I recently had the privilege of meeting with the members of our Irish family through a virtual Zoom meeting. The experience was truly eye-opening, and it highlighted the importance of face-to-face meetings and the significance of sharing experiences and best practices among the members of our community.
Compassion, Caring, and Sharing among Members The Zoom meeting with our Irish members was an emotional experience that left a lasting impression on me. The level of compassion, caring, and sharing among the members of the group was truly heartwarming. It was clear that everyone in the group understood the challenges of living with trigeminal neuralgia, and there was a sense of camaraderie and support that only comes from being a part of a community that truly understands what you are going through.
The Importance of Face-to-Face Meetings While virtual meetings are great for connecting with people from around the world, there is no substitute for meeting in person. The importance of face-to-face meetings was clearly highlighted during our virtual meeting with our Irish members. The members of the group expressed how meeting in person would be essential to ensure that there is the correct support and ability to work together to alleviate isolation and loneliness. It was clear that meeting in person would help the members of our community develop deeper connections, friendships, and a network of support, encouragement, and help. The Importance of Support for anyone with TN is vital.
The Humbling Offer of the Members. At the end of the Zoom meeting, I was incredibly humbled by the offer of the members to formulate their own support group and meet in person with someone taking the lead. This offer highlighted the strength of our community and the willingness of members to help and support each other. Despite the sadness of trigeminal neuralgia crossing the ages, occupations, and backgrounds of its members, together we stand stronger and closer by supporting and helping each other.
Empathy and Encouragement As one member of the group said, “It is people with TN that understand what we go through. Friends and family try, but they can never really understand the amount of pain that we have.” I can completely empathise with that statement, and I feel very encouraged by the strength and resilience of our community. I look forward to meeting the members in Ireland in person over the next few months. To continue to develop the friendships and network of support that are so important in helping us cope with the challenges of living with trigeminal neuralgia.
Meeting with our Irish members of the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association was a powerful reminder of the importance of face-to-face meetings and the value of a supportive community. The experience left me feeling inspired and encouraged, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a compassionate and caring community. If you know of any venues that would be suitable for us to meet in person, please let us know so we can start to arrange face-to-face meetings and continue to develop the support and network of encouragement and help that our community provides. The importance of Support and friendship is an important part of our work at TNA-UK.
