Support Groups

I haven't gone to a support group yet. I've enjoyed this one. I need a positive support group, not just a bunch of people getting together and complaining. I don't see any gain in listening to one another complain all the time. I realize that being diagnosed with this disease isn't easy, not easy to get up each day either, so a certain amount of complaining is okay, but not as the sole purpose of the group.

I would not mind a local support group. There would have to be guidelines though. Just like in here. I would have to find out how many fibromites would be willing to show up for meetings, how we would operate, etc.

It certainly is a good idea, something to ponder on...

Does anyone know of an already existing self-help fibro support group that is not on line?

Interesting topic. I would not attend a local support group. I am more than satisfied with the support I receive from all of you. Thanks!

What's nice about a support group online is we can pick and choose the threads we want to read and we can get up

and down as often as we need to. 

Then there is in attending a local support group we would not be able to choose the topics we want to hear about

and would there be a group leader to monitor how long a person could speak? 

We used to have a great fibro support group here. We would share our stories and advice, listen to newcomers, offer support, and most importantly, laugh. I'd usually end up with a sore stomach from laughing. Occasionally we'd have a guest speaker; we even had a guy come to teach self-defense for people with disabilities. We'd help people find fibro-friendly doctors, dentists, even fibro-friendly hair salons. Everyone always tried to make sure that everyone else felt a little better when they left.

There were occasional meetings with only 2 or 3 members but other meetings had almost 2 dozen. People would come and go as needed, sometimes people would show up right before the meeting ended just to check in.

Unfortunately, the group broke up when the leader became too ill to continue and we lost our meeting place. It is difficult to find a fibro-friendly meeting location. Comfortable seating is a rarity in most public locations. We still email each other and occasionally get together.

Some support groups are great and some not so good. Even the best support groups sometimes have "off" meetings. If you choose to try a group, I suggest you try at least 2 meetings before you make up your mind.

If you choose to actually organize a group, try to get at least one other like-minded person to help you. It is can be a wonderful but sometimes physically and emotionally draining experience.