As you go about life, you will have challenges. Many are easy to conquer, while others may cause you a tremendous amount of stress. Whether it be a disease, life change, or addiction, there is no reason you should be doing it alone. Finding support from others has shown to be of benefit to get through these trials of life. Self-help groups are an excellent resource for support as they will provide encouragement, reassurance, and comfort. Not sure if this form of therapy is right for you? Consider the following five reasons why people love support groups.
But First, What are Self-Help Groups for Drug and Alcohol Addiction?
Support groups bring people together who have or are going through similar experiences. Although there is a multitude of support groups, they are often built around medical conditions, such as cancer, bereavement, addiction or caregiving.
This group setting allows the participants to share their experiences, feelings, and coping techniques. Uniting with other members allows for a trusting and non-judgmental environment.
1. Reaching Out is Easy
Although you may find it difficult to reach out for help, there are people who can relate to your circumstances and can offer the reinforcement you need. If you find yourself struggling with a stressful experience and are uncertain of how to find a group, consider performing an online search or call local mental health centers for a list of local self-help groups.
2. Make Powerful Connections
There is nothing worse than thinking you must go it alone when facing a stressful or troublesome situation. The good news is you don’t have to. Connecting with others that share your similar experiences, relieves the pressure of tackling whatever it is by yourself. The connections made within a group often goes beyond the meeting, providing additional support in real-life.
3. Group Leaders Can Offer Expertise
It is common for the leaders of self-help groups to be a professional or have expertise in the topic the group is structured around. With this knowledge, the group’s leader can provide information you were not aware of prior to joining. Learning through the group will better prepare you for addressing your problems.
4. Provide a Unique Environment for Members
If you are seeking assistance with managing life’s challenges or addiction recovery help, you may find a group setting more of a relaxing environment than that of one-on-one therapy or rehab. Support groups tend to be casual in format and not as rigid as some treatment programs can be.
5. Can Provide Additional Resources
In addition to providing you with a sense of community, commonness, and comfort, self-help groups can also offer information on supplementary resources if necessary. If after participating in your support group you are still requiring further assistance your group leader can recommend programs that may benefit your situation.
If you or a loved one is in the process of finding an outpatient addiction program, support groups could be of great help. Whether it be an outpatient or inpatient program, the experienced staff at Harmony Grove are dedicated to helping you or loved one through your healing process.