Hypothyroidism

Lesson 7: Learning to Live Well With Hypothyroidism

Finding Support

Handling hypothyroidism isn’t necessarily something you have to do alone. By nature, human beings are social creatures. We crave companionship, understanding and so much more. When you were little and you got sick, did you want to be alone? Most likely, you wanted your parents. I remember when I was at my worst and in excruciating pain, I would ask my husband where my mommy was. I didn’t want to suffer alone. I felt that if I had the hand of someone who loved me unconditionally to hold onto that I could get through anything.

The personal support of friends, family and other loved ones can be invaluable in helping you to cope with your chronic illness. If the people around you aren’t supportive, that’s hard. Of course, when you’re ill, it’s hard for those who love you, to cope with it. They may be worried, especially if you haven’t been diagnosed yet. They may not know how to help you either.

You may also encounter difficulties with your personal support system as they try to understand your condition. They may not always realize that you aren’t feeling well. Sometimes, it can be misconstrued as laziness. There are some loved ones who mean well but think that you could use your illness as an excuse not to do certain tasks.

You may face these situations. I did. It’s hard to be prepared for them. It hurts when someone you love says that your illness is “inconvenient” for them. Hmm. Did they ever stop to think how inconvenient it is for you? I learned to ask those questions and stick up for myself. Along the way, I improved some very important relationships and got some personal support I didn’t always know I had or needed.

In this modern age, we often try to tough everything out alone. It’s weak to ask for help, to admit that you need support. Well, isn’t that a horrible misconception! There is nothing weak about asking for help. It is a sign of strength to be able to admit your limitations and to know your needs well enough to ask that they be met.

You may have to expend some of your all-too-limited energy on educating and consoling your personal support system at times too. It’s certainly a worthwhile activity, but not always a welcome one. Sometimes, personal relationships can be draining especially when your well of resources is already tapped into significantly.

That’s why many people find the greatest success in having two circles of support. The first is the family, friends, loved ones, co-workers et. al. who know them personally. That’s why we call it personal support. The second type of support comes in a support group.

Support groups are usually informal places where you can go to meet people who deal with similar issues. You can find support groups on the internet or in meeting houses, hospitals, churches and just about any place people gather together.

alt.support.thyroid is probably one of the best known internet support systems for people with thyroid disease. Their website is located at: http://www.thyroid.bravepages.com/.

You can also check out:

There are many online support groups. They contain information and forums, message boards and other forms of internet support. MSN, Yahoo! and AOL also have groups online that offer chat, listservs and many other resources to people with this condition. I’ve your even a little bit web-savvy (since you’re taking this course, I assume you at least have an internet connection), you can find lots of support, information and friends online.

However, you may prefer face-to-face support. Many people prefer human contact. One way to find a support group in your area would be by checking out the major thyroid patient organizations in your country of origin. In the Unites States, we have several. (Please note that a more comprehensive list of these resources will be offered in Lesson 8.) Two of the more well-known are:

You could also contact your local church, community center or hospital to ask for support group information near you.

Of course, you may decide to start a thyroid support group on your own. If there isn’t one near you or you don’t feel that existing groups are a good fit for your personality, lifestyle or schedule then starting a support group is a really proactive endeavor. I applaud anyone for considering it.

Starting your own support group may take a little work. You’ll have to find a name for it, and a location to hold the meeting. You will have to decide if you will charge people who attend these meetings(in case you have any overhead for literature and the space itself). You will also have to lead meetings and secure advertising. If you don’t let anyone know you have this meeting, no one will attend, right? Of course, if you have a bit of know-how, some extra energy and the desire, you can do this!

Regardless, support groups can be a great way to supplement therapy. You can also gain vital information about your condition through the contacts and resources you’ll find at any support group. I’ve learned many helpful things about my conditions just by hanging out with other people who have them.

You’ll also be surrounded by like-minded people who’ve been through or are going through what you are. You’ll know you’re not alone and learn that you can cope with this chronic condition. You’ll get tips that’ll teach you how to improve your health and make a few new friends in the process.

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