b' Speak to your healthcare team. The next time you are at your doctors office, ask the staff members if they know of any support groups in the area. You may not get an answer, but you may get more information on where else to look. Create your own. Perhaps the area where you reside may not have a community yet. This can be your chance to create one. A support group can consist of two people and grow from there. MS Focus has a network of independent affiliated support groups. We can help you start one of your own. Being More Active in Your Group Share responsibility. If your support group is planning an event, perhaps sign up to help with the planning. Be mindful of your time and energy as you sign-up; only take on what you can do.Listen to your community. During the times your support group is meeting, listen intently. Maybe one of the members needs a favor or advice on something you can help with or have experience with. Recruiting.Everyone needs support. Talk to as many people as you can who are on the journey of MS with you and offer a warm, supporting hand. Planning events. Maybe you have an idea that has not been done in your community yet. Dont be afraid to speak up and share your ideas. New ideas are always welcomed in healthy communities. Staying current with your MS communityDo you ever feel like there are a lot of online platforms lled with information to help guide you through your MS journey, but you just cant keep up? You want to learn about the latest therapies available or perhaps a new way to exercise because the exercises you are doing are too cumbersome on your body. You search online latest in MS, and 10 different links pop up, all with topics you want to learn about. Suddenly, you become overwhelmed and must step away from your computer or phone.This is not something that only happens to you. When we have too much information presented all at once, even if it is all benecial, we as human beings cannot absorb it all. Luckily, there are now alerts you can put into place, so you are getting the latest information as it comes. Some people prefer to listen to their information and get the most up-to-date news on MS through podcasts. Others enjoy reading magazines, such as this one. Perhaps you enjoy watching educational webinars where a speaker is presenting information and the viewers can ask questions and get direct answers. Or maybe, you enjoy mixing all three depending on your mood. All three of these sources are a great way to keep up with the newest information on MS. By doing so, you are beneting yourself and also your community. You can share your knowledge with your support group, family members, and loved ones. The information can also help you advocate for yourself during your doctor visits and allow you to ask questions to your healthcare team. Magazines and newsletterswhile old school ways of getting informationcan be handy because the subscription delivers new information right to you without you having to think about it. But if you like podcasts, there is an option available for most podcasts that alerts you when a new episode has come out. You may also 15'