Would it help to talk to someone?

Professional help

It can be difficult to work through your emotions and feelings on your own.

You may not want to share what you are feeling with your family and friends. There may be many different reasons for this. You may find that talking to someone may help. This could be a professional who is not directly involved in your care. Ask about referral for counselling. This is really about someone to listen to you.

 

Support groups

You may find a support group useful. Sometimes it is easier to talk with other people who are going through similar experiences.

For patients: There are different kinds of groups. Sometimes they are for the same specific disease type (such as Alzheimer's disease). Sometimes they are for patients with similar problems (such as cancer support groups). There are face-to-face support groups. There are also online support groups. These offer forums, bulletin boards and chat rooms. Visit the CareSearch page on Finding Services and Support for a list of some of these groups.

For carers: You may want to go to a carer support group. Many of the disease specific organisations have them.

You may want to look at different ways of getting support. Remember that you don’t need to continue with it if it isn’t helpful. Ask for suggestions from your health professional.