We All Need a Little Help from Our Friends

A few years ago just after my father died unexpectedly, my mother was looking for a grief support group. The first one she tried was very clinically organized and she ended up crying most of the time the group was in session and for hours after it was over.

Then she discovered a simple peer group of women who had lost their husbands. They spent some time talking but then the rest of the time they played cards and then went out to lunch. My mother never missed another group after that.

As one clinician told me, "Sometimes we just over therapize people." Sometimes we just need a little support. For persons with serious mental illness the greatest threat they face is social isolation and so support groups become a life line. But we all need those social supports and without them slowly become isolated and depressed.

Celebrate Recovery is a wonderful example of a faith-based support group for people with all manner of habits, hurts, and hang-ups. The groups meet at St. John's Church on Wednesday at 6:00 PM and at the Church at Allentown at 8:00 PM on Saturday. Whether your hang-up is substance abuse or your hurt is depression there are people there who share your pain and can lift you up.

Just like my mother, sometimes we all just need a little help from our friends. I hope you find the support you need.

Mike Schoenhofer