Texoma Living Well Magazine March/April 2018 | Page 28

The Value of a Support Group
By Kelly Lamkin, LBSW
W
hen I think of the value of
a grief support group, it is
difficult to focus on just one
thing. I can, however, tell you the two
most repetitive values I have observed.
One is that attendees realize they are
not “crazy,” that what they are feeling
and going through is their “new nor-
mal.” The second is that they are not
alone, realizing there are others that
are hurting and grieving too.
No one in a group can say, “I know
exactly how you feel.” But they can
say, “I understand how it feels to
lose someone that you love.” When
a grieving person hears that what
they are feeling and experiencing
is supposed to be happening, there
is a look of relief on their faces as
they realize that it is okay to feel the
way they do. Only a grieving person
understands that value. Numerous
people have told me, “I can move
on now knowing that I am not crazy,
even though I may not like it, I can
deal with it now.”
The other important value of a sup-
port group is realizing that you are
not alone; there are others there
grieving too and they can relate to
how you feel. Being present in a
support group, watching those in
attendance express themselves, tell
their stories and come out of their
shell with complete strangers, is the
most valuable part of a grief support
group. It is not easy to walk through
the door and sit around a table shar-
ing your raw emotions. But once a
person does that it is remarkable
what happens. Their healing begins.
I have seen people make friends
with others in the group and keep
that going even after the group has
ended. They have a lifeline that they
feel safe reaching out to, someone
to share their feelings with and for
some a true lasting friendship.
Being able to talk to someone who
can truly relate is when you start to
heal. And that is the true value of a
support group.
To read more from Kelly Lamkin, find her on the Quality of Life blog at www.homehospice.org.
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Home Hospice
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and Fannin Counties
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Sherman, TX 75090
903-868-9315
316 S. Chestnut
Gainesville, TX 76240
940-665-9891
www.HomeHospice.org
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Hospice Care
Palliative Supportive Care
Grief and Loss Programs
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TEXOMA AREA Living Well Magazine | MARCH/APRIL 2018
Where
Quality of Life
Matters