8 Signs You May Not
Need a Support Group
For Your Illness

Upon the diagnosis of an illness everyone,
including your doctor, likely tells you to go to
a support group. Research has shown that
support groups can be extremely helpful in
how one copes with disease. And yet, not everyone finds a group to be the answer to the
kind of support for which they are searching. Like any kind of group, there are some
support groups you will "click" with and others you will not. So don't rule out all support
groups just because one doesn't seem like a good fit.

But the question still arises. Regardless of whether you are looking for a colon cancer
support group or a endometriosis support group, the real question may be, do you really
need a support group at this time in your life? Many changes occur while we live decades
with illness and there are seasons in our life when an illness support group may hold our
very best of friends, and other times when we have no need to attend whatsoever.

1. You are handling the day-to-day aspects of living with illness with ease. You don't even
have time to analyze how you are coping with your illness because you're simply too
busy living life.

2. You are surrounded by a group of people like friends or family members who are a
good influence on you. They understand that you are making a choice to live the best you
can despite your daily pain and they can appreciate that.

3. You don't feel anger, bitterness or resentment toward people who are physically
healthy. You are able to have relationships without comparing your abilities (or lack of) to
others.

4. You easily carry on conversations with people without ever bringing up the topic of
your illness. You don't believe that your illness is such a fundamental part of who you are
that it's necessary to describe your medical challenges to total strangers.

6. You have discovered that sitting around at a support group and talking about your
illness is more emotionally draining than helpful. You are in a place emotionally where
you don't find the need to talk about your illness that often.