Support Groups: Who, How To and Why.
©
Who needs a support group? Anyone who's dealing with the frustrations of Lyme Disease. If your case was a late diagnosis, you've most likely endured many doctor visits, possibly one or more misdiagnoses, been told your illness is psychosomatic while your life came to a standstill due to pain and fatigue. What could be better than to walk into a room and learn everyone there has been through much of the same. Suddenly someone understands how it feels and that alone is supportive.
There are Lyme chat areas on the internet and message boards, but the personal interaction is not the same as actually being with others with Lyme disease. A hug, a reassuring touch, a supportive hand squeeze helps the healing process. Touch is so important. It conveys so much more than written or spoken words and it helps the healing process.
Lyme disease knows no specific territorial boundaries. People who live in large cities, small towns, in the country, mountains or on a coast are infected and suffering. More often than not, there will not be a Lyme disease support group in a patient's area. And more often than not, the people who need one are unable to start one because of the limitations caused by Lyme disease. So how does it get started?
Even on a bad day, a Lyme sufferer can use the telephone to call a local hospital, a counselor's office, a County or City Health Department, a clergy person, a friend or family member. Often that one phone call can be the catalyst to start the process. Encourage whomever you reach to offer this service and if you can help in any way, tell them how. Don't just toss the ball in their court and sit back complacently. If you can make a phone call, or use a computer, you can help by finding resources like speakers, printed information about prevention and treatment drugs. You can create flyers to let people know when and where the group will meet and mail them to doctor's offices, hospitals, schools, churches, restaurants or anyplace people will see it. Recruit someone to post flyers or give them to neighbors to post at their workplace.
What makes a support group meeting effective? Name tags, introduction time for each person, information, socialization time and a comfortable meeting place. The basic structure for a support group meeting is:
Go To Page: 1 2
