Evaluando la ayuda mutua en línea: respuestas ante la emergencia del Trastorno Disfórico Premenstrual

Through the content analyze of two Internet self-support forums, spontaneously organized by women suffering Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, it is wanted The Social Work to attract its attention about the need of taking up professional initiatives generally to online Social Work practice and particularly to online self-support groups. This disorder is barely known. It causes serious consequences for the patients who have to tackle with frequent lack of understanding. This seriousness, often causes, affected are forced to drop out their jobs, or relationships like couples or friendships. Self-support becomes a relief to them who can express themselves on the Internet with people suffering the same situation. It has been a task for Social Work, supporting groups needing a convenient organization for obtaining an optimal empowerment. This challenge about Online Social Work practice is not common; consequently it is an interesting challenge for the Social Work of the beginning of the century.Resumen: A través del análisis de contenido de dos foros de autoapoyo organizados, de modo espontáneo, por personas afectadas por trastorno disfórico premenstrual; se quiere llamar la atención a la profesión del Trabajo Social sobre la necesidad de promover iniciativas profesionales, en el ámbito virtual, en general; y con grupos de autoapoyo on line, en particular. Este trastorno, poco conocido, provoca graves consecuencias a las afectadas, que se deben enfrentar con frecuentes situaciones de incomprensión. Esa gravedad, en ocasiones, provoca no poder mantener un trabajo o romper relaciones de pareja o amistad. El autoapoyo supone un alivio para las afectadas que en la red se expresan con personas en su misma situación. Ha sido tarea del Trabajo Social el apoyo a grupos de personas que precisan organizarse para lograr un empoderamiento óptimo. Este reto, aplicado al mundo virtual, todavía está por acometer, por lo cual emerge una interesante oportunidad para el Trabajo Social del presente siglo. Through the content analyze of two Internet self-support forums, spontaneously organized by women suffering Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, it is wanted The Social Work to attract its attention about the need of taking up professional initiatives generally to online Social Work practice and particularly to online self-support groups.. This disorder is barely known. It causes serious consequences for the patients who have to tackle with frequent lack of understanding. This seriousness, often causes, affected are forced to drop out their jobs, or relationships like couples or friendships. Self-support becomes a relief to them who can express themselves on the Internet with people suffering the same situation. It has been a task for Social Work, supporting groups needing a convenient organization for obtaining an optimal empowerment. This challenge about Online Social Work practice is not common; consequently it is an interesting challenge for the Social Work of the beginning of the century.