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Participating in a support group provides you with an opportunity to be with people who are likely to have a common purpose and likely to understand one another. Support groups help you to see that you are not alone because the others there have the same issues as you. This can bring a sense of relief and you'll see that others are there to help and encourage you.
After you realize you aren't alone and are in a safe and supportive environment, you will begin to feel comfortable sharing your feelings and life circumstances with the group. This can be a very therapeutic and healing experience, particularly as you find that others in the group will listen non judgmentally and will praise you for your openness and courage.
Support groups offer lots of practical tips and resources for dealing with identified concerns. Some groups focus on learning and practicing specific coping skills. By meeting and talking with other group members, you also have a chance to practice social skills and interact more effectively with others. It's very powerful when you see others in the group who are further along their road to recovery and who have made great strides toward having happier and healthier lives. These positive role models show you that recovery is in fact attainable, which brings renewed hope for the future.
As you work through various issues and concerns in the group, it's common that you will begin to notice a reduced level of overall distress and discomfort. This is a positive sign that progress is being made and that you are feeling better.
As you learn more effective ways to cope and handle different situations, you gain better understanding about yourself, your medications and your own unique personality. You can also gain increased insight about the factors that have contributed to your current challenges and the strategies that seem to work best to help you move toward your goals.
Just as you benefit from the group experience, you can also help other group members as you grow and make progress. Others will be affected positively by hearing about your successes and by your kind and caring demeanor. You will notice you feel better when you are able to help someone else.
Support groups may offer up innovative ideas for how to care for yourself, manage stress, combat fatigue, and feel mentally and physically stronger.
It is also common for support group members to bond with one another and become reliable friends in the long run. Friendships formed in the context of a support group tend to be long-lasting since the members share similar experiences and perspectives.
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. As you can see, there are many reasons(benefits) to attend a support group. So if you are needing some extra support or encouragement I would recommend you find a support group. It can help tremendously and best of all, they are generally free. There are support groups for almost anything so just look for one that you feel would help you address your issues.
Together We Can, located at 8 W. Church St., offers a Depression Support Group from 9 am - 10 am at 22 N. Center St. on Mondays, and an Anxiety Support Group from 9 am - 10 am at 8 W. Church St. on Wednesdays. We also offer a Stress-Management Educational Support Group from 10:15 am - 11:15 am at 8 W. Church St. on Wednesdays. On the first and third Friday of the month we offer a NAMI Connections Support Group from 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm at 8 W. Church St. These groups are free of charge and are open to anyone 18 and older. If you would like more information call Becky at (515) 391-3233 or Deb at (641)750-3292 or email us at twc50158@gmail.com.
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Becky Brown and Deb Williams
are the cofounders of Together We Can,
a mental health nonprofit based in Marshalltown.