I can only write here about my own experience with anxiety support groups here in the UK on the good old NHS. I was sent to a place called the “Winner’s Centre” or “Victory Centre” or some such other well thought out name. After an assessment with quite the oddest and least approachable counselor I’ve ever met I was tacked on to a support group which had initially been for women only. They added me and another guy to make up the numbers. We started off talking about our problems, but it turned out that most of the people there had quite different issues to me. The women did not have phobias of transport or agoraphobia, they had, well I don’t know what they had…They cried and bitched each other. Isn’t that kinda normal? Anyway, for some reason I suffered this rubbish for twelve weeks, it didn’t help my anxiety one bit and I didn’t do much good for their emotional problems. All I learnt was that some people are thoroughly depressed, anxious, and unhappy because their heads are completely full of their own problems and they have no idea about anyone else’s!
You may have a local anxiety support group that is really good…But frankly I don’t know what help and encouragement anxiety sufferers can give one another. I fear they might just sit around re-enforcing the labels they have been given and forgetting that they are normal healthy human beings with the same capabilities as everyone else.
It’s true that people with anxiety can join in a support group that does not help. I run a support group that I feel will be of great value to the members who will be able to discuss their feelings and experiences of anxiety and depression with people who understand the suffering, also people will share information about treatment and medication, what helps and what didn’t help. People may also form friendships built on mutual support. It’s really important that the group leader has insight into the different types of anxiety and how they are connected, and why anxiety happens. Support groups may be for many people a great help but for others it may not work, I suggest that people might want to give it a try; you can leave if it’s not for you but if it is it might be the best thing you have ever done. London Anxiety and Depression Support Groups.
hi im ed suffered from depression all my life looking to share experiences and talk with others