Benefits of support groups and how they can empower and strengthen people. Information on developing a group of people to lean on.
We have all heard the old saying, "No man is an island," and daily we rely on other people for support, whether at work with our fellow coworkers, or at home with our family. But what happens when you need encouragement or help coping with a problem that is beyond the circle of your friends and family?
There are so many situations we try to handle alone - divorce, death, terminal illness - and often we find ourselves overwhelmed by grief and unable to function. What we must realize is that there are no circumstances which we must face alone; that reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness - remember, there is strength in numbers.
Support groups are the very backbone of our society. Their benefits are endless. Not only do they offer an emotional outlet, they also offer insight, understanding, strength, and encouragement
Perhaps one of the first and most successful support groups is Alcoholics Anonymous. AA works where many rehabilitation programs have failed, conceivably because AA, unlike medical programs, consists of people who have similar experiences and who can empathize and help each other recover, and once they do recover, they will to reach out and help others.
One of the most important attributes of a support program is empowerment. Not only can people with like experiences come together and empower each other, oftentimes their empowerment acts to change society. For instance, the group "MADD" (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) was founded solely for the purpose of having mothers who have lost their children to drunk drivers get together, console each other, and help each other make it through another day. However, because of their anger, frustration and common bond, they were able to fight together as a group to have the laws changed to enforce stricter DWI codes and penalties.
The empowerment factor also helps the group to grow. For example, if you join a support group because your husband has left you after 25 years of marriage, you are probably depressed, devastated and incapable of the smallest decisions. The help and assistance you received from the other members of the group will facilitate your recovery; you will then become a viable, empowered women who can in turn help other women who are now where you once were.
While these two examples (AA and MADD) give you an idea of the power and strength of a support group, there are thousands of smaller groups all over the country providing a service to people in need. Victims of domestic violence, survivors of divorce, people suffering from AIDS, cancer, or various other diseases, can find comfort and familiarity in a support group.
If you have survived something devastating, whether it was an addiction, an illness or an emotional problem, and there is no support group in your area, start one. You will be surprised how many other people out there are trying to cope by themselves and will welcome the chance to share with you and others what they have learned and what they are willing to learn from you.
