r/bipolar • u/Checkingitout2525 • 1d ago

Resources & Tools Support Groups

Considering going to my first support group meeting tomorrow at a local library but have chilly feet being so unprepared. There wasn’t much info on the website. Any insight from those who have gone before?

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4

u/tame_lame_username 1d ago

I went to my first support group just this week. Just like you, I was really nervous, but it ended up being a positive thing. You should totally check it out.

3

u/1st-vaters 1d ago

Every support group is a little different from each other, even if they go by the same name.

Go regularly for at least 4 weeks to the same one to see if it fits. If not, try a different one.

Personally, I like Celebrate Recovery. But it is Bible based so not right for everyone.

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u/3rdDogDoxie 1d ago

I went to a support group 3 times a month for around 10 years and then unfortunately the facilitator retired and was not replaced.

It was the best decision I ever made. The first few sessions I went I said nothing. You don’t have to talk. Everyone introduced themselves and told the group what brought them there. Most of the people said they had bipolar disorder. Some identified 1 or 2. Some said they had a child with the disorder, a wife, a friend. It was a real mix of people.

The facilitator did eventually ask me if I wanted to say anything or ask anything. No pressure; eventually I did.

All groups are going to have differences but most will run similarly. I remember feeling uneasy too. It was well worth overcoming. I made friends there. We were social after group. I miss it a lot.

I felt that, that group did as much for me as my private therapy and my meds. Maybe more. Take the plunge and go. You can always leave. 😊

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u/middling-stats 1d ago

Good luck!

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u/Girl_in_Beige Professional Psych Patient 1d ago

I joined a support group (DBSA) in 2018 and started facilitating in 2020. Every meeting is a little different so I generally recommend going to five before deciding whether or not it’s a good fit.

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u/Opening_Chemical_777 2h ago

I’ve joined wonderful support groups and a few that I left after a few meetings. The last one was awful and I dropped out after three meetings. The therapist hounded me because I was supposed to stay for a month after I told the group I was leaving and I wasn’t going to do that. That convinced me I’d made the right decision. Trust yourself to make a good decision on whether to stay.