I had never been particularly curious about support groups until I saw the movie Fight Club. You know the scene I am talking about. The protagonist goes to all kinds of different support groups because of the fact that he can't sleep. He doesn't go to get therapy for problems he has, but rather to immerse himself in the misery of others. By seeing how much worse some people have it, and by experiencing their cathartic releases of pent-up emotions, he is able to sleep sounder at night. His vicarious support group thrill may seem far-fetched to some people, but it was plausible enough to earn the book and the movie critical acclaim all over the world. There is something about it that many people can relate to it.

I wasn't interested in support groups in the same way as that character, however. As a matter of fact, I was more interested because of the problems that I have had. I have always secretly wanted community support groups in my life, but I have never been able to approach the topic. You see, I am somewhat afraid of being weak. I guess this is one of the fears that keep many people back from an important support group that might change their life. It is so hard to admit you have a problem, to expose yourself to other people with similar things going on. We all like to pretend we are in charge even when we aren't.

Finally, I sought out some depression support groups. I suffer from a variety of different problems, both physical and mental, but depression is the worst one. Sometimes, I even suspect that depression is at the center of everything. I know that when I'm less depressed, my health problems are better and my addictive behaviors slacken. From this I can only deduce that depression might be the key. It turns out that support groups are nothing like what was portrayed in the movie. There are emotional displays, but they are few and far between. Most groups support meetings center around discussions of constructive strategies to cope with various problems. I have been to a fear and anxiety support group as well as the depression one, and it is exactly the same thing. Everyone expresses sympathy, of course, but the focus is on how to improve your life and go on with it from there.

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