Welcome to the Find the Light Online Support Group for Mood Disorders, Anxiety, and Substance Abuse! The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is now officially recognizing peer support as essential to mental health recovery (Consensus Statement). This site is founded on the idea of peer support. What this means is that a group of peers, such as yourself, come together to give and receive support. Most of us have valuable experiential knowledge (usually) of the illnesses discussed with in the group which makes it easier to relate and help others that are suffering. Experiential knowledge is first hand knowledge of an illness due to the fact that one has experienced it. A support group is a place to come and feel good and personally powerful. It is a social group in that we get to know each other and come together to talk (or write in our case) to encourage each other and cheer each other on. It is a place to let our feelings out in a comfortable atmosphere.

A peer support group isn't therapy. As an integral component of the new wellness paradigm (Bio-psycho-social Model), support groups help to gain a well-rounded mental health recovery in addition to therapy. This group is not to be used as a substitute for professional therapy. If anything, you will realize that you are not alone in how you are feeling.