California CFS & FMS Support Groups Directory
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia Syndrome
www.cacfsfms.org
Last updated March 11, 2013

 

WHAT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING MUST BE SAID
The individuals who run these support groups are themselves sick, often very sick. Meeting dates, time, and places change as the hosting site changes their policies and schedules relating to the provision of free meeting space for local support groups, and as support group leaders get sicker or need a break and no one else steps up to fill the role.

Sometimes groups let me know, most often they don't - we're all cognitively impaired, so roll with it, please. For those who have some difficulty understanding just what support groups are and do--and are not and don't do--please read my article, Information & Support: Setting Some Necessary Boundaries for Support Groups and Physicians.

Support groups leaders die, move elsewhere, or 'retire', and don't think to let those of us who maintain these indexes of support groups know about the changes (which is okay, I'm just saying...). Because some callers harrassed and annoyed some volunteer group leaders and their families, or called at totally inappropriate times of day or night, I have removed most of the phone numbers from these listings to protect the lives and limited energy of those who give of their severely restricted functional time to others.

--Melissa Kaplan, March 2013

 

Support groups are listed by county. To find a support group in your area, please select the county from the list below, and check the adjacent counties, as well, as some groups reach beyond county borders. If you cannot find any support groups listed for your area, please try these additional resources.

 

Alameda
Alpine
Amador
Butte
Calaveras
Colusa
Contra Costa
Del Norte
El Dorado
Fresno
Glenn
Humboldt
Imperial
Inyo
Kern
Kings
Lake
Lassen
Los Angeles
Madera
Marin
Mariposa
Mendocino
Merced
Modoc
Mono
Monterey
Napa
Nevada
Orange
Placer
Plumas
Riveride
Sacramento
San Benito
San Bernardino
San Diego
San Francisco
San Joaquin
San Luis Obispo
San Mateo
Santa Barbara
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
Shasta
Sierra
Siskiyou
Solano
Sonoma
Stanislaus
Sutter
Tehama
Trinity
Tulare
Tuolumne
Ventura
Yolo
Yuba

Email Support Groups
The following are small, private email lists in which the members provide information and support for one another.

CarouselNet - The Carousel Network (CFS/FMS/Lyme Disease Support)
CFS/EI/FM Support Group - SF Bay/Adjacent

Add a support group or email list...

Abbreviations
The following abbreviations are used in this site:

CFIDSchronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (aka CFS)
CFSchronic fatigue syndrome
CMPchronic myofascial pain (formerly myofascial pain syndrome)
CNDchronic neuroimmune(endocrine) disease/disorders
EIEnvironmental Illness (aka MCS)
FM, FMSfibromalgia (syndrome)
GWI, GWSGulf War illness, Gulf War syndrome
MCSmultiple chemical sensitivities
MEmyalgic encephalomyelitis
PWCpersons with CFIDS/CFS
TBITick-borne infections

 

To Add or Modify A Group
Please send the following information via email:


Original resource created by Marc O. Simon
Currently maintained by Melissa Kaplan
You are on page www.sonic.net/melissk/cacf/index.html