NSA.
WELCOME TO
"When you stand and share your story in an empowering way,
your story will heal you and your story will heal somebody else." - Iyanla Vanzant
ABOUT
Founded in April 2014, No Strings Attached at the University of California, Irvine, is a peer support network that has been established by relating and connecting with those who share similar experiences and challenges in life. Within our first year, NSA won the Anteater Award for "Most Outstanding Social/Support Organization"!
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to foster a culture of support based on emotional identification with peers, to empower students with a sense of community by sharing stories about similar experiences and challenges, and to positively influence student's lives by creating a safe space for expression.
We fulfill our mission through various activities including but not limited to: interactive classroom activities, theme-based classroom and online forum discussions, sharing stories and experiences, an "anonymous box", casual group talk, projects such as "Random Acts of Kindness", and outside "NSA Socials". We do not replace professional therapy, but these activities and discussions are designed to be therapeutic.
We cover themes based on alcohol & drug abuse, peer pressure, life transitions, stress management, relationships, anxiety, depression, suicide, body image & self-esteem, grief, forgiveness, acceptance, domestic violence & abuse, cultural diversity, success, compassion, awareness, forgiveness, mental health stigma, and more.
In addition to mental and emotional support, this club provides other benefits, such as expanding one's network, finding a niche in the community, building life skills, engaging in each others hobbies, learning about yourself and others, inspiring each other to "pay it forward", and encouraging each other to flourish in life.
"There is power in understanding the journey of others to help create your own." - Kobe Bryant
JOIN US!
General meetings for fall '15 are TBA.
WEEKLY EMAIL UPDATES
F.A.Q.
What does "No Strings Attached" mean?
A. There are aspects of ourselves that constrain us from opening up and sharing our stories. Whether it be trauma, our biases, pressure, mistrust, fear of rejection or appearing weak…these are the strings that tie us down. The term “no strings attached” originates in the idea of detaching from these constraints and taking control of your experience.
Also, when saying "I'm here for you, I'm willing to listen, no strings attached", the comfort offered by the reassurance of no hidden agenda or expectations, ("strings") creates a type of a genuineness that further represents us and is the essence of our name.
What inspired the creation of NSA?
A. In short, the creation of NSA was inspired by the passing of a loved one.
What does your logo, the hot-air balloon, represent?
A. The hot-air balloon represents detaching from the strings that constrain you and taking direction of your life-- stay afloat!
When is the next general meeting or social?
A. You can learn about our next meeting or social either through the facebook page, by joining our facebook group for personal invites, or you can email us to subscribe for weekly updates.
I've never been to a general meeting and it's late in the quarter but I really want to come check one out! Can I?
A. Absolutely! We have new members come to our meetings all the time so feel free to join us as well :)
I'm no longer (or never was) a UCI student, can I still be apart of NSA?
A. Yes, you can. No special action is required.
Is NSA interested in collaborating with other clubs and events?
A. Yes! We're always looking to expand our network, mission, and learn about other organizations. Let's see what we can create and accomplish together! You can send an email to us expressing your interest and we'll be in contact with you soon.
Peer Support
"Peer support is a system of giving and receiving help founded on key principles of respect, shared responsibility, and mutual agreement of what is helpful.
Peer support is not based on psychiatric models and diagnostic criteria. It is about understanding another’s situation empathically through the shared experience of emotional and psychological pain.
When people find affiliation with others whom they feel are “like” them, they feel a connection. This connection, or affiliation, is a deep, holistic understanding based on mutual experience where people are able to “be” with each other without the constraints of traditional (expert/patient) relationships.
Further, as trust in the relationship builds, both people are able to respectfully challenge each other when they find themselves re-enacting old roles. This allows members of the peer community to try out new behaviors with one another and move beyond previously held self-concepts built on disability, diagnosis, and trauma worldview. The Stone Center refers to this as “mutual empowerment” (Stiver & Miller, 1998)." - Mead, 2003
"I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being." - Hafiz of Shiraz