Welcome to DBSA Passaic
We are a mood-disorder self-help support group affiliated with
the highly respected Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. DBSA is the
largest illness specific patient run organization in the US with over 1,000
groups.
People who are diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder (manic depression)
and their families are welcome. Our goal is to provide information about
diagnosis and treatment of this biochemical disorder, from a lay person's perspective.
Group meetings are held on Mondays, except on holidays, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Mental Health Association in Passaic, 404 Clifton Ave, Clifton NJ 07011. For directions, see our location on Google Maps.
Starting February 1, 2012, we also have group meetings on Wednesdays from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM at the same location.
Please follow the links on the left side of this page for more information.
Our groups and meetings are:
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led by peers who have had training in how to be a facilitator (peers = other patient/mental health consumers)
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welcome to family and friends with or without the
patient/consumer
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an empowering experience free of charge and no pre-registration required*
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occasionally host educational meetings usually with lectures by
doctors or other mental health professionals
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provide literature, including brocures published by DBSA national organization
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NOT a therapy group led by a mental health professional and do NOT give advice - we just share mutual experiences to educate and support each other.
Mood disorders can often be
controlled by medication. In addition, psychotherapy can be very helpful. Many people
have been successfully stabilized on medication and lead normal lives, and participate in our support group to help others. Support groups help during recovery. "You are not alone, we can help".
About Depression & Mania:
Common possible symptoms of depression
include:
• changes in appetite
• decreased or increased sleeping
• loss of energy and motivation
• inappropriate or exaggerated feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety,
impending disaster or doom
• exaggerated feelings of guilt
• unexplained aches and pains or ailments
Common possible symptoms of mania include:
• impaired judgment
• high energy level and increased activity/talking
• significant decrease in sleeping
• inflated self esteem (grandiosity)
• extreme irritability and/or restlessness
Other symptoms are possible. No one symptom determines the disorder. A
psychiatrist or psycho pharmacologist should be consulted for an evaluation.
* Voluntary donations are welcome to defray cost of rent, ordering booklets and brochures, making photocopies, as well as holding social events. |
