Receiving a neurologic diagnosis is scary, isolating, overwhelming and life-changing. But that moment passes and you need to figure out how to get the best out of the rest of your life with your new normal. Finding others who have gone through it- your community– can be a lifeline.
How peer support groups help
- Finding your community is empowering-the patient is no longer a passive recipient of treatment and advice.
- The focus is on promoting well-being in your particular lifestyle, not just managing disease
- Support from peers already living with health conditions helps fill in the gaps. and has the potential to improve outcomes, increase access and improve efficiency in health care.
- Family members and friends all want to help, but realize that your illness impacts them as well. There are things you cannot say to them or learn from them. That’s where a peer support group helps.
- Sharing your problems can be cathartic. You will likely feel uplifted after saying outloud what troubles you have kept to yourself.
What peer support groups do
- Peer-support groups offer advocacy, assistance and education.
- They share information about a wide-range of topics, such as how to handle work, relationships, and exercise.
- Support group members offer real practical advice often not addressed by the medical system, such as how to manage morning stiffness , best diet tips ,and how to explain their diagnosis to their boss and coworkers without affecting how they are perceived professionally.
- They can recommend clinical experts and centers of excellence.
The social benefits of support groups
- Health care is heavily influenced by culture, setting and population and chronic disease prevalence is greater in lower socio-economic populations.
- Peer support groups bridge the accessibility gap
- They emphasize the importance of social interaction in disease manage and well-being. Patients benefit from feeling less isolated.
The proof that support groups work
- A recent review (ISBN: 978-0-9946026-3-3) reported
- Better outcomes than those relying only on medical interventions
- Improved access
- Cost-effectiveness
How do I find a support group
- Support groups can be in-person or online
- Most conditions have their own support group
- Ask your doctor for recommendations or look online
- BeCareLink has a community where you can share your thoughts, hopes and fears and learn from one another available on the app itself