OCD-UK Annual Conference 2012 - Cardiff, Sat 10th November

[Northern Star]

Well done Jo, Im afraid I missed you, but did see the Prof keep referring to you

I only asked a question but it just felt like people were actually listening and not judging

[LondonTown]

Had a ggod time - very informative, but a bit annoyed with myself as I went alone and only spoke a few words to one person in the 9 hours I was there Felt a bit lonely, but that's my fault. I wish I had met more people. Also rugby in cardiff caused mayhem at stations, ended up gettin a taxi which cost me £50!! It was worth it though - a very touching event, thanks x

[Guest Frideswide]

I was looking for my post about the conference to see if anyone had responded but I now can't find it- any ideas?

[Ashley]

Just a very quick message to say I will reply to all your the posts and emails about the conference in a couple of days, I am going to take a couple of days of resting, well, a couple of days doing nothing more than the odd email and phone call I had already promised to make on Monday. To be honest by the end I was drained physically and mentally, I had arrived to setup at 6:30am and it was about 6:30pm when we left I think, all I know is that without those amazing volunteers helping me, it would have been impossible to do, so to those people I met for the first time all helping out on Saturday. to my long-serving volunteers who picked up the baton from Liverpool, I am indebted to you all, and every year you guys make the conference run smoother, and smoother, thank you so much guys, I will be in touch with you all this week to thank you in person. A special thanks to Worriedmum for keeping me amused all weekend with her jokes. Highlight of the conference for me was watching her and Kylie do the groupie thing with Ian Puleston-Davies and getting their photos taken with him

A long long week, and weekend, but so worth it. Some of the stories from guests that I spoke to, and seeing the emotion there on peoples faces makes all the effort worthwhile, and I really hope that the conference, on the whole hit the right note for all of our guests and helped inform and inspire.

[Guest Frideswide]

It was great, thank you Ashley, it certainly was informative and inspirational.

[Guest sarah1984]

I had a fantastic time at the conference and I was really impressed by the speakers - it was great to meet mental health professionals who are really passionate about their jobs and who care so much for their patients. Paul Salkovskis is a star - such an inspirational speaker! It was lovely to meet some OCD UK members and forum members face to face. A big thank you to Ashley and team for all their hard work - you certainly deserve a well-earned rest now Ashley! I'm already looking forward to next year's conference in the North East. Hope everyone who couldn't make it to Cardiff enjoyed the live streaming.

Sarah

[Guest Chloe W]

Hello,

I was unable to go to the Conference this year due to train times from the south coast meaning i would miss the first 2 hour of it!

I would of loved to have gone to it, but i was so pleased to see on Facebook that you could watch it online.

A special Well Done and Thank You to Ashley and all the team for their hard work. It was such a brilliant conference to watch and i learned many things watching the conference. I thought that all the speakers were very good and certainly helped and taught me some bits that i did not know about OCD.

Thank You

Chloe :original:

[Northern Star]

I would just like to echo my enormous thanks to everyone who made Saturday such a wonderful day. I expected it to be good but even then was bowled over by it! The speakers were outstanding; it was fantastic to meet such passionate, committed people who at the same time were so down-to-earth and genuine. I met some lovely people from the forum too

Saturday also gave me renewed hope and desire to push for the specialist treatment that I so badly need. Through having chats with the speakers and through their talks and my question to them in the Q&A session I have been reassured (not THAT type of reassurance ) that I am right to be rejecting the view that I will have to learn to live with my OCD for the rest of my life and to be pushing for expert treatment. If I am lucky enough to be awarded that treatment then I can promise that I will throw myself head-first into it and give it 3 million billion gazillion percent of my effort.

[Ashley]

A big thank you to Ashley and team for all their hard work - you certainly deserve a well-earned rest now Ashley!

Oh my goodness, I never got to meet you, or if I did, I did not realise it was you! I am so sorry Sarah, next year grab my arm and say 'oi, i'm Sarah from the forums'. In fact when I looked at the guest list later in the evening there were a few people I know well and never actually saw, and some I briefly saw at registration but never saw again throughout the day. It was a long day though in my defence! I am so glad you enjoyed it though, and like you say, the speakers really do care.

Over the years I have got to know most of those speakers, and one thing I can say is to them, it is not just a job, they really do care.

[Ashley]

I'll say hi if I see you Jo, I get really nervous of speaking to new people at these events too. I've just started my journey - staying by myself in a hotel tonight.... bit of a challenge!

Just booked my hotel as well, (also travelling up from the South East).

Bit nervous, but to be honest more looking forward to it!

It was great to see you two and quite a few members from my support group in Tunbridge Wells that made the long journey across to Cardiff, thank you guys, it was great seeing you there Canadian Chris as already promised me feedback at the group next week

[Ashley]

Just over half a tank of diesel to get us there and back: £40

Ok, now you're just teasing

[Ashley]

and I'm quite.....what's the word I'm looking for....gobby, forthright????

Yep, them two descriptions fit well, I can add a couple more if you like? :lol: (nice ones of course )

[Ashley]

The conference was amazing. What will stick in my mind is that OCD is totally treatable, you WILL get better but it's down to you and an excellent therapist. I also met some fantastic people, partially from the forum and also others who I will keep in touch with. I felt like I was in a room full of people that actually understand me. You're NEVER alone. Thank you so much Ashley!!!!!!

My pleasure Lou.

I think what I took out of the conference was something Karen mentioned, which I had been concluding for some time now, that yes CBT is the treatment of choice, but it's no good if the therapist does not understand OCD. So whilst IAPT is improving access to psychological therapy for many in England, we need to push now for IQPT, Improving the quality of psychological therapy.

That said, when I saw the stats for the lack of therapists in Wales it was shocking, and lots needs to be done. I am off back to Cardiff in a couple of weeks to meet someone from the Welsh Government, so I will bring up those stats then.

But, as you mention Lou, hopefully events like the conference will show we are not alone. It often feels like we are, but there are others in the same boat too. I am so glad you enjoyed it.

[Guest worriedmum]

A special thanks to Worriedmum for keeping me amused all weekend with her jokes. Highlight of the conference for me was watching her and Kylie do the groupie thing with Ian Puleston-Davies and getting their photos taken with him

A long long week, and weekend, but so worth it. Some of the stories from guests that I spoke to, and seeing the emotion there on peoples faces makes all the effort worthwhile, and I really hope that the conference, on the whole hit the right note for all of our guests and helped inform and inspire.

We did have a laugh amidst all the hard work! (and I do believe you also had your pic taken with Ian, Ashley! ) Personally, I feel proud that I managed to buy Ian an awesome lunch of... rice & fish!

All the speakers were amazing. I came away so humbled and moved by everyone who shared their story either publically or personally. It has only strengthened our resolve to keep working as hard as we can to see people receive the treatment they so deserve and to fight the stigma that many are still facing.

And Ashley.... you continue to be a huge inspiration to so many. Thank you for all your hard work. Now please REST.

[Ashley]

I had a great time at the conference good to see some old friends and great to meet new ones. I was one of the people helping with the shop and chatted to lots of people so many experiences. The speakers were brilliant I recommend coming to all of you xx

Nicky,

Thank you so much for all your help on the day, and Martin too. You guys all slotted into your roles and just got on with it, this was the first year I was not needed other than to manage the front of lecture theatre conference stuff, so thank you to the team for taking some of the weight off my shoulders.

Ash

[Ashley]

Had a ggod time - very informative, but a bit annoyed with myself as I went alone and only spoke a few words to one person in the 9 hours I was there Felt a bit lonely, but that's my fault. I wish I had met more people. Also rugby in cardiff caused mayhem at stations, ended up gettin a taxi which cost me £50!! It was worth it though - a very touching event, thanks x

Ouch at the taxi! I am so sorry you felt alone at the conference LT, it is something we need to take a look at, and we tried this year but it clearly did not work as planned, so I promise I will have a solution to at least help find a way for solo guests to feel a little less alone by time we get to the North East next year.

But despite that I am glad you felt it was all worth it

Ashley.

[Guest Stressedout]

i cannot actually believe that I have received a letter today stating that because I did the driving check with the police ................they may now consider me a danger to children???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ashley]

i cannot actually believe that I have received a letter today stating that because I did the driving check with the police ................they may now consider me a danger to children???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Give me a call when you are free tomorrow and lets get this sorted.

[Ashley]

I was looking for my post about the conference to see if anyone had responded but I now can't find it- any ideas?

Is it this post Frideswide?

http://www.ocdforums...topic=50430&hl=

I am so pleased that the conference helped, and whilst it may be a long road ahead for us all, I hope the conference helped illuminate the road forward towards recovery

Ashley.

[Ashley]

Hello,

I was unable to go to the Conference this year due to train times from the south coast meaning i would miss the first 2 hour of it!

I would of loved to have gone to it, but i was so pleased to see on Facebook that you could watch it online.

t was such a brilliant conference to watch and i learned many things watching the conference. I thought that all the speakers were very good and certainly helped and taught me some bits that i did not know about OCD.

Thank You

Did you watch it via the live feed Chloe? How was it online? Any problems viewing it? (other than audience questions, we deliberately chose not to mic up the audience to protect their anonymity the best we could).

[Ashley]

I expected it to be good but even then was bowled over by it!

We have come a long way since the last one you came to in Greenwich! Of course, you do realise you are now partly responsible with the team to ensure that next years improves further No pressure like!

[Ashley]

We did have a laugh amidst all the hard work! (and I do believe you also had your pic taken with Ian, Ashley! ) Personally, I feel proud that I managed to buy Ian an awesome lunch of... rice & fish!

Did you buy him lunch too? I did not know that, you really did the whole groupie thing Luckily I don't have the pic of you two, so you are saved from me uploading it!

[LondonTown]

Thanks for the individual replies Ashley and yes ouch to the taxi!

I think it would be good to introduce something to help people who go alone and don't feel to confident about initialling conversation - I felt very alone with a lonely illness unfortunately and this is something I am trying to change amongst local communities and services. I don’t want people to feel alone and so was surprised that no one spoke to me at all at the conference.

I live in Wales (moved from London) - I have been campaigning myself to the Welsh Assembly Government for an increase in psychological therapies. I am a Mental Health Nurse with 11 years working in Mental Health - I am probably 'obsessed' with changing MH services and have also been in touch with Nice guidelines and have been working with local voluntary organisations to set up a peer support group (unrelated to OCD but more Eating Disorder related), however, I would like to do this soon too.

I have emailed you Ashley re this.

Would you be up for me meeting with you and the person from the Welsh Assembly Government in Wales when you visit? I work for the NHS and am campaigning for better access for everyone to psychological therapies and person centred care.

Thanks (London town) - how do I change my username to Wales? haha x

Thanks J

[LondonTown]

Thanks for the individual replies Ashley and yes ouch to the taxi!

I think it would be good to introduce something to help people who go alone and don't feel to confident about initialling conversation - I felt very alone with a lonely illness unfortunately and this is something I am trying to change amongst local communities and services. I don’t want people to feel alone and so was surprised that no one spoke to me at all at the conference.

I live in Wales (moved from London) - I have been campaigning myself to the Welsh Assembly Government for an increase in psychological therapies. I am a Mental Health Nurse with 11 years working in Mental Health - I am probably 'obsessed' with changing MH services and have also been in touch with Nice guidelines and have been working with local voluntary organisations to set up a peer support group (unrelated to OCD but more Eating Disorder related), however, I would like to do this soon too.

I have emailed you Ashley re this.

Would you be up for me meeting with you and the person from the Welsh Assembly Government in Wales when you visit? I work for the NHS and am campaigning for better access for everyone to psychological therapies and person centred care.

Thanks (London town) - how do I change my username to Wales? haha x

Thanks J

[Guest Chloe W]

Did you watch it via the live feed Chloe? How was it online? Any problems viewing it? (other than audience questions, we deliberately chose not to mic up the audience to protect their anonymity the best we could).

Hello, Yes i did watch the Conference via the live feed and it was brilliant, I had no trouble at all setting up the live feed and it ran smoothly without freezing or stopping. I really liked where you could see the Powerpoint presentations aswell to the side of the live feed video, this was helpful as you could keep track of what was going on and you felt like your were in Cardiff taking part. It was also lovely to put names to face as in the speakers with their presentations, the team and yourself. :original:

I think that protecting the audience annonymity was done really well and was a good idea to do.

I am looking forward to the video of the conference being uploaded onto the internet as i was telling my family about the conference and they would like to watch it, when it gets uploaded.

Thank You

Chloe :original: