How Do I Choose the Best Anxiety Support Group?

An anxiety support group is any group of people who meet to discuss anxiety related issues, to help themselves to cope daily, and to provide support for one another. In most cases, these groups are self help tools, meaning that individuals are responsible for managing their own treatments, though they are often guided by trained professionals. To choose the best anxiety support group, you should think about the health professionals in your life and decide whether there is one in particular whom you would feel comfortable asking for recommendations. Individuals who do not have mental health professionals they can trust might want to consider seeking referrals from local community centers.

The kind of anxiety support group you choose might depend on your emotional state, as well as any specific issues that you may have. First, some support groups are designed for those who need little mental health support. Other groups meet in institutions and are for patients suffering from more severe conditions. If you are currently staying at a health institution or if you regularly consult a mental health specialist, you should ask a professional familiar with your case if he or she thinks an anxiety support group might be a good idea for you, and which group he or she might recommend.

If you are not presently working with any specialists or feel that you would like to discover your options for yourself, you might prefer to do more extensive research. In these cases, think about types of groups in which you might feel most comfortable. If you regularly attend religious services, for example, you might find groups that are sponsored by a related religious establishment. Some regular specialists even hold group therapy sessions that you can attend.

It also is important to remember that an anxiety support group can be specialized. For example, if you experience anxiety because you suffer from post traumatic stress disorder resulting from being the victim of a crime, you might find an anxiety support group that is specifically for people with these same experiences. Health education resources often list descriptions and locations of support groups.

Don't feel that you have to become a member of the first anxiety support group that you find. It is possible that you might feel uncomfortable with the members of a group because your experiences are not similar to theirs. If this is the case, feel free to try another group. At the same time, keep in mind that you probably won't feel comfortable in an anxiety support group right away. It often is necessary to adapt to new people and surroundings.