How to Find a Fibromyalgia Support Group
Heather talks about the different types of fibromyalgia support groups and how to find the support group that is right for you.
If you're finding this video, I'm sure you're already aware that NewLifeOutlook is a great way to find online support with forums, videos, and helpful articles.
In-Person Support Groups
If you're looking for a support group where you go in-person and meet up with people regularly, there are numerous ways to find one of these groups.
I would suggest talking to your doctor or some medical professional, call your local hospital and see if they know of any, or a local pain center might be able to refer you to a support group in your area.
Visit Fibromyalgia Websites
There is a website called meetup.com, and if you search on their website for fibromyalgia, you will find groups that meet up and with others who live with fibromyalgia, and it's like a support system. You can make friends, and you can do activities together.
I know that I've been to a couple of meetings in my area when I first got diagnosed and some groups just meet at churches, and they just talk.
While some groups, one of them had activities, they would do. You paid dues, and then you would do low-impact activities together, just to get you out of the house and in a place that is judgment-free.
Whereas if you were going to go to an event, but you're in pain, everyone there understands if you don't show up.
Also, the National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Support Association have a website that lists, by state, the different kind of groups they offer.
Some states have multiple groups and kind of just a brief little sentence about what group is all about and what they do. So, if you want to look into that, that's fmcpaware.org.
So, those are some great ways to get out of the house, meet new people, meet people that know what you're going through, potentially make friends in your area that also have fibromyalgia, and that can be great.
Facebook Support Groups
You can find online support if you search Facebook which you can find and join.
Facebook offers a lot of different kinds of groups. Sometimes if you search your local area and fibromyalgia, you might be able to find a group of online people in your area. So, if you can't get out of the house, you don't feel like getting out, you can talk to people on there.
In the past, I've been able to find several supportive groups on Facebook which had people from all over the country living with fibromyalgia.
Online Support Groups
Now, for some people, they're just not the type to wanna go out and go to a meeting like that, and that's okay, because there is online support, like I was talking about with NewLifeOutlook.
Livingwithfibro.org is also a great online support system where you can post questions, talk to different people; they have forums. It's another online support community.
Dailystrength.org also has their sub-community of people with fibromyalgia as well, and they're another online support system.
Visit YouTube for Support
YouTube is also an excellent way to find support. It's not necessarily a forum or a support group like the other things I mentioned, but you go on there, you search for other people suffering from fibromyalgia.
You can find YouTubers, like me, and what I've noticed on YouTube is, on a lot of my fibro videos.
People will start talking to each other in the comments, and it's amazing to see friendships growing, people getting to know other people that way, and making friends, and more support.
So, there's a supportive community there. It's a little bit different, but I find that younger people dealing with fibromyalgia seek support from online forums like Facebook and YouTube.
Whatever you do, whether it's online or in person, try different things to find a fit that's right for you when it comes to fibromyalgia support groups.