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One of the best ways to find a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating fibromyalgia is to join a fibromyalgia support group. However, finding a doctor isn't the only reason to join a support group; meeting and sharing your feelings, opinions, and knowledge with others who suffer the same, are also excellent reasons.

The following are some benefits a fibromyalgia support group can offer:

Let go of isolation and depression and embrace new friends * There is no reason that you should feel you suffer from fibromyalgia alone. There are millions of people who are forced to live with fibromyalgia and are faced with its not-so friendly symptoms of chronic extreme fatigue and intense pain in the body.

Don't isolate yourself from others by wallowing in your own misery when you can be talking and getting support from those who understand exactly what you are feeling and going through. A support group can help you fight feelings of isolation and depression the natural way by opening up to others.

Learn and teach * Do you know everything there is to know about fibromyalgia? Likely not. The more you know about your condition and all the treatment methods available, the better chance you have of seeking treatment that is right for your particular fibromyalgia case.

When you talk to fellow members you can ask them about what medical and alternative treatments they*ve tried and their opinions on each. Find out which ones they liked, disliked, continue to use, and if there are any side effects. You can return the favor and share your treatment experiences with others.

In addition, learning and teaching in fibromyalgia groups isn't only for those suffering from the condition. Support groups are also ideal for close friends and family members who wish to learn more about your condition so they can better understand and even help spread the word.

Learn about what's going on in the fibromyalgia community * Since fibromyalgia affects so many people, there are many programs, fundraisers, clinical trials and other events that help to raise awareness, find effective treatments, and give hope for a cure. Through the help of a support group, you can get involved in your community and in others to raise awareness and support the fight against fibromyalgia.

How to find a fibromyalgia support group
Fibromyalgia support groups can be found locally and online. Therefore, if you find your condition debilitating or don't feel like going out, you can get in touch with others through your home computer and internet connection. You just need to know where to look. Here is how you can find local and online support groups*

Local Search
- Ask your health care provider, neurologist, physical therapist, etc.
- Call your hospital to find out what is available in your area
- Conduct an online search for local groups using the keywords *fibromyalgia support group* with your city name (I.E. *fibromyalgia support group Wisconsin*)

Online Search
- Do a general search for fibromyalgia and investigate the top 10 sites your search results return
- Search for the keywords *fibromyalgia* and *online support*, *message boards* or *forum*, or *online support* (IE. *fibromyalgia message boards*)

An excellent fibromyalgia websites you can visit that offers support and plenty of information is the National Fibromyalgia Association * http://fmaware.org

Joining a fibromyalgia group can help you better cope with your condition both physically and mentally. There is no reason to let fibromyalgia destroy your life when you have the power to reach out to others and let others reach out to you.