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Building New Support

Whether you live with family or alone, having a support network is one of the key ingredients to living well with a long-term illness. Support can take many forms:

 
Practical help: Grocery shopping, housecleaning, driving, etc. 
 
Companionship: Having someone to go to a movie with, etc. 
 
Acceptance: Feeling believed when you say you are ill 
 
Understanding: The sense that others know what you are going through
 
Some support will probably come from existing relationships, such as family and friends, but you can build new sources of support as well. The next two pages focus on support groups and classes, and professional support.  

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