“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”

– C.S Lewis

Two of the most common feelings that we hear from people living with multiple sclerosis is that of isolation and of a lack of understanding about their condition from the broader community. It probably comes as no surprise then that the ability to interact with people who have those shared experiences is invaluable for overcoming these hardships.

In deciding how to construct this article, I decided that it was important to combine two different viewpoints. Firstly, being a researcher, I wanted to highlight what scientific studies have been published about the benefits of peer support groups. As well as this, I thought that this information would be complemented by sharing insights directly from people living with multiple sclerosis that have personally experienced positive outcomes from participating in these groups.

One such example of this is from Cathy, who says “I am amazed at the support I get as both a member of face to face and online peer support groups, as well as being a volunteer peer support person. Giving as well as receiving advice, comfort and that “we just GET it” is critical to my wellbeing and mental health.”

These ideas are well supported by the scientific literature. A study from the United States published in late 2017 titled “Solace in Solidarity: Disability friendship networks buffer well-being”, provided fantastic evidence for the importance of peer support.

The research, which included participants across a wide range of chronic health conditions (including multiple sclerosis), found a number of wide-ranging benefits from having an extensive network of friends that shared their diagnosis.

Individuals with a high level of peer support reported higher quality of life, increased satisfaction with their social role and improved well-being. The authors concluded that “friends with disabilities can offer uniquely important informational and emotional support resources that buffer the impact of a functional impairment on wellbeing.”

We can see clearly that the scientific evidence strongly backs up the personal, lived experienced shared in the earlier quote. It seems clear that people living with multiple sclerosis who engage in networks, either through organised peer support groups or just via their friendships, feel that their lives are better for it in many different ways.

Lastly, there is also a strong sense of empowerment that comes from this group mentality. It is perfectly summarised in this quote from Toni, who is part of “a respectful and diverse collective of individuals interested in learning about living our best lives. This group keeps demonstrating that the group is more than the sum of its parts – each member makes a valued and insightful contribution, yet when we come together we are a formidable force”.

The above article was commissioned by MS Limited and has previously been published in their eNewsletter, Intouch.