to attend to talk about your narcissistic ex! Focuses will be on moving on and letting go along with codependency issues.

During each meeting we will discuss a few key challenges we may come against whilst dating. These can be things like getting triggered whilst dating someone or understanding how to avoid getting into another Narcissistic relationship. Feel free to use this session to discuss or vent in safe environment.
AGENDA: Grab a coffee, ice cream or wine and join people who have been through abuse and are thinking of rebuilding their love lives. Wajeeha will start the conversation by discussing a topic and listing some key tips on how to overcome a particular challenge.
As we speak up, we gain a new perspective on the experience. If you feel comfortable sharing your story, please do, but if not, come and listen and know you are not alone.

IMPORTANT: This group is NOT for people who are still involved with a partner on a romantic level.

WELCOME TO THE WEEKLY COMPLEX TRAUMA, CODEPENDENCY AND C-PTSD RECOVERY GROUP WITH KERRIN, MEETING EVERY TUESDAY AT 6 PM EST

This group is for members who are well out of the abusive portion of their narcissistic relationships and are focused solely on the healing and recovery work necessary for C-PTSD and Codependency Recovery.

Join us to discuss recovery triumphs and setbacks, venting opportunities, healing suggestions, new discoveries in the treatment of C-PTSD, and all things from Melody Beattie's The Language of Letting Go.

YOUR ORGANIZER: Kerrin is a mother of three and an attorney who has spent much of her life in the dark about C-PTSD until ending an abusive relationship and creating this group almost three years ago. As we grew as a community, she began to observe patterns in that the people coming here for narcissistic abuse solutions were mostly also dealing with complex trauma from disordered childhoods. She began this group to see how weekly peer support can assist those of us who are interested in the RECOVERY portion of healing and are willing to share the rocky and non linear road it leads to. Each group will be an hour long and be open to anyone who'd like to share - however there will be themed topics weekly.

YOU MUST HAVE ATTENDED A FIRST TIMERS MEETING TO BE ADMITTED TO THIS GROUP!

Designed for first timers to our group meetings, this is a support group designed for people who are dealing with basic and complex or disenfranchised grief and loss including death of an estranged person, divorce and a breakup. We also provide support for complex trauma survivors and narcissistic and emotional abuse survivors.

*REGISTRATION AND ATTENDANCE AT THIS GROUP PROVIDES YOU ACCESS TO UNLIMITED, COMPLIMENTARY GROUP SUPPORT. UPON ATTENDANCE YOU ARE CONSIDERED AN ESTABLISHED MEMBER AND CAN SIGN UP FOR ANY OF OUR MEETINGS*

DESCRIPTION: The first half hour of the meeting will consist of us introducing ourselves, providing a brief description of our group and how it operates and then advising you of our rules and regulations. The last half hour of the meeting, each member will be provided time to introduce themselves and advise what they are looking for from the group so that we can advise you the best support meeting in our network for your individual needs and circumstances. For safety and security, CAMERAS MUST BE ON DURING THIS MEETING.

*NOTE: You are responsible for making sure your Zoom settings work prior to the meeting. Please check your settings and give it a trial run before your attendance.*

AGENDA: Grab a coffee, ice cream or wine and join people who have been through or are going through leaving a Narcissist. This group is meant to provide support to those who feel alone, unsupported and misunderstood. Leaving a Narcissist is NEVER easy and hearing others' stories whatever stage of their journey is healing. If you feel comfortable sharing your story, please do, but if not, come and listen and know you are not alone. Everyone will get a chance to share, so I'm limiting the amount of attendees.

FEE: $25. This cost is designed to ensure attendance for first timers. Our regular group meetings are free of charge. If this group appears to be a good fit, you can join any of the free meetings, special event meetings and monthly support meetings upon invite.

Please note that if you fail to attend the event and no-show, this fee is non-refundable as we are holding open a spot for you and have alotted time for your share. If you cannot make the event due to an unforeseen circumstance and can contact us BEFORE the event takes place, we can fit you into an upcoming meeting as long as this is communicated to us beforehand

YOUR ORGANIZER: I know how hard it is to 'get out' - 20 years ago, I successfully cut out my narcissistic mother using no contact and 'grey rock' to much success. Since then, I've raised three awesome kids, got a law degree and wrote two books. I felt successful, happy and ready to move on from a fairly normal 13 year marriage when I got into an intimate long distance relationship with a narcissist. After a year of all sorts of abuse, I recently got out and can't believe I've let this happen in my romantic life. (I couldn't choose my parent, but I could choose my partner!) Looking forward to hearing everyone's story in a low-key online meetup.

THIS GROUP IS FOR FIRST TIMERS ONLY. PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS IF YOU HAVE ALREADY ATTENDED ONE OF OUR MEETINGS.

ALL ZOOM LINKS ARE SENT VIA EMAIL (WHATEVER YOU SIGNED UP FOR WITH MEETUP) THE MORNING OF THE MEETING. PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE YOUR SETTINGS TURNED ON TO RECEIVE EMAILS FROM MEETUP AS ALL OF OUR LINKS ARE SENT THIS WAY TO ALL MEETINGS*