Talking openly about how your disease makes you feel is not always the easiest task in the world. Joining a support group with other people who are going through the same thing as you, though, helps you cope with your condition.
Sometimes, sharing your feelings can come off as whining, but there are some things you can do to prevent this.
- Reserve your complaints for legit reasons. Don't complain about minor things unless you're sure that other people in the group feel similarly.
- Don't put anyone's struggles down. You might not be going through the same thing as them, so you should not invalidate their struggles.
- Offer solutions to problems you talk about. Your support group might feel you're whining if you only complain and are not ready to find a solution. Instead, make it clear that you know about the solutions, but you are having trouble implementing them.
- Acknowledge the good. It can be hard to see the positives when you are living with diseases, but try to look for silver linings wherever possible and appreciate the good days.
