A Primer on Depression and Bipolar Disorder

II. MOOD DISORDERS AS PHYSICAL ILLNESSES

F. Self-Help and Support Groups for Bipolar Disorder

There is no way to describe deep depression or fully-developed mania; they can only be experienced to be understood. Hence, it is, perhaps, not surprising that many people suffering from mood disorders have formed self-help groups for mutual support, and often, in parallel, support groups for the family and friends of the victims.

The great psychiatrist, Carl Jung, once made the very profound remark that "only the wounded physician can truly heal." What he meant by that can be seen vividly, again and again, in the interactions that occur in some of these self-help groups. For example, a person new to the illness, and the group, may find him/herself explaining some difficult or frightening event recently experienced, and noticing that the other members of the group are nodding their heads in agreement; often someone will say "I know just how you feel about that; I had exactly the same experience once ..."

It is hard to express how much such empathy and affirmation can mean to the victim; to have been heard and understood at such a deep level, and to know that it is O.K. It is not unusual for group members to become good friends.

The self-help and support groups meet separately because that way each participant can focus on each problem as he/she sees it. Family members often want specific, "private" advice about how they can cope with the very heavy burdens of having a mentally ill person at home, or just to ventilate feelings in a supportive setting, without raising these issues in front of the victim. Yet another function of these groups is to organize and sponsor "educational meetings" open to the public at large. Usually they will have a speaker on an appropriate topic, and perhaps refreshments. These meetings educate both group members and other people in the community who are concerned about the problem, or who do not need, or care, to attend the other group at the present time. Finally, all of these activities give group members a sense of belonging and participation, and from that a sense of empowerment that they can have some control over their lives.

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