It is all about sharing. It has been said that in sharing happiness joy is doubled and in sharing sadness pain is halved. Support groups have the potential to be extremely healing. Laughter can be as healing as tears and both may occur within the space of one session. Expressing emotions is possible because the support one gives and receives, ideally, is unconditional and accepting.
Support groups can feel scary and unsettling at first, like any new experience.
The feeling can be like the butterflies in the stomach on your first day of school, or like starting a new job and not knowing if your coworkers will like you. At first, you may feel like you are going to a party where you don't know anybody, or going on a blind date. The fears of being rejected or not listened to or ignored are like those other first times. The difference is that in a group everyone automatically has a shared interest. There is almost an immediate built-in support system.