They were the lifeline that kept us going. It was so helpful to meet with other caregivers and survivors and here their day-to-day experiences. Sometimes we were at the end of our ropes and so frustrated we had no clue how to move ahead and someone there would tell us what they did and we would try it and begin to move again. Life was not meant to be done alone. We all desperately need other people who have had similar experiences to share with and together we are stronger than each struggling alone. These groups are especially helpful for caregivers. Taking care of my husband I would sometimes feel that if I could only find the magic key everything would be right again. They really helped me accept and revel in the new "normal". They do so much to foster an acceptance of each day being a new adventure with no prescribed outcome. I have grown so much and learned that structure is how buildings are put together but not life. Through their stories/experiences I learned each day is a gift to be treasured because not everyone who has a loved one experience a stroke has them to care for and that alternative is more painful. As with anything, you will get out of the group what you put into it. You will need to become comfortable with sharing your life with "strangers" who become friends and taking advice/criticism from these same people. You will be richly blessed and will eventually look back and see how vital they were to your sense of peace. I wish our group had returned to meeting after COVID but they were too scared something happening. If I could find another group, I would join again.