There is a saying in Twelve Step groups that “pain shared is pain lessoned.” When dealing with a health crisis like cancer, online support groups can be a godsend. People join for a myriad of reasons - 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.
What I didn’t realize was that research backs up the idea. Psychologists call it the 'online disinhibition effect,' people also often tend to be more honest and open about themselves in cyberspace, which can be an important asset in a support group," said John Suler, psychology professor at Rider University in New Jersey and author of the online book The Psychology of Cyberspace.
"This effect stems from the anonymity that people can experience when they communicate with text."
Recognizing the needs of families from the initial phases of diagnosis, through treatment decisions and survivorship, the Lymphoma and Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) online chat forums brings non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and CML patients together and offers the opportunity to share experiences with one another. These forums will be offered to registrants and will be live, two-hour chat sessions moderated by an oncology social worker. Each group will meet weekly.
Register at: http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/