Is it appropriate to make friends with people from my anxiety group?

[dsanchezjr55]

This September I began going to individual therapy for Social Anxiety/Generalized Anxiety and my therapist asked if I wanted to sign up for group therapy as well and I accepted. Ive been going to group therapy for anxiety for the past two weeks and I was wondering if it is appropriate to make friends with people in my anxiety group. I really only have one close friend outside of the therapy group who I can comfortably talk to about anxiety and it would be great if I can make more friends whom share the same struggles with anxiety. Im just wondering if it is appropriate to make friends within the anxiety group. If so how can I start a conversation with someone from the group without making it awkward. Im also the only guy in the anxiety group and I dont want to come off as though I am trying to hit on women there. Im just curious if anyone has made friends with people in your group therapy sessions and if it is appropriate to do so. Any other tips are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Rinka]

I think it’s ok to make friends with people from a therapy group. If all are willing, why prevent it. The good thing with this would be, that you won’t have to explain yourself over and over again, because most of them went through the same. I met my partner of 4 year at a meet up group for people with anxiety. It made it all a lot easier to know that both of us have anxiety issues.

 

[triceps]

This September I began going to individual therapy for Social Anxiety/Generalized Anxiety and my therapist asked if I wanted to sign up for group therapy as well and I accepted. Ive been going to group therapy for anxiety for the past two weeks and I was wondering if it is appropriate to make friends with people in my anxiety group. I really only have one close friend outside of the therapy group who I can comfortably talk to about anxiety and it would be great if I can make more friends whom share the same struggles with anxiety. Im just wondering if it is appropriate to make friends within the anxiety group. If so how can I start a conversation with someone from the group without making it awkward. Im also the only guy in the anxiety group and I dont want to come off as though I am trying to hit on women there. Im just curious if anyone has made friends with people in your group therapy sessions and if it is appropriate to do so. Any other tips are appreciated. Thanks.

Hi. I was in an anxiety group for years. Just two guys and eight women. Since it was an anxiety group, attendance was a problem and we usually had perhaps five folks per meeting. You've only been going two weeks but I predict you'll have many of your group members as friends. There's a lot of intimate sharing in those groups and that develops trust and friendships. So I encourage your forming friendships and don't give a thought to other members thinking you're there just to scope out women.