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Stress Watch Scotland
Caithness Branch

STRESSWATCH SCOTLAND

The Caithness Branch of Stresswatch Scotland is to be found at -

Thurso Youth Club           Monday   10.00am - 12noon

Group Leader                     Mrs H Maughan       Tel   01847 811315

National Helpline  01563 574144 - Open 5 days a week.

Stresswatch Scotland Office
Tel 01563 570886

  • AIMS
    Stresswatch Scotland is a voluntary charitable organisation dating back to the mid 1970's.   Its principal aims are -

    - to provide support, information and advice to those who suffer from stress,     anxiety, phobias and panic attacks

    - to guide, encourage and assist volunteers to set up local self-help groups     in Scotland

    - to promote a better understanding and to encourage further research into     phobias, anxiety and panic.

    WHO SUFFERS
    More than 1 in 10 of the population -men, women and children -will suffer from the disabling conditions associated with anxiety/phobias/panics at some point in their lifetime.  Anyone can be affected.

    WHAT IS A PHOBIA
    A phobia is a learned fear.  Anyone can become a victim to such a fear, usually because of life experiences, especially stress.
    The most common phobia is AGORAPHOBIA, a crippling fear of leaving the home or being in crowded places.  however, it is possible to become phobic about almost anything.

    WHAT IS PANIC ATTACK
    Those people who suffer from panic or phobias may experience a bewildering variety of very unpleasant symptoms, such as:-
    palpitations, faintness, sweating, a loss of balance, churning stomach, muddled thinking, and a general and overpowering sense of need to escape from the stimulus or situation causing these reactions.  This is a "panic attack".  They will do no harm.  They are one of the body's automatic reactions.

    NOT A SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS
    Despite these very distressing symptoms which can completely disable the sufferers life this is NOT A SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS.  It is better thought of as a problem relating to our behaviour and/or the way we think. 

    WHAT HELP IS AVAILABLE
    The Clinical psychologists are trained to help with such problems and the doctor should be able to arrange this for sufferers but there may well be a lengthy waiting list.  a self-help programme, probably very similar to that which a sufferer will be given when they are treated by a professional, is available through Stresswatch Scotland.  We must emphasise, however, that this is not intended to act as a substitute for professional help, but rather to complement it

    STRESSWATCH SCOTLAND
    SELF-HELP PROGRAMME
    The Stresswatch Scotland programme includes information about anxiety, how to deal with panic attacks, and a gradual step by step approach to tackling feared situations.  It comes in the form of a relaxation cassette and a detailed booklet and is intended for use entirely at home or with regular back-up visits to a Stresswatch Scotland group where the individual's progress is monitored and aided.

    There are a lot of up to date methods included in the programme, but it is not a miracle cure.  For some it takes longer than others, and it demands hard work and resolve.   However, by attending a Stresswatch Scotland self-help group the individual will find support, motivation and valuable advice from others.

    Many sufferers have found the end result reward in itself, as they find new freedom by gradually, slowly and surely overcoming their fears.

    RESOURCES
    A range of reasonably priced cassettes, booklets and leaflets is available by post, including the full self-help programme.

    MORE INFORMATION
    For more information contact -
    Stresswatch Scotland
    23 Campbell Street
    Kilmarnock
    KA1 4HL

    Please enclose two first class stamps for return postage and request address of nearest self-help group and a list of publications.

    MEMBERSHIP
    You can now apply for membership Stresswatch Scotland.  The cost is just �5 for a one year subscription.  This offer includes 4 copies of our quarterly magazine Serenity.
    In addition, we give you a 10% discount on books and audio tapes you purchase as well as a reduced cost for attending our Annual workshop
    Just send a cheque or postal order for �5 to - Stresswatch Scotland

    Stresswatch Scotland
    23 Campbell Street
    Kilmarnock
    KA1 4HL
     
  • Please allow 21 days for your membership to be processed.

    SUPPORT
    The initiative is supported by Social Work Services of The Scottish Office.
     
  • Links
  • www.stresswatchscotland.org

    STRESS UK - For those interested in personal and occupational stress management.
    http://www.stress.org.uk/

    THE TRAUMATIC STRESS CLINIC
    http://www.traumatic-stress.com/TSC.htm

    THE TRAUMATIC STRESS LINKS HOMEPAGE
    http://www.traumatic-stress.com/

    PATIENT INFORMATION PUBLICATIONS
    http://www.patient.org.uk/mental.htm

    DEPRESSION ALLIANCE
    http://www.depressionalliance.org/

    EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ON THE INTERNET - Support groups on the Internet for personal issues.
    http://www.compulink.co.uk/~net-services/care/

    AMERICAN SELF-HELP CLEARING HOUSE - Self-help groups in America.
    http://mentalhelp.net/selfhelp/

    OTHER HEALTH LINKS ON CAITHNESS COMMUNITY WEBSITE