Seeking Support: Finding Anxiety Support Groups Online

Approximately 40 million adults experience anxiety and its associated symptoms, including feelings of dread, restlessness, fatigue, and a racing heart. These symptoms can be overwhelming and frequently land people in urgent care offices and emergency rooms, eager to understand what is happening to their bodies and hopefully ease some of their distress. However, what may be less frequently acknowledged and countered is the isolation that often accompanies anxiety and the difficulty present in overcoming a condition that impacts their quality of life. 

To help those managing this isolation, online support groups offer a safe place to manage these feelings in a community of people who understand what they are going through. However, because of the number of people managing anxiety, there are an abundant number of different support groups to choose from - some of which that may not be appropriate or helpful. If you are looking to find an anxiety support group, read on to learn how to choose one that fits your needs and when to seek professional mental health support. 

What is anxiety?

Occasional anxiety is a feeling that most people experience at some point in their lives. However, for some people, anxiety symptoms worsen or do not subside due to the underlying presence of an undiagnosed mental health disorder. Anxiety is typically used to describe either an anxiety disorder or a state of anxiousness. Although one is more intense than the other, both can be troubling, and both can require the intervention of a therapist or other form of mental health professional.

Anxiety itself is a state in which someone feels nervous, afraid, agitated, or uncertain. Anxiety can arise in response to an important meeting with a boss, an impending conversation with a partner, or an uncomfortable situation with a loved one. It may also arrive for reasons unknown. Typically, a state of anxiety is brought about by the anticipation of something happening, something going awry or ending unpleasantly.

Anxiety disorders are growing increasingly common and can present in people of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. As a mental health disorder, anxiety is defined by the presence of chronic anxiety thoughts or nervous feelings without a single catalyst or source. Additionally, people with anxiety may experience a number of intense symptoms, including debilitating fear, confusion, exhaustion, breathing and heart problems, muscle tension, and nausea. These symptoms can greatly interfere with a person’s ability to function and accomplish daily tasks. For this reason, seeking treatment for anxiety is highly advised. 

Anxiety treatment and support groups

Many therapists will encourage their patients to seek out support groups early on in their treatment plan, while others might not mention the possibility at all. This is likely due to a simple personality difference and, in some cases, a lack of awareness of the many resources now available to people with mood disorders and other forms of anxiety. Even if your therapist does not expressly encourage you to visit an anxiety support group, enlisting the support of like-minded people who are either living with anxiety or who have overcome anxiety in the past can give you a sense of hope and accomplishment even amid fear and uncertainty.

Although anxiety support groups should never take the place of therapy, they can be invaluable when engaging in a treatment plan with a licensed mental health professional; engaging with others who have been in your shoes can make you feel less alone and can remove the isolation that so often accompanies any mental illness or disorder-isolation that can increase symptoms and worsen outcomes.

The role of support in anxiety treatment

Few phrases are as life-giving and soothing, as "That happens to me too!” when you have divulged something of which you are embarrassed or ashamed. Mutual support amid anxiety treatment can be a powerful determiner in whether therapy is effective. It can also play a role in how long treatment must be actively engaged to see lasting results.

Mental health experts have long acknowledged the importance of having a solid, reliable support system in all areas of your life. Whether that support system is comprised of a spouse, loved ones, or the closest friends you have, this social reinforcement can make all the difference in achieving health goals and having resilience against setbacks.

Even in the absence of strong familial support or support from friends or loved ones, you can join an anxiety support group to get the reinforcement you need. There are several ways you can go about finding one where you feel comfortable, both in-person and online. Whether you ask for suggestions from your therapist, a local therapy clinic, a local mental health recovery chapter, or an online source. Online support groups give you a safe space to reach out to and connect with people who are experiencing similar mental health issues in the comfort of your own home. No matter in-person or online, you can join a safe community where you can be uplifted during difficult times and give yourself hope for the future.

Finding in-person support groups

A great resource for help in finding an in-person support group is turning to your therapist. Some therapists will offer this information as a form of treatment, while others might know of a local anxiety support group you can attend. In some cases, they may also refer you to a resource that can assist you in your search. Some therapists will not know of anything in the immediate area but may be able to direct you to someone who does. Your therapist is not merely a valuable asset during your sessions; therapists often have numerous resources available to you to implement existing treatment protocols further.

Local therapy clinics or mental health recovery chapters might also provide support meetings. Regardless, it never hurts to send a quick email or phone call to determine if there are any support groups in your area open to new participants.

If you are unable to find an in-person support group or simply do not feel comfortable in that type of social situation, consider an online support group. Internet support groups provide a safe space to share stories and mutual support with peers living through a similar experience in the comfort of your own home. 

They can also be enormously helpful for people with anxiety, especially those who experience aggravated symptoms in social situations. 

Finding online anxiety support groups 

Finding online support systems can be as simple as entering a search for "online anxiety support groups," or looking into threads on existing anxiety support threads. You most likely will find different options, such as live telehealth group therapy sessions and support forums that primarily use chat to communicate.  

An internet support group works similarly to in-person support groups, including being let by a professional, trained moderator, or a person with a similar mental health diagnosis. Chances are several of the support forums you find are not monitored by professionals, nor are professionals likely to contribute. These forums may simply be a group of people with anxiety who come together to talk and support each other.

To find a peer support group for those with anxiety in your area, you can search the web for "anxiety peer support group near me" or "peer to peer support anxiety." You can also ask a mental health professional, including your healthcare provider or therapist if they know of a peer support group in your area. Additionally, some websites and organizations can help you find a peer support group. For example, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) has an online community for anxiety and depression support in addition to the support group locator. 

Creating your own support community

You might also consider creating your own anxiety support group by engaging in discussion boards found on sites such as the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Additionally, there are several other psychological health sites that support individuals forming their own online community serving those managing anxiety disorders.

When you are choosing your support group, be aware that online support might mean "meeting" at a single, weekly time, or creating a network of friends that you can text or email at any time (with the promise of a response in 24 hours or less). The type of support needed will depend largely on your anxiety levels, where you are in treatment, and how self-aware you are regarding symptoms, flare-ups, and periods of stress.

Benefits of online support groups

Online therapy and online support groups have a distinct advantage over other forms of therapy and support. They allow people to engage in healing, helpful conversations without requiring them to leave the comfort and safety of their homes. This is particularly true of people who have social anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). New situations and circumstances can cause symptoms to worsen in those with either of these disorders. The stress it causes to enter the building to meet with a therapist or support group can feel impossible a large portion of the time.

Online support groups and therapy can also be helpful for people who have regular scheduling changes or unpredictable days. Many therapy offices operate strictly within standard business hours, making meetings difficult. Whereas, many in-person support groups meet on weekends or evenings, both of which are common work schedules for people from all walks of life. These added benefits of convenience and accessibility allow people to be far more proactive and invested in their treatment than the constraints involved in physical meetings.

Treatment without support

While support is important when you are managing any of life’s challenges or a mental health disorder, anxiety treatment is still effective without a support system. Anxiety treatment can succeed even in the absence of any form of familial or friendly support, or joining an anxiety chat room, provided that the client in question adheres to the treatment protocol set. Treatment can go more smoothly; however, when there are people alongside you who can commiserate with what you are experiencing, who can offer support and encouragement when a therapist or therapy appointment is not available.

If you are stepping into anxiety treatment without some form of support, you can create your support systems through online friendships or even through reading or listening to music. Books, poetry, and music are rife with instances of people expressing pain, regret, and apprehension, and there is certainly no shortage of these themes within any media. If human contact is not available for sources of anxiety support, try to support yourself with others who have been in the boat you are in now and have found their way forward - even if that means simply reading accounts in health journals, novels, or listening to them play out in a musical score.

Reaching for online mental health support 

While support groups can give you a safe space to give and receive social support, therapy is an ideal way for you to learn how to manage anxiety, especially when your symptoms are related to a mental health disorder. In therapy, you will learn about your behavioral and thought patterns that may be contributing to your symptoms along several coping strategies for anxiety. Additionally, you will receive support to work on ways to prevent anxiety attacks by managing the feelings and thoughts that lead to anxiety. Only licensed and experienced professionals should be consulted when seeking treatment. 

If your anxiety symptoms make it difficult to get out of the house or should you have a busy schedule, you may want to try online therapy. Research shows that online therapy platforms can be a powerful treatment option for people living with anxiety. A recent study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research reported positive results in people managing anxiety, with participants reporting a significant improvement in their symptoms. 

Making appointments and meeting new people, especially healthcare providers, can be a stressful experience for most people. But this stress can increase anxiety even more so with someone managing an undiagnosed anxiety disorder. If you are feeling anxious about scheduling an appointment in-person, know there are online therapists available to work with you in the comfort of your own home. There are services like Regain that can pair you with a professional therapist or psychologist. In online sessions, you and therapist will work together to develop an individualized treatment plan that will not only help relieve your symptoms of anxiety but also improve your mental health and overall general well-being. 

Takeaway

Creating strong, solid support systems can function beautifully as a supplement to your existing anxiety protocol or can be a good place to start on your treatment journey. A group of people who understand the challenges that living with anxiety brings on a personal level can help you support you in ways that your friends and family cannot, despite their best intentions. Though it can initially be daunting, aligning yourself with an anxiety support group, whether online or in-person, can greatly enhance your healing journey and help you move forward. When this support is not enough, know a mental health therapist is available online to assist you when you are ready.