If you’ve been recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, you may be feeling very isolated and alone. Your symptoms can cause discomfort or embarrassment, and cancelling outings with friends may seem like the only option. However, there is absolutely no reason you should avoid social activities or interpersonal interactions because of your MS.
Finding an MS support group is much less difficult and can provide you with the social outlet you crave. An MS support group can become a place where you can openly discuss symptoms, visit with friends, and plan social outings without worrying about the stresses of your diagnoses. Finding an MS support group is as easy as searching on the Internet, and these few tips can get your well on you way to finding a great group of supportive and fun-loving people.
Online Communities
You don’t have to leave your house to find emotional, medical, and social support. Online communities are great stepping stones for building a social network among Multiple Sclerosis patients. Interactive blogs, message boards, chatrooms, and even skype can put you into contact with MSers all around the globe.
As a member of various online communities, you can have direct access to doctors and physicians who specialize in MS and MS treatments, and you can find new coping mechanisms to help you with your symptoms. By reading patients’ MS blogs and interacting with them through comments and message boards, you can get a personal and in-depth look at how people like you are coping with every day disturbances caused by MS. Blogs can also offer MS-friendly recipes to help with dietary symptoms, exercise tips, yoga moves, and ways to help your family and friends learn about your diagnosis.
Chapters
Beyond the online community, the National MS Societies around the world offer local chapters that can help patients find medical services, social events, and support groups in their hometown. If you’re living in the United States, the National MS Society website lets you search for MS groups in your zip code. Not only will you find new friends but you can also become directly involved with local events and fundraisers.
This may help you better understand the effects of MS across counties and cities and put you in direct connection with other MS patients in your area. Most of these chapters will also cater to specific cultural needs as well. They will work closely with different social and political groups in order to accommodate their patients as effectively as possible. Whether you’re military, LGBT, or looking for a group that works closely with specific races and/or genders, you can find support for your MS.
Local Groups
If you are looking for something more social rather than educational and medical, using social media to look up local groups in your area is an option. Meetup.com is a website that offers social outings, activities, and no-pressure gatherings where people with similar interests can come together and have fun. For those with MS, Meetup is a great place to start.
Whether you’re looking for an MS-friendly cycling group or a social outing group for those with disabilities, Meetup can help you find one in your hometown. Some of these groups are private and request a small membership fee to cover the costs of events and gatherings, but most are open to the public and free of charge, giving you the opportunity to explore your city in a way you may have thought impossible due to your MS. It’s free to start, so log on and find a support group that caters to your unique needs.
In conclusion
As you start searching for an MS support group, it’s important to keep in mind exactly what you want to gain from these meetings. If you’re looking for social support and an excuse to get out and about town, using social media can be a great outlet. But if you’re looking for a more medical approach with coping mechanisms and ideas for a healthier lifestyle, blogs and message boards affiliated with doctor’s offices may be more your speed. Ask yourself exactly what you hope to gain from these support groups, because in order to succeed and grow with an MS support group you will need to find one that caters specifically to you.