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Support Groups for anxiety and chronic illness, etc...

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Posted 9/18/2012 9:00 AM (GMT 0)
Wondering how many of you are in support groups (in person) for anxiety/panic/PTSD/OCD/Depression OR whatever other fun thing you can think of :-) I think the right group could really do wonders for me, but I haven't found this group yet. Was kinda hoping the group I've been looking for would be far more numerous and easier to find and preferably free or on a sliding scale. It's looking to me like the best bet may be to try to find one through a dr, but $$ is a bit of an issue right now. I think that being in a group with people experiencing similar things could be very helpful.. talking things out - maybe making some connections with people.

I'm also dealing with a loved one with a chronic illness and that has caused me a great deal of anxiety. I don't have a good support group with family and I've pulled back from a lot of friends due to a lot of reasons. I could really use some support on this end so that I can deal with the stress more effectively and roll with life's punches. Stress is NOT good for autoimmune diseases and I certainly would like to eliminate as much stress as I'm sure I'm emitting. I know sickness can be hard to predict, but stress is a killer.

Would like to know if others on here have had any success, are currently in such a group or have any suggestions about how I may find one.

Not So
TroubleFree
Posted 9/18/2012 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi TF!

I am really glad that you are seeking to get into a group!!! That is going to be a great outlet for you and help you to deal with the stress and anxiety that you are currently feeling!

As far as the loved one with the chronic illness...I would start there. Ask their doctor to refer you to a group. There may be one as close as your local hospital. There are also many great care-giver organizations around, so inquire about that as well.

For an anxiety support group, your doctor could still help with this. Explain that you need to consider finances, and he/she could still be able to help. Doctors have all kinds of resources that they can look into for you.

If all else fails, you can e-mail me and give me your location, and I could try to help you find something.

Again, great job on seeking this type of help.:)

S.C.
Posted 9/19/2012 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hey SC. Glad to get a response... just wish there were more. I must be using the wrong bait. :) Are there really that few people on here that have participated in an in person support group for anxiety/panic etc, etc...? I can understand why people with anxiety/panic may avoid such groups, but I was really hoping that this would be much less of a rare occurrence.

Would also like to hear of any experiences people have had with such groups if it's something they've approached in the past. I tried one group many years ago, but it just didn't fit. I'm in a different place in my life now, so I'm not as shy about getting help provided it's a group that clicks.

I'm not looking for a care-giver... looking for a group that can help me to deal with the stress of dealing with chronic illness. I can ask the dr handling that, but it's a bit complicated. I can also ask my PD if they have any knowledge of support groups for anxiety. I've been looking around on the web, but seem to have hit a lot of brick walls. I did come across a group or two, but it seemed to be organized through a particular doctor... so you would kinda have to be a patient of the dr to be a part of the group. Already have a therapist, but the therapist doesn't have connections to support groups. I may just have to go the route of going through another dr even though I can't really afford it.

Really appreciate the response and offer of help SC. I'm a still looking! :)

Not So
TroubleFree
Posted 9/19/2012 11:11 AM (GMT 0)
hi, TF. i want to applaud you for looking for help for yourself...we have to care for ourselves to be effective in caring for others, so you are taking good steps!

if you live in the US, you may have a local chapter of NAMI (national alliance on mental illness). their local offices run lots of great support groups across the country. try visiting www.nami.org and see if you can find a NAMI group near you. even if they aren't running a support group, they would be a good organization to contact about finding support in your area. they might also be able to offer you resources to start a support group in your area, which would not only help you, but help others!

i know that here in florida where i live, our local hospital also offers LOTS of free support groups for caregivers of people with chronic illnesses (i think this is what SC was referring to), so you might try contacting the hospital in your area and see what they offer.

also, if you live in the US, the united way in your area might be good to contact. many united way offices around the country have instituted a "211" information line...here where i live, i can call 211 (like i'd call 411 to be connected to phone number information) and reach the community resource line. i have called before and reached a live person who was very helpful in getting me the resources i needed. whether or not you have a 211 line in your area, if you have a local united way office, they might have information for you, too, if you contact them directly.

good luck!
Posted 9/19/2012 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Frizzbee. Really appreciate your response and help. :) I do believe I came across something regarding NAMI, but whenever you GOOGLE it can be hard to tell the legitimate groups from those that are not. My aim was to find a group as anonymously as possible; figured if I wanted to "connect" with someone in the group for support (another member or its director) then I could decide to do that then.

I understand what SC was saying and she has always been very kind and helpful in her responses to people. Hospitals do offer help for those dealing with loved ones with chronic illnesses. The hospital that we have been using is kind of on the far side for me... so I was hoping for something closer. I'll keep in mind the info you gave me.

BTW, just read another post you started about health anxiety. I was only able to read the very first post in that thread (yours) so I don't know if anything has changed. A false positive would certainly cause a lot of us to freak out regardless of whether we have anxiety regularly or not.

Anyway, hoping you're feeling better and that you've been able to get some peace of mind. Will have to go back to your post.

Not So
TroubleFree
Posted 9/20/2012 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
hi again, TF. yes, anything that NAMI sponsors would be legit. i am sure you could call either your local NAMI office or united way anonymously and just ask for information. i have contacted both organizations before without being asked for my name or any identifying information.

and thanks for encouraging me with my health anxiety! it comes and goes depending on the sensations i have in my body...health anxiety sufferers tend to be very "tuned in" to every teeny bodily sensation. my body has been pretty "quiet" yesterday and today, so i am less focused on my health anxiety. plus, i have work stress and a huge work project deadline this week to keep my generalized anxiety occupied so that i can ignore my health anxiety, haha! if it's not one thing it's another, but at least tonight is one of those nights i can laugh at myself and that fact! :)

hope you find the support group you need!!
Posted 9/20/2012 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
TF,

Hi, this is Kitt and I am going to post the link where you can look for local Nami Chapters in your area.  I agree that you are being proactive in finding a support group to help you with your Anxiety issues. 

http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=your_local_nami

I know exactly what your looking for and I did find support groups that hold regular scheduled meetings in my area.  I did one-on-one therapy and was asked to join a support group my therapist was starting at the clinic however there was a charge for it.  As I was already paying for the one-on-one therapy attending another group on a weekly basis was not in my budget either. 

Nami also offers and information help line.  

The Information HelpLine is an information and referral service which can be reached by calling 1 (800) 950-NAMI (6264), Monday through Friday, 10 am- 6 pm, Eastern time.

My email  is in my profile if you want to send me a message re where you are looking and I can do some digging to see if I can locate a support group for you.

Also you might try talking with the social worker at your hospital as they always have lots of materials about local facilities to help with just about all major illnesses, disorders and a social work  can advise you on how best to cut through the red tape.

I have a 30 year history of anxiety and depression and  I also hit a certain age when my health and well- being became more important than what someone might think of me. That is when I started to be my own best advocate. 

Keep on talking with us here and know we care and will do our best to help.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 9/20/2012 8:52 AM (GMT 0)
I live in a rural area, so the only support groups here are for diabetes and heart attack survivors. I too cannot speak to family about my illnesses. So the forums here are my support group.
Posted 9/20/2012 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
Appreciate getting all your responses. :)

Frizzbee - OK. Have NAMI in mind and will check it out. I know what it's like to be too tuned in to what your body is doing. I do that... when I don't feel well (cold, virus, sleep deprived or whatever) I worry, but I haven't had it as bad as some of the other people on here dealing with health anxiety. Staying away from Google is always a good rule, and I try and follow that unless I REALLY need to look something up to be informed. It would be a HUGE help if they made a wris***ch type device or something that just read ANXIETY so everyone that's anxious could know it's just that. :) I would buy one of those in a second! I do have a few things that are real physically that I need to tend to at some point.. so that is causing me some anxiety. More of a reason for a support group. Looking forward to when your project is behind ya! :) Funny about your generalized anxiety being occupied and giving your health anxiety a break. :) Unfortunately, I can relate with that.

Kitt - Hey there. :) Thanks so much for the link. I've been busy running around, but I'll have to give it a look. I appreciate the offer of your help a lot too. Like you said about the extra expense of the group.. rings true with me as well. I know a couple of other avenues I'm going to pursue when I have the time to do so as well with hospitals, etc... I have some history with anxiety and depression and many of their "friends". The only positive is that it's made me even more empathetic with other people, but that was never a big problem with me to start... have always been pretty good with empathy.

Anyway, really appreciate the kind and informative response. Nice to meet you if I haven't said so already.

LuckyDog- Rural areas are definitely going to be limiting in terms of programs and groups. That can definitely be very isolating! I'm happy you have this place to come to. With family like mine I don't need any enemies!!! :) Hang in there and it's nice to meet ya.

Thanks all for the suggestions. May take some time for me to get into a group, but I'll let you know when I do.

Not So
TroubleFree
Posted 9/22/2012 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Trouble Free:

One group I can suggest is dbsalliance.org. i do not know if they have support groups in your area, but their website might be of help.

i attend a weekly group there and it is fantastic! there is nothing like being in a group of people who are going through what you are going through. lots of honest sharing.

NAMI is another group you could check with. And you could also ask your therapist, psychiatrist or even your primary care provider for help.

i hope you find something that will help you. my support group works wonders for me!
Posted 9/22/2012 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Display. Thanks for your suggestion; I really appreciate it! I have a place in mind that seems likely, but I'm also in the middle of a lot of stuff at the moment with other health matters, etc...

The group you're in sounds excellent! That's exactly what I want - to be able to be in a supportive group where the people know what you're going through or can empathize because of the similarities. I'm so glad you found them!

Is your group an anonymous group... like first names only or something different? Have you connected with anyone in the group where you could call them (sort of like AA has sponsors or whatever?) I'm looking for as much support as I can get. If I feel comfortable enough in the group I find I would love to be able to connect with someone that I could call outside of the group. What does the group cost out of curiosity? While I may have to pay some out of pocket, I'm also interested in groups that are either free or on a sliding scale due to $$. I'll find out soon enough with whatever group I join what the case is regarding that.

Anyway, thanks again for the suggestion and it's good to meet you.

TroubleFree
Posted 9/22/2012 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Trouble Free,

The group does ask you to give your full name and phone number. They do this to keep a record of how many people they help.

The group is free - I guess they have some great benefactors.

Yes, it is OK to connect outside the group. My group members actually encouraged me to call them outside of the group, because I was doing very poorly one session.

Glad to help.
Posted 9/23/2012 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
DBSA! why didn't i think of that! that's a wonderful, very active group where i live.

another group you might consider is trying to find a dual recovery anonymous (DRA) group since you are looking for something anonymous. their groups are a bit few and far between...we have a meeting in my community. their fellowship traditionally focuses on 12-steps for people with an addiction issue and mental health issue, but the group where i live invites people who have either/or and both. i don't think their central office is very good at keeping their website up to date, but you might be able to contact them via phone about where you could find a meeting in your area: www.draonline.org

also, i should have mentioned that there may be a drop in center near you. we have one in my town, and i know it has been a huge support to many people i know. they are consumer-driven and usually offer many peer-led support groups and social activities. all the services at the drop in center in my town are completely free, and it's open 7 days per week, even in the evening a few nights per week. you can check this list to see if there's one near you: http://www.cdsdirectory.org/database/view_all_listings_by_category.php?program_category=5&name=Drop-in%20Center

you might spend some time checking out some of the other information on that cdsdirectory.org website...i browsed around for a few minutes and saw that they list a whole bunch of different support directories!

hope you're having a restful weekend!

Post Edited (frizzbee) : 9/23/2012 1:00:50 PM (GMT-6)

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