Families of Prisoners Support Group

At first I didnt want to tell anybody, and slowing I began to speak of it to my friends. In my culture the guilty feeling is held by the whole family. But I began to talk to a very close friend of 45 years. She told me to let it out. That was the only way I was going to heal. I was spending to much time carry my sons guilt. Every thing is good now. I am just waiting for him to come home.
I agree so much with kaatiemiethe post. The more honest you are with yourself and people, the more support you are likely to have. Nana

I've told family and they've been really supportive. No one has asked me if I'm going to leave him. They know that is my decision not theirs. If they have negative thoughts they've kept them to themselves. I don't think I could have gotten thru this without the support of my family. At the place where I used to work a handful of people knew because the day he got senteneced I broke down and a few of the people I hung around with comforted me. Again they were all really great. I don't run around announcing that my husband is in prison because it's really nobodies business. I choose who I want to tell. You are under no obligation to let anyone know, but keeping it all bottles up can't be good for you. Even if you can't open up to family joining this site was a good idea. There are amazing people who will support you no matter what. We don't judge each other so it's really easy to share with one another.

I just want to thank everyone for the wonderful responses. I was so surprised to see how many people actually read these. It is very comforting for the first time to know that there are people out there in the same situation as me. Thank you all!

I was like you in the beginning as well. I didn't tell anyone because i was afraid of how they would react. I started going downhill because keeping it bottled up was eating me up and making me so depressed. I finally just came out and told my family, one by one, not all at one time, but now everyone knows about my situation and i feel so much better because now i don't have to hide anymore. At first everybody said "are you out of your mind?" but now they have accepted it and even ask about him and want to know how he's doing. I know haow hard it is to not have anybody understand what your going through and to look at you like your insane, but the people on here, including me, are always here for you if you need us and we do understand and we'll help any way we can!