Dolphin
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Support Group Recap: Facing the Holidays with Chronic IllnessFree, professionally-facilitated online support group
Topic: Facing the Holidays with Chronic Illness
https://batemanhornecenter.org/event/online-support-group-82/
Tuesday, December 17
1 PM MST/3 PM ET/8 PM in Great Britain & Ireland
Find the time in your time zone here
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=Tuesday,+December+17+Free,+professionally-facilitated+online+support+group&iso=20241217T13&p1=220&ah=1
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Longer description:
Online Support Group
December 17 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm MST
Free
Online Support Group
Topic: Facing the Holidays with Chronic Illness
Support Group Format
Both monthly support groups are designed to include people with
ME/CFS, FM, Long COVID, and co-existing conditions. We also welcome
supporters and loved ones.
These sessions are led by a licensed professional who has personal
experience navigating life while living with a complex chronic
illness. Each session includes a topic and guided discussion.
Participants are encouraged to participate to their comfort level
which may include listening, communicating in the chat box, and/or
sharing verbally with the group.
We strive to foster an inclusive and accepting environment for all!
Advance Registration Required. Click here to register
https://batemanhornecenter.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvcOyrrT4tHdGd5qVBq8sva4Y-6tRVSEoB
Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email containing
instructions on how to join the group event. We recommend attendees
test the link, their cameras, and speakers/headphones prior to
joining.
December 17, 2004
https://batemanhornecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241217-Support-Group-Recap.pdf
Extracts:
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“Participant shared that she experiences so much isolation it is challenging to make herself leave a social event before it causes PEM [post-exertional malaise]”
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“Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly with many breaks”
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“I let my family know I can't cook, clean, or sit up for long periods. I volunteered to do some shopping, which I could do online and while horizontal, and contribute grocery money.”
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Participant refers to her illness as “the baby” such as “the baby needs to lie down” or the baby needs to be fed by someone else.” This helps to remind the participant that it is not her fault.
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Participant shared that it took four years to accept that she isn’t going home for Christmas. Now that she has accepted her limitations, she is getting creative such as doing a family Zoom and joining online hobby and friendship groups.
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Participant shared that her mother and sibling are begging her to travel several states away to visit them for the holidays. She decided to visit them at another time of the year when there is less holiday stress.