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Connecting with Others: MS Support Groups

If you or someone you know is affected by multiple sclerosis (MS), you might feel alone or overwhelmed at times. Luckily, you don't have to cope with MS on your own: Thousands of support groups exist to help you connect with others whose lives are impacted by multiple sclerosis.

Local Support Groups

Multiple sclerosis support groups in your area can put you face-to-face with others who have similar questions and concerns about multiple sclerosis. In addition, these groups provide you with the opportunity to vent your frustrations and concerns to caring individuals.

Finding a Multiple Sclerosis Support Group

Finding a MS support group in your area shouldn't be difficult. Talk to your doctor or the doctor who cares for your loved one and ask her if there are any MS support groups in your area. You can also go online and do a search for MS support groups in your city or town.

If you don't have a local MS support group, consider starting your own. Not only will you benefit, but so too will the other individuals in your area whose lives are affected by multiple sclerosis.

At MS support groups, you can also make friends who can help you and your loved ones cope with MS. People discuss the challenges they've faced and the ways in which they've overcome obstacles related to multiple sclerosis.

The following organizations can help you connect to MS support groups in your area:

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America
The National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Contact your local chapter of the above-mentioned organizations to find out more about MS support groups in your city or town.

Online Support Groups

If your area doesn't have a local multiple sclerosis support group, or if you can't make it to many of the support group meetings, you might want to consider joining an online support group.

There are thousands of online multiple sclerosis support groups, each of which offers a place for members to chat about MS concerns, care, treatment and more. As a plus, online support groups create a forum where you can connect with people all over the world who are affected by MS.

To find an online support group, simply run a search for "multiple sclerosis support group" in your favorite search engine. From there, simply pick the online group that most appeals to you.

Special Multiple Sclerosis Events

In addition to joining a support group to help connect with others, you can also participate in events to bring awareness to multiple sclerosis. Such events help fund research for MS and also unite those who are passionate about finding a cure of MS. Plus, the events can be a lot of fun!

The following MS events are sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation:

MS Bike Ride: Ride your bike and raise money to help fund MS research!
MS Challenge Walk: Held in nine different locations, the MS Challenge Walk is a two- or three-day walk that ranges from 30 to 50 miles.
MS Walk: Thousands of people in multiple cities walk to raise money for MS research.

To learn more about the above-mentioned events, contact your local National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation chapter.

Resources

National Multiple Sclerosis Society (2007). Special Events. Retrieved June 21, 2007, from the National Multiple Sclerosis Web site: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?
pagename=HOM_EVENTS_homepage.

Stachowiak, Julie (2007). Top 10 Organizations for Multiple Sclerosis Support. Retrieved June 21, 2007, from the About.com Web site: http://ms.about.com/od/resources/tp/ms_resources.htm.

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