8 Signs You May Not Need a Support Group For Your Illness
When you first received the diagnosis of your illness, the odds are that many people around you, perhaps even your doctor, reommended a support group. Reseach has studied the impact support groups have on how well one copes with disease, and it is positive. However, if you have no desire to attend a support group, recognize that it is not uncommon. As with any kind of support group, some support groups you will connect with well and others won’t be a good fit. Don’t jump to the conclusion that all support groups are the same.
But do you really need a support group right now? Whether you are looking for a amyloidosis support group or a diabetes online support group, just as there are many changes that happen to our bodies while living with chronic illness, there are seasons in our life when a support group may be our lifeline and other times when we feel we simply don’t have the need.
Here are eight signs that you may not need a support group right now:
1. You are managing your illness on a daily basis without any trouble. In fact, you are so busy with other things going on in your life, you don’t really have time to analyze just how well you are coping with illness.
2. You have a trustworthy group of people who influence you in positive ways. Friends or family members appreciate the magnitude of the choice you make to live your best life possible, despite your daily pain.
3. You don’t feel anger, bitterness or resentment toward people who are physically healthy. You are able to have relationships without comparing your abilities (or lack of) to others.
4. You can easily carry on conversations without mentioning your illness. You don’t feel it’s such an integral part of who you are that you need to tell every stranger you meet about your disease.
5. You don’t gaze at others with envy. You feel you have risen above the exasperation of seeing healthy people taking their health for granted.
6. You have found that when you sit around at support group meetings talking about the highs and lows of living with illness, you rarely leave the meeting feel better. The support group you are in is more depressing than refreshing and talking about your illness doesn’t seem to be helpful.
7. You feel confident in how you are able to be a good advocate for your health and illness. When more information about symptoms or tips about living with your illness are needed, you believe you are well prepared to do the research.
8. You have found at least one dear friend who lives with illness. Being able to talk openly with a good friend who has a realistic idea of what you are coping with can be extremely helpful in your daily living skills. You have the chance to vent or contribute ideas with another person who understands the details and “language” of illness.
If some of the examples above sounded like a description of where you are at with support groups, it’s likely you don’t really need a support group right now in order to live emotionally healthy with a chronic illness. However, you may be surprised to find that you could be an excellent leader of an illness support group. All of the statements above can be an easy way to create a proposal for starting up a support group.
The most successful support groups are those led by people who have overcome the daily aggravations and animosities that occur during the first years of being diagnosed with a chronic illness. Since you have coped with the initial rollercoaster of emotions and have survived, a support group of people still struggling with them would benefit from your experience and expertise.
If leading a support group does not seem to be part of your calling, that’s a typical reaction! Go enjoy other activities you feel passionate about. And don’t forget that there are amazing people in support groups who will be there when you feel you need them.