Went to a support group meeting.

I went to a support group yesterday for ppl with depression and bipolar disorder. I thought it was for anxiety also but it is not. I felt unconfortable speaking up so I didn't say anything. I don't really want to talk to strangers about who I am. It's hard. But I also want to make friends. I could relate to some of the things these people said. I just felt like I was so different because I don't have bipolar dsrdr or extreme depression. What are your takes on support groups? I'm wondering if this is the right one for me. I've never been to one so, maybe they're all like this. The leader said I don't have to talk if I don't want to. So maybe I will go again. One thing I noticed was that they related everything to depression. I can't do that with my problems so I feared standing out. Have you guys been to support groups and do they help you?

Judith

I've never been to support group. I have been in group therapy, though. I imagine that a lot of things in our lives are affected by depression, or whatever illness we have. I know that my sexual abuse has influenced every aspect of my life, and I'm sure that it's the same with someone with depression.

I think that's probably why they were relating the depression to everything...

yup I sure have. They related everything to depression because that is what the group is for. if it was a support group for survivors of cancer everything discussed would be related to what a person goes through for cancer, if it is a group for alcohol everything discussed is related to the aclohol and its effects, Rape and sexual abuse support groups the topics and discussions all relate to rape and sexual abuse and how it has effected the person. All support groups have a main target or discussion focus area.

How narrowly that discussion is depends on the type of group - therapy everything is focused on learning coping skills and each session deals with a specific symptom or problem within that subject, support focused on everyone sharing their views.

I've been to a number of support groups, and they've mostly been pretty helpful for me. A couple weren't, and there have been a couple of scary times -- the depresion and bipolar groups, if some of the bipolars aren't well stabilized. (One guy came in depressed and switched in the group -- we had to leave early, because he wouldn't leave and couldn't control himself.)

I also go to an eating disorders support group, which can be weird for me, because they're mostly all bulimic, and I'm not. Still, enough of hte issues are the same that it's still hepful.

I guess the one thing I'd say is that you can say that your own issues may not relate to depression, if that's how you feel. I've seen that dynamic, and it is tiring, if you don't believe that everything comes back to depression. Try a few times, maybe, and see how things go. Maybe it'll get better as time goes on.

I think that's great that your reaching out open mindedly, and going to a support group. Of course everybodies going to talk/refer their problems a little differently then you, but that don't mean your wrong, or their wrong.

I think you should return and get to know these people. Of course it's always uncomfortable at first. But once you get to know what's going on, I think you'll open up and become more apart of the conversation. It takes time.

I would reffer to the way you describe your depression and anxiety, whatever it was, the way you normally do. Introducing a new prespective may help shift the group to other other perspectives too.

Well good luck..........I hope it all works out for you.
Desirae

ummm There must have been something else going on with the person other than Bipolor.

Bipolors dont have major "switches" they cycle which is one of the diagnotic criteria for being bipolor - they have major highs and major lows but unlike a normal depressive in between they go from high to low in a "cycle" - it is a cycle of DAYS of progressively their moods goes lower.

for example going from high to low - each day its a little harder to get out of bed. each day its a little harder to do the daily activities, each day they feel sadder until finally at the height ot that cyle they're at their worst cant get out of bed, cant do their daily activities, constant crying, and sadness. Then they start cycling back up again - each day they feel progressively better start being able to get out of bed, start doing their daily activities again stop crying and are a bit happier. then they reach their highest point of being top of the world happy, very active and dont want to stay inside and in bed. Some people at their highest point are hyper - cant sit still always having to so something. then they cycle down again with days of progressively getting sadder, having trouble doing their activities and so on until they bottom out at their lowest point again.

If they are on medication and it is the correct one and dosage they dont experience the cycling but stay at an even level in the middle like a normal person.

Bipolors dont suddenly "switch" into uncontrolable behavior.

I have been in the depression / anxiety management group open to depression, anxiety and bipolor people that my therapy office offers now through three different sessions. Each time the instructors were different, but they all using different material explained the "cycle" of depression and bipolor and anxiety. Each time the bipolors attending were different people in the group. Not one of those bipolors that were in the groups with me "switched" into uncontrolable behavior. That person had something else going on other than bipolor which is quite possible a person can have bipolor and depression and anxiety and have other disorders too. Don't let that one person effect your attending other depression groups. that happening in groups is very rare.

Addition-
I recieved a pm with some bipolor info. I did a quick check on the resource I was given - Bipolor World.

It explains the rapid cycling -

A person with Bipolor can cycle through the highs and lows at a fast and very fast rate. Sometimes within 24 hours. Basically according to this source the rapid cycling is not the persons regular patter of cycle as in they don't normally cycle through their complete patter every day on rapid cycle. Something happens where the person goes through the normal cycle of going through from highs to lows in a progression only instead of the cycle taking days it takes 24 hours - first really high happy energetic, then a very quick progression of getting worse then hitting their lowwest point of not being able to do anything, very sad, and so on and then the very fast progression upwards until they hit their highest point.

the rapid cycling isnt the persons permanent cycling patter, just an isolated situaion in the persons normal pattern.

Rapid cycling does not include uncontrolable behavior just the same as a normal pipolor cycle only very fast.

Thanks mandy for that bipolor world resource Im going to keep looking into that one.