The celebrated physician and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, once stated: "In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flames by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit." Indeed, no man is an island, and human beings are by nature interdependent on one another for their emotional survival. Oftentimes, individuals feel helpless and hopeless when confronted by a crisis. Support groups are a reminder that they are not alone, and that help is just a meeting away. Research corroborates the belief that the peer support mechanism furthers the recovery process. According to two studies conducted in the cancer research field, patients who attended support groups and followed their medical treatments, had a higher longevity and experienced depression and anxiety to a lesser degree than those who did not participate. Many experts maintain that receiving emotional encouragement from others in a support group environment decreases one's mental distress and anxiety, as well as enhances one's mood. This in turn boosts the peer group member's immune system and emotional well-being. ~
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~http://www.treatment4addiction.com/recovery/support-groups.aspx
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