Support Groups

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are two types of chronic illness for which support groups can be extremely beneficial. As anyone who has inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) knows, talking about symptoms like chronic pain, weakness, diarrhea, and bleeding are not topics which are usually discussed at social functions. Few people can understand the anxiety associated with the need to be near a bathroom, which many support groups know can be extremely beneficial.

Obviously a support group serving the needs of people who have had surgery can be even more beneficial as support groups are about people helping each other to meet the daily challenges in their lives.

Fundamental premises of support groups are that mutual or self-help groups serve two purposes: first, people with common concerns can gain strength as a group by pooling their resources, and secondly, people with a common problem can gain individual strength by communicating with others who have successfully coped with certain aspects of a chronic illness. Penny Steiner-Grossman, author of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: From Bench to Bedside (Baltimore: William's and Wilkins), states "People in similar circumstances can give support and encouragement to each other, share coping strategies, release negative feelings such as anger and guilt, strengthen self esteem, and dispel social isolation."

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU CONSULT YOUR LOCAL STOMA CARE NURSE FOR DETAILS OF ANY LOCAL GROUPS KNOWN TO HER. WE CAN ONLY OFFER YOU NATIONAL CONTACTS HERE.

BRITISH COLOSTOMY ASSOCIATION	*ILEOSTOMY ASSOCIATION*
2 London Court East Street Reading BERKS *RG1 4QL*	Central Office PO Box 132 Scunthorpe DN15 9YW
Kathy Richards - Director	Anne Demick - Director
01189 391537	0870 7707931
*www.colostomyassociation.org.uk*	*www.iasupport.org*

*NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR COLITIS AND CROHNS*	*UROSTOMY ASSOCIATION*
4, Beaumont House Sutton Road St Albans HERTS AL1 5HH	Central Office 18 Foxglove Avenue Uttoxeter Staffs ST14 8UN
Mr Richard Driscoll - Director	Miss Hazel Pixley - Nat. Secretary
*01727 830038*	0870 770 7931
*www.nacc.org.uk*	www.uagbi.org

NATIONAL ADVISORY SERVICE FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH STOMAS	*IBS NETWORK*
51 Anderson Drive Darvell AYRESHIRE KA17 0DE	Northern General Hospital Sheffield S5 7AU
*Mr John Malcolm - Secretary*
*01560 322024*	*0114 261 1531*
*www.patient.co.uk*	*www.ibsnetwork.org.uk*

Stoma support group	On Line Ostomy Support
*www.iossg.org.uk*	*www.ostomyland.com*