Available support and education groups
3.
Group
Therapy
Benefits of support groups
The common experience among members of a support group often means they have similar feelings, worries, everyday problems, treatment decisions or treatment side effects. Participating in a group provides you with an opportunity to be with people who are likely to have a common purpose and likely to understand one another.
Benefits of participating in a support group may include:
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Feeling less lonely, isolated or judged
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Reducing distress, depression, anxiety or fatigue
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Talking openly and honestly about your feelings
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Improving skills to cope with challenges
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Staying motivated to manage chronic conditions or stick to treatment plans
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Gaining a sense of empowerment, control or hope
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Improving understanding of a disease and your own experience with it
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Getting practical feedback about treatment options
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Learning about health, economic or social resources
A support group provides an opportunity for people to share personal experiences and feelings, coping strategies, or firsthand information about diseases or treatments.
For many people, a health-related support group may fill a gap between medical treatment and the need for emotional support. A person's relationship with a doctor or other medical personnel may not provide adequate emotional support, and a person's family and friends may not understand the impact of a disease or treatment. A support group among people with shared experiences may function as a bridge between medical and emotional needs
