Hello all!

This post is an update in regards to the new Zoom Support Group I'll be facilitating in the coming weeks. It was Great to see the interest exists for this sort of meeting. New details are included below.

First off, I'd like everybody to know who I am. My name is Tyler, I'm from the East Coast of Canada, and I am a 29 year old male Healthcare worker with professional training in Therapeutic Facilitation. My Diploma and practice is in Therapeutic Recreation Facilitation; however, this discipline can be utilized for a variety of different contexts. I have worked in Harm Reduction Centers as a Case Worker, and I've been the client in those very harm reduction centers as well. I have first hand, as well as professional experience with addictions involving (but not limited to) opiates, cocaine and benzodiazepine's.

With that being said, this context of group facilitation is a new endeavor for me. To give full disclosure, I am currently using benzodiazepines and tapering with moderate success. Facilitating this group, I will not be 'above' or 'ahead' of anybody in any way. I am starting this project to help myself as well as others. I hope to create a space where anybody can join even to just better understand that they're not alone.

Benzodiazepine Support Group; Early Details

• Once Weekly, 45-60 Minute Zoom Meetings
• Meeting open to anybody who has or has had experience living with benzodiazepine dependency
• Option to remain fully anonymous; enter whichever name you'd like as the meeting launches

While all can/will remain anonymous, this is not BA or "Benzo's Anonymous". There will be little to no reference to God or a higher power. No redundant reciting's about "jails, institutions and death". If you do wish to share how your beliefs support you, that is fine. The meeting may also follow parts of NA/AA formatting; this is simply for structure.

The Meeting

• Each meeting will start with a brief introduction to the idea behind the purpose of the group; a brief opening statement, written by me to begin the meeting. This group is new to all of us, and there are many forms that it has the possibility of taking; that will be noted as well to remind us that we're all in this together.
• Each meeting's introduction will follow with a reading from a particular text. The readings will come from various sources, including stoic philosophy texts, various recovery books (ie. memoirs, phycology books, etc.) and perhaps even relevant text from the book of NA or AA; there is very useful knowledge/wisdom in these texts and while they may be used as a reading, there will little to no use of terms regarding a Higher Power or God as we know it.
• After the reading, similar to other recovery groups, there will be a topic or 2 to discuss, likely regarding the reading. Everybody will have the chance to openly share and discuss their thoughts. It does not have to be about the reading if you simply have something to share - but try to relate it to the topic if possible.
• In the unlikely case that the reading/topic of the day is not resonating with those in the meeting, there will be the option for a more 'free-ranged' discussion regarding recovery in general. However, I have found that topics and readings catalyze discussion more often then not.

Closing Out

• Each meeting will be closed out with a reciting of the **'**Serenity Mantra' : May we allow ourselves the Serenity to accept what can't be changed, the courage to change what we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. The serenity prayer is helpful no matter your belief - so we'll be using it as a mantra to understand and appreciate it's context.
• There will be a short personal reading of my own, to remind us all of the abilities we have when we know that we're not alone and we know that we're all working hard toward the same thing. Clarity.
• Final moments of the meeting will be for the floor of anybody wishes to share anything in regards to their tapering, breakthroughs, or anything small worth celebrating before officially closing out.

I hope these details help everyone understand what this sort of unique Zoom meeting will have to offer. I am wide open to suggestions. If anybody has anything they'd like to add/suggest you can comment below or message me directly.

Now that I have introduced the idea of this meeting and understand there is interest, these details will remain posted, and an official date and time will be scheduled for the first meeting in the coming days. Ideally, the first 'test' meeting will be taking place in the next 7-10 days.

*Please let me know if there is a general time of day that works best for the majority of those interested. I am still having some difficulty deciding on a time for this meeting\ .*

Thanks so much to all of you who have taken interest in this cool new way for us to connect and feel closer in our recovery's. As one of my dear friends, who I lost to this battle years ago said to me:

"This feels like it take's a village".