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January 19, 2010
by Naples Florida Weekly
Neurology News
January 19, 2010 --- "Don't give up the ship, even when you feel it's sinking, and you don't know what to do. Don't give up your dreams, even though you may be thinking, it never will come true. Help is on the way from friends you may not have met yet. Life has its own ideas of how things come about, and if you just hang in there, life is going to work it out."
This song made famous by Nancy LaMott, who died at the age of 43, is practically an anthem to support groups. Full of relief and understand from friends waiting to be made, support groups can help us navigate life's most difficult challenges.
"Healthy support groups offer a variety of benefits from the emotional to the practical," says Jenny Craig, a Naples-based licensed clinical social worker. "They can help people uncover new possibilities to a current struggle and offer chances to draw on collective experiences from others who have 'been there' with tips and coping advice."
Choosing a support group doesn't have to be challenging, but Melody Winfield, a bereavement counselor at Avow Hospice, encourages people to shop around for the group that feels most comfortable. "Support groups have distinct personalities," she says. "The facilitator's personality will also influence the 'feel' of the group, so don't hesitate to try sessions at various times of the day or from different agencies until you find the one that's right for you."
Avow Hospice provides bereavement support groups as a community service. There's no charge to attend, and anyone who has experienced a loss of any kind is welcome.
There are support groups for just about everything that ails you or that you're grappling with, from fibromyalgia to diabetes to post-polio issues to restless leg syndrome to a loved one's addiction or a child's diagnosis of autism or ADHD.
In Naples, the Physicians Regional Medical Center Headache Support Group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at Physicians Regional-Pine Ridge. Headaches affect millions of people every day. They keep people out of work, inflict excruciating pain that can be resistant to medication and limit a patient's quality of life.
"I started this support group because there just isn't enough time to in a doctor's visit to cover everything we'd like patients to know," says Ann Fowler, who works in the Neurology Department at PRHS and founded the group. As is the case with many medically based support groups, the PRHS Headache Support Group provides the latest ifnormation on treating and living with headaches. The February meeting will include a report on new medications. A question-and-answer session ends every meeting.
Some agencies provide support group resources on national and local levels. The American Cancer Society (www.Cancer.org) is a national clearinghouse for cancer patients and their caregivers. Their hotline (800-227-2345) has representatives who can help callers locate and select support groups that match their specific needs.
You're not alone
Loneliness, one of life's most unwelcome companions, can be eased considerably with help of a support group.
"Meeting others with the same struggle can help you feel less alone or isolated, and a safe and welcoming environment filled with compassion and understanding can also reduce any stigma you may feel over your current struggles," says Ms. Craig.
Aside from the benefits counselors provide in support groups, much of the healing comes from the compassion and support participants give to one another. Lifelong friendships and strong bonds develop between people who attend support groups together. Their mutual suffering and challenges bring them together, and the relationships that result provide solace and understanding.
"People often enhance their own healing by ministering to others in the meetings," says Mary Brodeur, director of community relations at Avow Hospice. "Groups help people discover opportunities to reinvest in live and define an existence that may be different from the way things were 'before,' but that is also deeply rich and rewarding," she adds.
Some of the busiest support groups are anonymous 12-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Overeaters Anonymous. These groups also have satellite support systems for family members of those afflicted with the disorders.
"Addiction affects the whole family, and being able to discuss our issues with other parents who had successfully handled similar situations was a big help," says the mother of a son battling an ongoing addiction to drugs and alcohol who asked to remain, well, anonymous. She regularly attends Al-Anon, a support group for families of alcoholics.
Looking for a support group in your neighborhood? Check area hospitals, churches, synagogues and funeral service providers. All are excellent resources for help in finding a group to call your own.
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