How To Create Your Own Bipolar Support Groups
Support groups allow those who share a common diagnosis or interest to come together. This is besides the everyday medication that must be taken by a bipolar disorder victim, to offer emotional support. These people come together to share ideas and offer ideas on how to cope. While most support groups are usually led by someone who has experience in these kinds of meeting, it is not an important factor. What is important here is to just SHARE IDEAS, because mothers, parents or patients can form a bipolar support group and help those that are interested.
Suitable Meeting Place
Every group must have a place to meet and it can be in your garage, a hall or even inside your house. One important factor here is that it must be comfortable and available when you as a group need it. And your ideal sitting set up would be to sit in a circle rather than a church style setup.
Having Rules to be followed
While you as a group will make your own rules later on, there are some important points that must be emphasized every time you meet.
Confidentiality: everything shared must stay inside the meeting.
No other sources: everything shared must be from personal experience. There should be no quoting from the bible or famous people, it must not be allowed into your meetings.
No preaching: words such as dont do that. dont do this,must not be allowed.
Offer suggestions: these suggestions must be from personal experience like; I went through the same experience and I did this or my child had that same thing and I did this. Use non threatening suggestion.
No gossip: dragging somebody’s name down in these meetings must not be allowed.
JUST LISTEN: Most would come to a meeting not to have their problem solved but to have an opportunity to share all their frustrations in their everyday life with bipolar victims.
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While providing important emotional support, the primary goal of most bipolar support groups is to ensure that no one living with bipolar disease or this mental condition feel alone again. Support groups are more than just a safety net for patients or caregivers for they can also improve the physical health and well being of those taking part.
Other Functions
A critical foundation for those trying to cope with the disorder, in some places support groups are also called special interest groups (SIG), who form an important part for many health organizations. Support groups help in the daily everyday struggles and fill the emptiness of having medication. Informing about the new advancements in bipolar treatment or therapies available, support groups generally helps patients to cope and serve as educators.
Support Groups Online
Many have found online support a great help, with modern technologies at our doorsteps. This online support network is ideal for those living in very remote areas or those who are scared of leaving the security of their homes. This online support can be a backup to the already existing bipolar support groups in the community.