Lack of convenience and flexibility are also factors in keeping people from attending in-person support groups. For someone with depression, having the energy to consistently attend a meeting outside their home is extremely difficult. And in many cases for someone with a mental illness, the group needs to be constantly available, not just once a week or so.
The most insurmountable barrier to attending an in-person support group for some people is shyness. For some it’s just the prospect of meeting a new group of people that’s daunting, but for some it’s difficult, if not impossible, to talk to other people face-to-face about very personal issues. Many would prefer to just sit and listen till they’re comfortable with these strangers, but in some groups everyone is expected to participate.
These barriers don’t exist when one has access to the Internet and attends an online peer support group, or groups. Geographic distance is only an abstract concept and you never have to worry about bad weather when you’re getting there. It is always possible to find an occupied support chat somewhere online if you need to talk to someone right away. The group meeting times are flexible and you can attend in your pajamas.
It’s almost always possible to find a mode of communication online with support peers that suits you, since there are so many to choose from. There are email lists and bulletin boards, which allow for thoughtful, deliberate posting. There’s real-time chat, which many people prefer for the immediacy and sense that they are in a room with other people. On my forum members can also have their own blog or online journal, in which they post their thoughts and feelings. Other members can comment on the often intensely personal entries.
The types of interactions you’ll find in an online peer support group are pretty much the same as a face-to-face support group. Some people are seeking information about a disorder or its treatment, many people are giving or receiving emotional support and encouragement and some are venting frustrations about their condition or how it affects their life. Many people are just happy to talk to others who understand what they’re going through.
