Get the Support You Need
I was shocked when I was
diagnosed with diabetes.
The extra support I got
from my friends and
support group really helped
me adjust to the new
lifestyle I had to adopt.
—Richard, person with
diabetes
|
You Do Not Have To Go Through It Alone
Sometimes the emotional side of illness can be just as hard to deal with as the
physical side. You may have fears or concerns. You may feel overwhelmed.
No matter what your situation, having other people to turn to will help you
know you are not alone.
Here are the kinds of support you might want to seek:
Family and friends
Talking to family and friends you feel close to can help you cope with your
illness or condition. Just knowing that someone is there can be a comfort.
Sometimes it is hard to ask for help. And sometimes your family and friends
want to help, but they do not want to intrude, or they do not know how to
ask or what to offer. Think about specific ways people can help you. One
idea is to ask someone to come with you to a doctor's appointment to help
ask questions, take notes, and talk with you afterward.
If you do not have family or friends who can provide support, other
people or groups can.
Support or self-help groups
Support groups are made up of people with the same disease or condition
who get together to share information and concerns and to help one another.
Support groups may or may not be led by experts. Self-help groups are
similar to support groups but usually are led by the participants. The names
"support group" and "self-help group" sometimes are used to refer to either
kind.
Research on support groups shows that participants feel less anxious,
experience less depression, have a better quality of life, and have more success
coping with their disease or condition. Similar findings have been reported
for self-help groups.
Online support or self-help groups
The Internet has support or self-help groups for people whose concerns and
situations may be similar to yours. You can also find "message boards,"
where you can post questions and get answers. These online communities
can help you connect with people who can give you support and provide
information.
But be careful. Not every idea or treatment you come across in these groups
will be scientifically proven to be safe and effective. If you read about
something interesting and new, check it out with your doctor.
Counselor or therapist
A good counselor or therapist can help you cope with sadness, depression,
and feelings of being overwhelmed. If you think this kind of help might be
right for you, ask your doctor or other health care professional to recommend
someone in your area.
People like you
You might want to meet and talk with someone in your own situation.
Someone who has "been there" can talk about the real-life outcomes of their
treatment choices as well as how they have learned to live with their disease or
condition. Some advocacy or support groups can help you make this kind of
contact.
If only I had known what
it would be like to live
with the after-effects of
this type of surgery, I
might have chosen a
different kind.
—Susan, who underwent
surgery for a digestive
disease
|
Help is available
Take advantage of the support that is available to you. Go to Where to Find
More Information for specific places to find support.
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