Support Groups
Support Groups typically are a matter of personal choice, do you want to go someplace and sit and talk about your problems? Some people love Group Therapy Support Groups where you meet in person once a week or once a month. But what do you do between Group Therapy? What happens if you NEED to talk to someone right now? Or if you have an issue come up that frustrates you and you can't get in to talk to the Doc about it? Do you have anyone in your Family or Circle of Friends who can help you? Who understands the things you are going through? Anyone who has the same condition(s) and can truly relate? Many of us do not, and that is where online Support Groups come in handy, especially a GOOD Support Group!
It can lead to frustration, depression, anxiety, added stress and more when you NEED to talk to someone, but have no one who understands, who feels like you do, that shares the same experiences you do. And when you have an Illness like this, you don't need the added stresses and pressures on you, or the anxiety. It's not good for you or your condition.
I will share with you some Support Groups that are very good, friendly, and the people DO know what you are going through, they share experiences, compare experiences, are true and genuine and a better group of buddies you will never find.
Now with this said, I want to point out that this IS the INTERNET....the WORLD WIDE WEB. This means that ANYTHING you write in a support group can be viewed by others. You don't have to be a member to read, just to post. Private Messages are the only private "posting". Membership is free.
How I got involved in Online Support Groups
My Drs wanted me to go to group therapy. I saw that group therapy is a once a month meeting that I'd have to drive almost 2 hours to get to, to have a one hour session with 50 other people. How much do you actually get to say? In our looking at it, not much. I didn't want all that added stress. I had just gotten really burned by friends in a "ladies group" I was in where I had friends for over 5 years. I was hurting in so many ways. And these "friends" kept this up for the next couple months.
I was to the point where I was getting really frustrated with the lack of Dr's who knew anything or who would treat me. I just found out my son was diagnosed with a rare genetic eye disease and was going blind. I was doing online searches like crazy to get answers and find help/hope. I felt so hopeless in his situation and mine. Everytime I would enter in the information for his eye disorder, besides bringing me info pages for that, I would get 3/4 of the results coming up for MDJunction. After literally hours of this, I decided to check into it. I had joined MDJunction just to "look around" but quickly saw that this was what I've been looking for. People who KNEW what I was talking about and was going through the same things. It was truly a God-Send for me! I felt so much at home from the very first. I felt the Heavens were pulling for me that night through all my frustration, they brought me something truly wonderful!
If you want understanding, someone to talk to who knows what you are going through and dealing with, I strongly suggest looking into Support Groups like this online. Not all are like this. Some the people can be testy, but I have not found that ever at MDJunction. There are even medical professionals who are on that forum, and that makes it VERY nice!
My favorite Support Group
As I'm sure you guessed by now, I do have a favorite Support Group, and that is MDJunction. From the first time I was on there and posted, I felt like I was REALLY understood. Even if I am having difficulties with a Doctor, there is someone to help me know what my rights as a patient are.
When you apply for your Social Security Disability, and tell everyone it finally came through, there is LOTS of congratulations! It's not a private victory, it's a Hoopla of Good Wishes coming to you.
This is the best 'feel good' site I've been on. If you are having a flare day, an emotional day....no matter what, there is always someone who can relate. You will be able to find out that a lot of things that you wouldn't have even considered being part of your 'illness' but now have are somehow related. It's Awesome!