People benefit from participation in a self help/support group in many different ways, some of the most common are:-

        IT REDUCES THE FEELING OF ISOLATION

        REDUCES FEAR AND ANXIETY

        THE PROVISION OF RELEVANT INFORMATION AND LITERATURE

        OPPORTUNITIES FOR SHARING EXPERIENCES AND COPING SKILLS

        FEELING EMPOWERED TO TAKE POSITIVE STEPS TOWARDS BETTER HEALTH/SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT

       INCREASED SELF ESTEEM

       INCREASED SELF CONFIDENCE

       BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OWN HEALTH CONCERNS/SOCIAL ISSUES

        DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SKILLS

        INCREASE IN SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES/SOCIAL CIRCLE

        AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE AS WELL AS TO RECEIVE HELP

        MUTUAL SUPPORT – THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE “BEEN THERE”

       SWAP AND LEARN NEW, PRACTICAL WAYS OF DEALING WITH PROBLEMS

       ALLEVIATION OF STRESS

        A FEELING OF BEING MORE IN CONTROL

        GAINING INSPIRATION AND SUPPORT FROM OTHERS’ EXPERIENCE

       

© David Martin -2006