Why Support Groups are Important
- Lindsay Wong
- Nov 2, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 13, 2021
by Lindsay Wong
Support groups exist for most medical conditions, concerns and even general topics. Although support groups do not cure you of your condition, they provide support and allow you to connect with others who know exactly what you are going through. In particular, they aim to improve mental health. On top of dealing with the condition itself, it is also difficult to come to terms with it and many patients may often feel alone or misunderstood. Support groups are set in place to remind you that you are definitely not alone – you can express your feelings in a setting where you are understood and safe.
Support groups have other benefits as well. You can find out information that you may not have learned at the hospital or from health professionals. By meeting and talking with group members, you can develop social skills, especially if you don’t have many other opportunities to do so. Attending a support group allows you to gain hope that might have been lost, look on the brighter side of things, reduce distress and panic about certain topics, increase self-understanding and how to deal with the condition and help others who may also be struggling. Empathy and relatability are incredibly important in this scenario.
As a pre-teen with scoliosis 10 years ago, I would have loved to be a part of a support group. At that age, I was confused with the world and my condition. Being with other adolescents that had the same condition as me definitely would have improved my mental health. Even though I did have people that supported me, interacting with someone who knew just what I was going through would have been more helpful. Members of support groups are lucky that they have each other to rely on.
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