Sharing The Experience of it All

Sharing an experience with someone through "Immersion" can be just as impactful as seeking solace from a tried-and-true friend. Sometimes even more so.

Because Everyone's Journey IS DIfferent! #1MillionSurvivalStories #iSurvived2020 The World Event

Why an Immersion may be just what you need

The connections people are making in our groups — how they are supporting each other and forming meaningful relationships. A woman made her way to me and exclaimed, “What does it say about modern life that people have to go online to find that kind of support? That’s so depressing.”

In fact, it’s not depressing at all. What’s happening in our groups is compassionate, generous, raw, and real. It’s encouraging that we can now find support online that we can’t find anywhere else. It speaks to the power of online communities when they tap into the best of us.

What’s happening in our groups is compassionate, generous, raw, and real.

We launched Immersion – Into The Future an initiative aimed at helping people build resilience and access to support in the face of adversity. A core idea of Immersion is the importance of social support; being part of a community can give us strength that we sometimes can’t find on our own. We already had firsthand experience with the power of groups because they are the heart of our other initiative like “Seeds of Hope.”

From the start, we designed Immersion differently. We wanted members to find support when they need it, from people who understand because they’ve been there themselves. Our groups are online instead of in-person, which makes it easier to bring together people with a diversity of experiences. It also removes the pressure to actively participate — it’s O.K. to just read and react to posts. And since the internet is open 24/7, our groups are too. If you need to get something off your chest at 3 a.m., our members are there to help. [Note: We do offer in-person support groups for those who choose this method][Because Everyone's Journey IS Different]. Immersion is about establishing personalized support and access for each individual.

Immersion groups give people a space to talk honestly about some of the most painful challenges anyone can face losing a spouse or a child, receiving a devastating diagnosis, recovering from an assault, ending a marriage. While you may feel pressure to put on a happy face in front of family and friends, in the Immersion groups, you can be completely real about your feelings, whatever they are. And they are making a difference: more than 90% of members attribute a positive outcome in their life to Immersion.

Immersion gives people a space to talk honestly about some of the most painful challenges anyone can face.

One woman joined after losing her husband. When she decided to move out of the house that they shared, her family didn’t understand—but the people in Immersion group did and sent her reassuring messages every step of the way.

Immediately, encouraging notes and practical advice from other single moms came rolling in. A third member recently posted a short message late at night, saying, “I just want to know that someone’s there right now. I feel really sad and alone.” Even at that hour, people responded.

Something significant is happening here, we’re Into The Future, thanks to the power of shared experiences. When adversity strikes, even people with loving families and rich social lives often need to seek out people who know firsthand what they’re going through. Research illustrates that those who have faced adversity show greater compassion toward others who are suffering—and that when we focus on others, we can find motivation and perspective that is difficult to marshal on our own. Plus, when we discuss our problems with someone else, we make better decisions than when we try to navigate them alone.

Research illustrates that those who have faced adversity show greater compassion toward others who are suffering.

We’re also seeing the power of making a mutual investment. The interactions in Immersion groups, pages, and blogs aren’t one-sided. They’re gratifying in both directions, as people give and take, share and learn, and grow together. For people who have been through something painful, it can be empowering to help lift someone else up. For someone needing a lift, it can be a relief to reach out for help without guilt or fear.

To anyone who thinks that online connections are intrinsically less meaningful or rewarding than in-person ones, we at Immersion respectfully disagree. Sharing an experience with someone online can be just as impactful as seeking solace from a tried-and-true friend. Sometimes even more so. The internet makes it possible to find fellow travelers—people who have faced what you’re facing and felt what you’re feeling. That’s the opposite of depressing. It’s inspiring. And it’s happening in Immersion groups every day.

We’re so proud to be building this community with you.