Is anxiety self help through online anxiety groups a myth or reality? Is it really possible? What are online anxiety groups? If you constantly find yourself or somebody close to you asking these same questions, reading this shall hopefully clear your doubts and help you make up your mind for yourself or your loved one. Let’s move on together as I try to answer those questions and more.
1.What are Anxiety Disorders?
Unlike the mild and brief anxiety we feel during stressful but relatively normal situations like our first job interviews or first dates, anxiety disorders last a minimum of 6 months and get worse when left untreated. There are different types of anxiety disorders and their symptoms commonly show up with other illnesses or conditions, both mental and physical like alcohol or drug abuse which may mask the symptoms or even make them worse. In such cases, it is best to treat those conditions first.
2.What are online anxiety groups?
Online anxiety groups are those groups on anxiety-specialist websites where the members are people from different parts of the world with different backgrounds and ethnicity, all united by anxiety disorders. The types of anxiety groups differ according to the topics they are based on; which may range from a particular anxiety disorder to general ones like music and movies.
3.What online anxiety groups are best for me?
Like stated earlier, anxiety groups differ from topic to topic. So it is best left to you to decide on what anxiety groups to join, you can join one that concentrates on your particular condition; be it post traumatic stress disorder or any phobia(s) that you have, or have some fun by joining one about recreational activities. And yes, you can join multiple anxiety groups on many of the best anxiety-related websites.
4.Are they safe?
Yes, they are safe social outlets for your anxieties and other problems, provided you sign up with a trusted website. Don’t worry, trusted websites aren’t that hard to come by, many of the popular anxiety-related websites are safe. Also, if you’re not comfortable revealing your identity, you can put the anonymity provided by the internet to good use, giving yourself a safe and neutral environment to share your anxieties with others that understand your problem.
5.Finally, how are they effective?
Sharing problems and talking to other people who are in the same condition as us inspires courage within us to overcome the condition while giving us an overwhelming feeling of being part of something larger than us. The best anxiety websites offer features such as anxiety forums where you can share your problems with others. You can start or join in on any number of anxiety forums. The discussion topics on anxiety forums are endless too; they may be about anything from social phobias to cars to astronomy. Add to that the fact that they are actually safe to use, and you have an effective and safe outlet for your anxieties.
So yes, anxiety self help through online anxiety groups is indeed a reality; they are safe, effective and easily accessible. So go on, find an anxiety website and join an anxiety group; they are great anxiety self help that will go a long way on your road for recovery.