From MayoClinic.com
Special to CNN.com
 

If your leg is in a cast or your arm in a sling, total strangers offer sympathy and assistance. But chronic pain often is an invisible disorder. In most cases, no one can tell that you're any different from anyone else.

That makes it difficult for even your family and friends to understand what you're going through, or what they can do to help. You may feel isolated and alone.

Support groups can provide help and advice that you might not find anywhere else. That's because they put you face to face with people who share many of the same symptoms and feelings as you do

Some support groups are mostly educational and feature discussions led by expert guest speakers. Others are more social and unstructured, where you can vent, brag, encourage and visit. No matter how the groups are set up, they share the same basic goal — to help each member cope with his or her pain.

Benefits of support groups include:

• A sense of belonging, of fitting in. There's a special bond among people whose lives have been disrupted by a similar problem. You share a sense of camaraderie. Once you have the experience of being accepted just as you are, you begin to feel more accepting toward yourself.

• People who understand what you're going through. Because support group members have a good idea of what you're feeling and experiencing, you may feel freer to speak your mind and voice your frustrations, disappointments and anger.

• Exchange of advice. You may be skeptical of some of the advice given to you by well-meaning friends who don't have chronic pain. But when veteran group members talk, you know they speak with the voice of firsthand experience. They can tell you what coping techniques worked for them, and which ones didn't.

• Opportunity to make new friends. These friends can bring joy into your life, as well as practical support — a listening ear when you need to talk, a chauffeur when you could use a relaxing drive and a companion to exercise with.

When support groups aren't the answer

Support groups aren't for everyone. To gain the most benefit from a group setting, you have to be willing to share your thoughts and feelings. You must also be willing to learn about and help others. People who are severely depressed and don't want to talk or who have poor social skills are generally less likely to benefit from support groups.

In addition, not all support groups are beneficial. You want to be in a group where the mood is upbeat and the message positive. Some groups that aren't carefully monitored can become a place to share only negative feelings that feed on themselves. This can leave you depressed and add to your pain instead of improving it.

How to find a support group