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Local Suuport Groups

Dealing with chronic pain is something you'll do for many years. Your pain may be easier and harder to control at different points, but you'll always have to live with it. Some days you might feel as if no one else can understand your pain. Or you might wish you had someone to share coping techniques with. Joining a support group for people with chronic pain can provide you with these and many other benefits.

Support groups can provide a depth of help and advice and a sense of control that you might not find anywhere else. That's because they put you face to face with people who share many of the same symptoms and feelings as you do.

Not all support groups are the same. Some support groups are mostly educational and feature discussions led by informed guest speakers. Others are more social and unstructured, with meetings providing a time to vent, brag, encourage and visit. No matter how the groups are set up, they share the same basic goal: to help each member cope with his or her pain.

Benefits of support groups include:

• A sense of belonging, of fitting in. There's a special bond among people whose lives have been disrupted by the same problem. You share a sense of camaraderie. Once you have the experience of being accepted just as you are, you begin to feel more accepting toward yourself.

• People who understand what you're going through. Family, friends and doctors can empathize with your problems, but in many cases they haven't experienced what you're going through. Your pain experience is unique, but it shares many common threads. Because support group members have a good idea of what you're feeling and experiencing, you may feel freer to speak your mind and voice your frustrations, disappointments and anger.

• Exchange of advice. You may be skeptical of some of the advice given to you by well-meaning friends who don't have chronic pain. But when veteran group members talk, you know they speak with the voice of firsthand experience. They can tell you which coping techniques have worked wonders for them and which techniques haven't helped at all.

• Opportunity to make new friends. These friends can bring joy into your life, as well as practical support — a listening ear when you need to talk, a chauffeur when you could use a relaxing drive and a companion to exercise with.

When support groups aren't the answer

Support groups aren't for everyone. To gain the most benefit from a group setting, you have to be willing to share your thoughts and feelings. You must also be willing to learn about and help others. People who are severely depressed and don't want to talk or who have poor social skills are generally less likely to benefit from support groups.

In addition, not all support groups are beneficial. You want to be in a group where the mood is upbeat and the message positive. Some groups that aren't carefully monitored can become a place to vent and share only negative feelings that breed on themselves. This can leave you depressed and add to your pain instead of improving it.

How to find a support group

Your community may already have one or more support groups for people with chronic pain. There may even be groups for specific types of chronic pain, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia or irritable bowel syndrome.

To find out if there's a support group in your community, check with your doctor or nurse. You might also check with your county health department, a community health organization or your local library. You can also contact organizations such as the American Chronic Pain Association or the National Chronic Pain Outreach Association. These agencies offer free information on area support groups. They can also provide information and advice on how to start a support group if there isn't one in your community.