Frequently Asked Questions The London Social Anxiety Self-Help Group (known as the SASH Group) is an open group which meets regularly in Central London. Its aim is to support socially anxious people in their process of self-exploration and in creating a rewarding social life for themselves.

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What happens during a meeting? In a nutshell, a meeting is a gathering of people who suffer from social anxiety, with the purpose of doing something about it. This purpose is pursued through a number of activities that take place during the session. The activities are somewhat different from session to session, and therefore no two meetings are exactly the same. Visit the Feedback section of this website to read about individual experiences of the group. Do I need to bring anything with me to the meeting? You will not need to take anything with you to the meeting. How many people are in a meeting? Numbers vary, usually between 10 and 14. The maximum number that the group can take is 18. Are the participants always the same? Do they all know one another? Every meeting is a self-contained event, and therefore there are no attendance requirements. Each meeting has usually a mixture of new people and people who have already been at the group. How often do I need to come to meetings? That is completely up to you. If you feel that the group can be helpful to you, you can come as often as you like (provided that there is space available). How can the group help me? The group can help in many different ways. Some examples are: - Meeting other people who suffer from social anxiety; comparing their experiences to yours; realising that you are not alone. - Practising and developing social skills in a safe and non-judgmental environment. - Meeting new people - An opportunity to identify your mental/emotional mechanisms related to social anxiety and to work with them. - Simple relaxation exercises that you can do own your own. - Practising specific behaviours, such as reading in front of a group or taking questions from them. I would like to come to a meeting, but I am too scared! Well… thanks for being honest! …And know that a lot of other people feel like you. Everyone is likely to be a bit anxious before a meeting. After all, if you were NOT anxious about going to a meeting, why would you want to go to a social anxiety self-help group in the first place?? Visit the Feedback sextion of this website to read about how other people have experienced their first meeting. What happens if I get really anxious during a meeting? The group is the right place for you to get anxious. Because you can do something about it. Examples? You can say that you are anxious, or you can ask others how they feel, or if anyone has ever felt like you are feeling, or you can leave the room and take a break, or you can have a one to one chat with somebody else in the room, or… Anything else that you feel like doing. The group is there to provide support to one another. If you feel anxious at the group, that is OK. I am interested in the group and would like to have more information. Please email stefano_londonsa@onetel.com (mind the undescore in the middle!) How do I sign up to the next meeting? You need to get in touch with Stefano, on stefano_londonsa@onetel.com

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