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By Eloise Hewitt


People who experience chronic pain often go through it alone. Even if they have people around them to support them, it is often difficult for them to really understand and the sufferer does not want to add to their burden. This is where pain support groups online are invaluable.

The people who belong to a group like this can understand and identify with suffering. They are available to share their experiences and listen too. Living with constant pain affects not only the body but the mind as well. Sharing with others in the same situation often helps to alleviate the depression and anxiety that comes with suffering like this.

Joining such a group is possible even if the person is bedridden or immobile. Sometimes people do not have any transport or cannot get caregivers to drive them to attend a group. An online group therefore provides a way to interact where there is possibly no other feasible way to interact with other sufferers.

People often have bad episodes during the night. As others are probably experiencing a similar thing, it is possible to post a message and get a response from someone who will help. Just having the opportunity to put feelings and thoughts into words can help.

Participating in such a group is not meant to replace real life relationships. However, it is a way of bringing together people from all over the world who are suffering similarly. This offers a vast and rich source of experience from which to draw. Someone on the other side of the world may even have advice to offer on a practical every day issue affecting someone.

Sufferers may find it difficult to talk about embarrassing issues face-to-face. There is a certain anonymity to an online encounter that somehow seems to encourage people to open up about such issues. This freedom to communicate what cannot be shared in any other situation can be liberating.

People may not want to join such a group for fear of having to listen to many complaints. One is probably be exposed to negative experiences but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Participants often reveal great bravery in the face of difficulties which is encouraging to others. Humor is often used as a tool to deal with difficult situations.

Online relationships do not replace other ones. However, they provide a valuable means of obtaining the support and encouragement needed. It also offers a way to improve self worth too, as this is a way for a sufferer to help others, despite their situation. Reaching out to others and helping them to push through can be very important to someone.

When you experience chronic pain, no one understands how you feel like other people who share your condition. They can offer you hope when you need it and you can offer them support and encouragement in return. Practical information and advice can be received too which can add to your quality of life.




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