A safe harbor

Living with chronic pain/illness can take its toll. Not just on the body, but on the emotions, the mind and the spirit. As days turn into weeks, and weeks into months, and months into years the accumulation of all that is involved can become very heavy. It is easy to feel like a ship listing off to the side and taking on water all while the storm continues to rage around you. Often just as you think you are catching your breath and patching the holes another wave crashes over you. Your mental health can become as fractured as your physical health. And sometimes you need help to start putting our mental health back together. A good therapist and/or support group can be quite literally a life line.

Before attending the Seen and Known support group I had done individual therapy, as well as two sessions with a local support group for dealing with chronic pain/illness. Both helped me begin to navigate my situation but neither really was what I was looking for. When a friend invited me to try this group I was excited to join, even if it wasn’t a perfect fit I had found great benefit from gathering with others on a weekly basis. The price point was very good, a fraction of the cost of the group I had been in, which is particularly important when you don't have insurance and are on a tight budget. It was virtual. And it was christian based.  

With the very first session I knew I had found my people. The leader, a chronic pain warrior herself is kind, knowledgeable, and compassionate.  She  has created an environment where men and women feel safe to open up, without fear of judgment or gaslighting. To be honest about their struggles, their fears and know they will  find encouragement and understanding. The group is an excellent mix of practical tips and techniques and biblical encouragement. It fills a space that was missing in my "toolbox" of ways to deal with my situation.   I am so grateful to have found it. I think of it as a safe harbor, where I can drop anchor and rest for a while with other wearing travelers before heading back out into the storm.

If you are dealing with chronic pain/illness or have past traumas that are affecting your daily life, please consider finding a good counselor and support group. 

https://www.christiantraumacounseling.com/