Support groups: Make connections, get help

Support groups bring together people who are going through or have gone through similar experiences. For example, a support group may connect people with cancer, heart disease or diabetes. Or it may bring together those with alcohol, drug or tobacco addiction. Support groups also can be for people dealing with grief, or for caregivers of people with cancer or dementia. Support groups may even be specific to a person’s age, sex or beliefs.

A support group gives you a chance to:

• Share personal stories.
• Talk about feelings and concerns.
• Share coping approaches.
• Talk about other helpful information you and others have learned through having related diseases, treatments or experiences.

For many people, a health-related support group may fill a gap between medical treatment and the need for emotional support. Your relationship with your healthcare professional or other healthcare team member may not give you enough emotional support. And while your family and friends may help you, they may not understand the full effect of a disease or treatment. A support group among people with shared conditions or situations may work as a link between medical and emotional needs.

A nonprofit advocacy organization, clinic, hospital or community organization may offer support groups. Support groups also may be unrelated to any organization. Group members may lead them.

Support groups are often offered as in-person meetings, telephone conferences or online groups. A layperson often leads and organizes a support group. This leader is often someone who shares or has shared the group’s common experience. But a group also may be led by a health professional, such as a nurse, social worker, or a mental health professional.

Some support groups may offer chances to learn. For example, the group organizer may ask a guest speaker to attend. The guest speaker may be a healthcare or mental health professional, nurse, or social worker who talks about a topic related to the group’s needs.

Support groups are different from group therapy sessions. Group therapy is a type of mental health treatment that brings together many people with similar conditions. For example, a group of people who have long-lasting — called chronic — pain, depression or anxiety may be in group therapy. Mental health professionals lead these 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. Joining a group gives you a chance to be with people who are likely to have a common purpose. And the members of the group are likely to understand each other and what each person has gone through.

Benefits of joining a support group can be:

• Feeling less lonely, alone or judged.
• Easing distress, depression, anxiety or fatigue.
• Talking openly and honestly about your feelings.
• Learning and getting better at using skills to cope with challenges.
• Staying motivated to manage long-term conditions or stick to treatment plans.
• Gaining a sense of empowerment, control or hope.
• Learning more about your disease and your own experience with it.
• Getting practical feedback about treatment choices and sharing feedback with others.
• Learning about health, financial or social resources.

Support groups may have drawbacks. Effective groups often depend on the organizer to help the group stay away from these problems. Potential problems that can happen are:

• Group members that cause trouble or distractions.
• Talks in the group are taken over by complaining.
• People sharing what’s discussed in the group with others, or not keeping information private within the group.
• Emotional troubles, group tension or fights between members.
• Medical advice that is not proper, sound or accurate.
• Members comparing or competing with others whose conditions or experiences are worse.

Online support groups offer benefits and risks due to the online format. It’s important to think about these factors before joining an online group.

Online groups can have benefits such as:

• More-frequent or more-flexible ways to take part in groups.
• Chances to join virtual groups for people who may not have local in-person support groups.
• A level of privacy or namelessness, called anonymity, depending on the type of online group.
• Chances to join in groups by video in web video conferences, depending on the group.

Online support groups can have risks, such as the following:

• People in online groups may be more likely to share false information. Or people sharing too much can lead to information overload.
• A trained health professional may not always lead online support groups.
• People joining groups online may lead to them being isolated from other friends or family.
• Discussions only in written text can lead to issues with understanding or confusion among group members.
• People may use the online environment to prey on others, invade privacy of group members, sell a product or commit fraud.
• Being nameless, called anonymous, in the group may lead to comments or behaviors that are rude or not proper.

You may be able to find out about support groups from the following:

• Your healthcare professional, social worker, clinic or hospital.
• A friend or family member or someone you know who has gone to a support group or has a suggestion.
• Nonprofit organizations that support, called advocate for, people with certain health conditions or life changes.
• National Institutes of Health websites for certain health conditions.

Leaders of support groups can organize and plan each group differently. Before joining a support group, ask the following questions:

• Is the group meant for people with a specific health condition, stage of a disease or life change?
• Does the group meet for a set period of time or does it keep going for an indefinite time?
• Where does the group meet?
• At what times and how often does the group meet?
• Is there an organizer or moderator?
• Has the organizer or moderator had training?
• Is a mental health professional involved with the group?
• What are the guidelines for keeping the group’s discussion private, also called confidentiality?
• Are there basic rules for group participation?
• Does the group fit my values?
• What is a typical meeting like?
• Is the group free, and if not, what are the fees? Does insurance cover it?

Warning signs that might hint at a support group with some problems may be:

• Promises of a sure cure for your disease or condition.
• High fees to be in the group.
• Pressure to buy products or services.

When you join a new support group, you may be nervous about sharing personal issues with people you don’t know. At first, it may help to simply listen. But over time, sharing about your own ideas and experiences may help you get more out of a support group.

Try a support group for a few weeks to see if it meets your needs. If it doesn’t feel like a good fit for you, think about trying another support group or another support group format.

Keep in mind that a support group doesn’t replace regular healthcare. Let your healthcare professional know that you’re taking part in a support group. If you don’t think a support group is the right fit for you, talk with your healthcare professional. Ask for help coping with your condition or situation. Your health professional may suggest counseling or other types of therapy.