Support Groups

[Alaskamomma]

Have you gone to one? What was your experience?

I have gone to one and I enjoyed the people. I did find myself getting angry after I left though because I found when I spoke about a certain issue other people could identify with what I was going through. This became another identifiable marker for me that, indeed, I do have bipolar disorder. It would bother me as I am still learning about this illness and in steps to accepting it.

 

[Alive again]

I have had mixed experiences depending on how I was doing and where I was and others where in the recovery process. I personally enjoyed the people, but did not care for a mixed group I attended that involved other diagnosis. I tend to be too much of a caretaker to get much help from these groups. We did not have the best facilitator, so maybe that had a lot to do with it, and we never had the info portion we were suppose to.

I think I would do better with a group that involved active cognitive behavioral support rather than the "how are you, I am not doing well and here are my grips type of group."

I truly enjoyed a class we took from NAMI called "Family2Family" that was to educate and help family members understand and support someone with a mental illness. We did some sharing and learning there!

Now here at cf is my biggest support group!!!

 

[OneOfHisOwn]

I first attended a group that was mixed - only one other bipolar person - not too helpful. Then I found a group that is only for bipolar persons and it has helped to just be with people who are confronting the same issues. I do struggle with the "Here is how I feel, etc..." also but this group also offers advice based on personal experience and we discuss meds, hospital issues, etc.- The group is now forming a board to look at adding training and other more formal materials and advocacy issues. Even a Clinical Psychologist is providing her time (FREE no less). Another issue that sometimes makes me "very" uncomfortable is that most are not Christians, so faith issues are "out-of-bounds" if you know what I mean. That creates allot of tension for me when certain things are discussed - behaviors etc that I know are sins and are complicating their recovery but - you know the line - that the "world" loves to quote to us Christians - Don't judge lest ye be judged.. out of context, of course, cause the Lord was making the case that our "judgment" must be according to the truth and spirt of the law (character of God) and not our own "standards" that we have created out of our own minds... I guess as I get to know them better perhaps off-line we can have discussions about the Lord. Makes my heart break to see those with this illness who don't know Him - I don't know how they go on living...

Rambling a bit... sorry....

 

[angelkiss]

I was in group therapy each time I was hospitalized. It was mixed, but the main thing that gave us comfort was knowing that although our symptoms were different in ways, we were all there to seek help. That was the boost that help each of us support one another. Some were there for drug rehab, some were bipolar, some just had depression, etc. But, we still were able to lend a listening ear if nothing else.
My therapist is talking of starting a support group soon which would consist of all having the same illness. I have mixed feelings about it for I do well to make it to the individual sessions, let alone the group as well. I don't do well with having a fixed time to be somewhere and do something for it makes me feel pressured. But, I am willing to give it a try.
s and es!!