Le blog de Michael Liimatta

Simply stated, a support group is a regular meeting of individuals who have joined together to offer one another support and encouragement in order to overcome a shared problem.  In informal, small group settings, participants, in turn, share their own experiences, feelings and struggles

Ideally, a good support group is, first, a place where recovering addicts will find true acceptance and a sense of what unconditional love is all about.  It is a safe, non-judgmental setting where they can express struggles, thoughts, ideas, and feelings without fear of rejection.  Hearing the stories of others with similar difficulties and how they overcame them, gives the struggling addict great encouragement to go on in a life of sobriety.

The unrelenting sadness and hopelessness that characterized my experience with depression is something I will never forget.  In the grips of depression I often felt paralyzed, not possessing the strength to rise from bed or even to open my eyes in the morning. I felt completely alone, unable to make contact with anyone, not even Almighty God.  I lost interest in life and the things that make life special. I became reclusive and withdrawn, not wanting to be with friends  I alternated between insomnia and exhaustion. I couldn't concentrate. And always, I felt inexplicably sad. Nothing made me happy.  Most frightening of all, I made intricate preparations for my death. (1)