| Support Groups: Integral to Good Care | |
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“...a safe place to be
with others who can immediately relate to each other because they share
the same illness ...
offer individuals an
opportunity to learn and become more educated and more involved in their
own healthcare and, therefore, have a better chance for an improved
quality of life.”
-- Marcia Seawell |
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The best headache and Migraine care consists of three parts:
- Good care from qualified medical professionals.
- Patient education.
- A strong support system.
Guest author Deborah Wirtel brings us first-hand experience from an IRL (in real life) support group.
Support is a very important thing people give to or receive from others .
Webster’s defines support as to uphold or defend as valid or right, to assist
and help. A person can give or get support for a job, personal relations or in
instances of illness or chronic pain. Support substantiates what we do, what we
believe, what we feel and what we experience.
Family members and close friends are often the best sources of support. But what
if that support isn’t there? Where can someone go to find the support he or she
needs?
Groups meetings and gatherings for people sharing similar life situations are
great places to find support. Types of support groups include cancer survivor
support groups, weight loss support groups, new mother support groups and
Migraine or chronic headache support groups.
Marcia Seawell is the support group coordinator for the
American Council for Headache Education
(ACHE). Marcia says support groups for Migraine or headache patients are, “a safe
place to be with others who can immediately relate to each other because they
share the same illness.” The manual for ACHE support group leaders states:
“ACHE support groups will offer those with headaches the opportunity to overcome their painful sense of isolation by demonstrating that they can rely on others like themselves for understanding and help.”
Support groups also provide members with the newest information concerning their
treatments for their medical condition or information on the latest research in
their area of concern. “Headache support groups offer individuals an opportunity
to learn and become more educated and more involved in their own healthcare and,
therefore, have a better chance for an improved quality of life,” says Marcia.
Guest speakers, such as neurologists or headache specialists, can add to the
quality of information provided by a support group.
Many people from all different backgrounds attend Migraine or headache support
group meetings, but basically, they are all looking for the same thing. “Persons
attending support group meetings are seeking all possible avenues available to
them for help with their disabling headache situations,” says Marcia. “Often,
persons attending groups are those who have searched a long time for help with
no success and who continue to have their lives disrupted regularly by
headaches.”
Kim, a special education teacher, attends a Migraine/headache support group in
St. Louis. “I was looking to gain some new educational material about headaches
and Migraines as well as just be able to interact with people that understand
what I am going through,” she says. “I wanted a place that I could be myself and
let my pain show instead of always wearing my ‘mask’.” She continues to attend
meetings because “it’s a great place to bounce ideas or concerns off others that
are going through the same type of experience or have been through that
experience. We all ‘support’ each other.”
Kim found her support group through a flyer at her headache specialist’s office.
The internet, newspaper calendar sections and word of mouth are other ways to
find local support groups.
Support groups aren’t just for those seeking support; some Migraine or headache
sufferers start their own support groups to fill a special kind of need inside
of them.
Jasmine is working on starting her own support group in San Diego. “I decided to
start a headache support group because I was in desperate need of support and
their aren’t any groups in San Diego,” Jasmine says. “I hope to bring peace of
mind to other sufferers, reminding them that they’re not alone in their
struggles.”
Individuals who start Migraine support groups are “empathetic, giving and
caring,” says Marcia. “Most of those who start groups have severe headaches
themselves and recognize how important it is to reach others who also have their
own quality of life diminished by headache,” she adds.
Whether you are a member of a support group or start one on your own, Migraine
and headache support groups can fulfill almost anyone’s needs.
Anyone interested in finding or starting a support group can get in touch with
an existing network of support groups. You can reach
ACHE at 856-423-0258 or the
National Headache Foundation at 1-888-NHF-5552, or visit their web sites.
Migraine: The Complete Guide,
The American Council for Headache Education, with Lynne M. Constantine and
Suzanne Scott, 1994, Dell Publishing.
Deborah Wirtel is an ACHE support group
facilitator and a forum host for About
Headaches/Migraine.
© Deborah Wirtel, 2002
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