|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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. Below are eight tips to help you decide if a support group is something you may not even need 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 solid group of people who are a good influence. Friends or family members are supportive in your efforts to live your best life possible despite having an illness. 3. You don't experience feelings of anger, bitterness or resentment towards healthy people -- at least on a regular basis. You can have relationships with people with comparison of your abilities (or lack of) ever entering your thoughts. 4. You easily carry on conversations with people without ever bringing up the topic of your illness. You don't believe that your illness is such a fundamental part of who you are that it's necessary to describe your medical challenges to total strangers. 5. You don't look at others with envy. You've gotten past the frustration of seeing healthy people not appreciate their health. 6. You have discovered that sitting around at a support group and talking about your illness is more emotionally draining than helpful. You are in a place emotionally where you don't find the need to talk about your illness that often. 7. You feel comfortable researching symptoms or making calls to find the information you need in order to be a good advocate for your health and illness. 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 thriving support groups are those which are led by people who have conquered the daily exasperation and bitterness that arise during the first years of a diagnosis. Since you have dealt with all of the emotional ups and downs, a support group of individuals still feeling under attack would benefit from your knowledge and understanding. If the idea of leading a support group doesn't sound appealing right now, that's fine too! Go have fun with any activity you feel passionate about. Just remember, there are remarkable people in support groups who will be there to offer comfort when you find you need it. Article Source: http://www.articlewheel.com
Instant download of 200 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend from "Beyond Casseroles" by Lisa Copen when you subscribe to HopeNotes invisible illness ezine at Rest Ministries. Lisa is the founder of Invisible Illness Awareness
Additional Articles From - Home | Disease & Illness
|
 RSS Feeds by Category |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
