Mental Health Support Groups

We all can agree that everyone should prioritize their mental health. From my own personal experience, the hardest part of starting my mental health journey was simply figuring out where to begin. A close friend, who also navigates multiple mental health challenges, guided me through that first step. She encouraged me to seek professional help, emphasizing the importance of a proper diagnosis, and then shared additional resources for people like us to find support.

I never fully understood how important support groups are, until I attended one for the first time. I was diagnosed with severe anxiety, severe depression, PTSD, and ADHD and was immediately prescribed medication. In a weird way, I felt that this still wasn't enough. Growing up, I often felt "different," like no one could possibly understand what I was going through. But now I know millions of people share the same struggles.

A week starting my medication, I began searching for local support groups and found one that was not that far away from where I lived. There happened to be a meeting that day, so I decided to attend. Walking into the room, I felt anxious, nervous, but also curious, all at once. I was afraid that I was being judged and chose to sit in the back row.

The meeting began with the sponsor introducing himself and explaining the group. Then came the moment I had been dreading: "who here is new to our support group?" I immediately felt my face turn red because I was the only new person that day. When asked to introduce myself, my stomach turned, but I stood up and said,

"Hi my name is Jennifer but please call me Jenn. I suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and ADHD. I'm here because I want to better understand my condition and hear advise from others who experience the same struggles as I do."

With all eyes on me, I sat down and smiled. For the rest of the meeting I was able to hear stories from others and how they cope with their condition. I met this guy who suffers from PTSD. He was a veteran who served our country for 21 years. Hearing his story gave me a sense of hope, that everything was going to be ok.

I have attended this support group every week for the past year. and it has been a big help to my mental health journey. From my experience I recommend support groups, they offer the chance to connect with people who truly understand what you're going through and provide hope, guidance, and community.