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Support Groups
& Organizations
What is a support group?
A support group is a gathering of people facing common issues
to share what’s troubling them. Through the sharing of
experiences, they’re able to offer support, encouragement, and
comfort to the other group members, and receive the same in
return.
When you’re going through a challenging or traumatic time,
family members and friends may sympathize, but they don’t always
know what to say or the best ways to help. Doctors and health
professionals may sometimes offer minor emotional support, but
their primary focus is always medical.
Support groups developed to join people together who are
dealing with similar difficult circumstances. That may be coping
with a specific medical condition, such as cancer or dementia, a
mental health issue like depression, anxiety, bereavement, or
addiction, for example, or caring for a family member or friend
facing such a problem. Whatever issues you or a loved one are
facing, though, the best medicine can often be the voice of
people who have walked in your shoes.
A support group offers a safe place where you can get
information that’s practical, constructive, and helpful. You’ll
have the benefit of encouragement, and you’ll learn more about
coping with your problems through shared experiences. Hearing
from others facing similar challenges can also make you feel
less alone in your troubles.
While it’s perfectly normal to feel reticent, anxious, or
apprehensive about joining a support group, it can help to
dispel some of the common myths and misconceptions about these
groups and how they operate.
Support Groups
Myths and misperceptions about support groups
In some circles, there’s still a stigma associated with mental health
problems, which extends to attending support groups for those problems.
Some people see reaching out to others as a sign of weakness, while
others believe confiding in others is a waste of time and won’t achieve
anything.
Other commonly held myths and misperceptions about support groups
include:
Myth:
There aren’t any support groups in
my area.
Fact:
There are tens of thousands of
support groups nationally and globally, in-person and online.
There’s one available for nearly every problem and condition.
Myth:
Support groups don’t have any
answers.
Fact:
While it’s true they’re not a magic
bullet for all your problems, you will get some answers—and a
lot of support while working through a tough or sensitive issue.
Myth:
I will be required to share my
story.
Fact:
In most groups, you can choose to
speak (or not) as you feel comfortable.
Myth:
Other participants may attack or
criticize me.
Fact:
A well-run support group sets
boundaries and requires participants to show empathy and respect
to each other.
Myth:
I’ll feel even more depressed after
attending a support group.
Fact:
The simple act of sharing your
problems can be extremely cathartic. So, most people feel
uplifted and encouraged after attending a support group.
Types of support groups
Depending on your needs, you may decide to join one of three types of
support groups—a mutual support group, a 12-step help group, or a
therapy group. Just remember that whatever support group you choose,
it’s not a substitute for medical care.
Mutual support groups
Mutual support groups are peer-led groups. Facilitators receive
training, but they don’t give advice or act as professionals.
Participants in a mutual support group can be people dealing with a
certain condition or circumstance, whether it’s a medical issue,
domestic abuse, grief, or a mood disorder. Other support groups are
designed to provide support for family members or friends of someone who
is living with a difficult situation.
Group members share what’s working for them, and they inspire others
to do the same. There’s usually no cost for mutual support groups.
12-step self-help groups
12-step programs are typically geared toward those with an addiction,
such as alcohol, drugs, gambling, or sex. During group meetings,
participants work through the 12 steps to recovery created by Alcoholics
Anonymous.
Like mutual support groups, 12-step self-help groups are peer-led,
free, and frequently offer separate groups for the loved ones of those
with the addiction.
Therapy groups
Unlike mutual support groups and 12-step programs, mental health
providers lead therapy groups. A professional therapist brings several
people together who are living with similar conditions and provides
treatment to them as a group.
Therapy groups are available for a wide variety of mental health
conditions. There may be a cost for a therapy group, although it may be
covered by health insurance.
Online support groups
Like online therapy, online support groups can be a useful and
convenient option to in-person meetings. They’re a great alternative if
the distance is too far, transportation isn’t available, or your work or
family schedule prevents you from attending an in-person support group.
Online support groups can also work well for those who are dealing with
a rare condition where your peers are spread out across a wide area.
Some platforms even take insurance.
Of course, the online support group format has some disadvantages. It
can be more difficult for participants to interpret the facial
expressions and body language of other participants. What’s more, the
lack of in-person contact can diminish communication which is so vital
to support group participation. An online forum may also limit the
extent that participants are able to express warmth to others in the
group.
As with any online meeting, there’s always the risk of encountering
technical problems or participants being distracted, which can be
particularly troublesome if someone is sharing a sensitive story.
Benefits of support groups
A support group is a safe place where you can talk about your
emotions and circumstances with others who know how you feel and won’t
judge or criticize you. It can also help you to:
Learn better coping strategies. As you go through
challenging circumstances, you may need to learn new ways to cope. At a
support group, you’ll learn coping skills from people who’ve found
success using them first-hand. You might learn tips on meditating,
journaling, or things you wouldn’t have otherwise considered. You might
also pick up new ways to set healthy boundaries and function better.
Grow through shared experiences. A support group
gives you opportunities to get things off your chest. Sharing your own
experiences with the group can help ease your emotional burden and
feelings of isolation. As others in the group share their stories, you
can gain valuable insight about how others deal with similar situations.
Focus on self-care. Support group participants may
offer up innovative ideas for how to care for yourself, manage stress,
combat fatigue, and feel mentally and physically stronger.
Maintain a sense of hope. Being around your fellow
support group members can help boost your mood and sense of optimism,
giving you the emotional reserves to realistically envision a better
future.
What to expect from a support group
Every support group functions a little differently, so it’s not
always easy to tell if a particular group will be a good fit for you.
But there are some things to look for when evaluating your choices:
The support group has clear rules about who can attend.
Depending on the group, it could be limited only to a specific gender,
adults over 18, people dealing with a specific challenge, or the friends
and family members of those living with a certain condition. Relatively
few support groups are open to just anyone.
The facilitator puts you at ease. Experienced
facilitators expect newcomers to be nervous about attending a group.
They’ll do their best to ease your fears by welcoming you, ensuring
you’re in the right group, and telling you what to expect.
The support group has some kind of structure.
Typically, the group should have a clear agenda with four basic
elements: the facilitator welcoming everyone, each participant given the
opportunity to introduce themselves, a group discussion, and the
facilitator formally announcing the end of the group meeting.
There are clear guidelines. Rules and expectations
are important to help everyone feel safe in the group. It’s common for
groups to enforce a time limit of 1-2 minutes per participant to prevent
anyone monopolizing the conversation. Support groups often have a “pass
rule” if someone doesn’t feel up to sharing. Group members should be
reminded to be respectful, empathetic, and to maintain complete
confidentiality.
The facilitator helps the group stay on track.
Whether the facilitator is a professional or a layperson, you should
expect them to be trained and capable. Capable facilitators know how to
enforce boundaries and stick to the schedule while giving each
participant a chance to speak. They’re instrumental in pulling together
common themes within the group to inspire the most productive
discussions. Emergencies can and do come up during group time, and
facilitators should know how to handle them appropriately.
Some peer-led support groups occasionally bring in guest
speakers. These are opportunities for group members to get
education from doctors, therapists, specialists, or other professionals
to help educate the group on a certain topic.
Mandatory reporting and confidentiality
In general, everything shared within the group should stay within the
group. However, some facilitators or group members may be mandated
reporters. This means they are legally required to report crimes they
learn about—such as abuse—even during a confidential group discussion.
Some licensed professionals are also required to report suicide threats
and threats of imminent physical harm to others.
Rules for some support groups require those who are mandated
reporters to announce this fact to the group before the meeting starts,
but this may not always be the case.
Overcoming the psychological obstacles to joining a support group
It’s hard and emotionally draining to deal with a serious issue such
as addiction, bereavement, burnout, depression, or another mental health
problem. For some people, it’s even harder to ask for help and be
willing to receive it. Half the battle of attending a support group is
just getting through the door for the very first time.
It’s common to feel nervous, frightened, or even ashamed. By joining
a support group, it means you’re acknowledging and accepting the fact
that the issue you’re facing is real, you can no longer avoid dealing
with it, and you need help. These can be hard things to accept, but
there are ways to overcome the obstacles to taking that first step.
- You have nothing to lose by giving a support group a fair try.
The people sitting on the other side of the door once felt the very
same way you do.
- You’ll likely make new friends who will be more sympathetic than
some of your closest friends and family members are able to be about
your current circumstances.
- If you’re afraid to go alone, consider asking a trusted friend
to tag along for moral support. After the first few meetings, you’re
sure to feel more at ease.
Getting the most from a support group
There are a few things you can do to get the most from joining a
support group.
Attend on a regular basis. You’ll get the most out
of a support group if you attend regularly. It will help you get
acquainted with other group members and increase your comfort level.
Participate in the discussions. Participating in a
group keeps the discussion flowing and everyone engaged. Other
participants will look forward to hearing your updates and any words of
wisdom you have to share with them.
Be sensitive to others in the group. There’s always
a chance that something could come up during the group that upsets you
or rubs you the wrong way. Be cognizant that people who come to support
groups are dealing with serious, sensitive, and emotionally-charged
issues. If you can’t look past it, bring the issue to the facilitator’s
attention, and give them a chance to resolve it.
Recognize when a group isn’t the right fit. A
productive support group depends a lot on group dynamics. With different
people joining and leaving the group, group dynamics can change. If
things aren’t working out, you might consider switching to a different
support group.
Remember your reasons for joining
When you feel like things couldn’t possibly be worse, a support group
can help you reframe your issues and view them in a more positive light.
One of the best steps you can take toward feeling better is mustering up
the courage to identify an appropriate support group and start
attending.
You’ll know you’ve taken the right step when you feel you have
something in common with others in the group, and you’ve contributed
something to them as well. Most importantly, you can call your
experience a success when you leave the group thinking, “I feel better
now than when I first arrived.”
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