Online Support Groups
About online support groups
Support groups can be a useful tool for those who seek to find others with their same diagnosis. They can provide people with the feeling they are not alone in their diagnosis, provide hope through others' stories, provide insight and information on their diagnosis, and provide a network of people you can talk with to release frustrations and talk about ideas. There are also support groups for caregivers, as this can be challenging in different ways. Before the internet, support groups were limited to in person discussions only. But with the internet, online support groups are able to connect a wider range of people from the comfort of their own homes.
How do I choose a support group?
Some support groups are better than others. When looking for a support group, choosing one associated with a foundation or organization is often a good idea. Some bigger hospitals now have their own online support groups as well, so ask your local hospital if they have a resource like this.
Confidentiality concerns
Confidentiality is a concern with anything posted on the internet. Many online support groups have confidentiality agreements with their participants that they should be in a private area and not disclose the things other people talk about. However, this is your health information, which you may or may not want certain people to know about. It is up to you what you want to disclose in these groups. Take steps to only use your first name, or you can use a made up name to further protect your privacy.
Some useful online support groups
This website provides a list of specific support groups available for those who are struggling with a cancer diagnosis or someone close to them is. Some of the specific groups are for those with brain tumors, a child diagnosed with cancer, or someone with pancreatic cancer.
This website is for those who have a Type 1, Type 2 or Pre-Diabetes diagnosis.
This website is for those who have heart disease as well as related diagnosis such as stroke, congenital heart defects, pediatric heart conditions, or for the caregivers of people with these conditions.
This website is for those who are struggling with depression or anxiety.
This website is for those who are struggling with addiction to drugs and/or alcohol.
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