| are many support groups will you find online, for | | | | or another. |
| people with various sicknesses. | | | | Some of the better organized online support groups |
| Coping with disabilities and chronic medical conditions | | | | have medical professionals, even mental health |
| is tough. The challenge does not only require | | | | professionals as counselors. They would also assign |
| adjustment from patients, but also from their families. | | | | well-adjusted, satisfied, happy individuals suffering |
| Seeking professional help is good for physical | | | | specific conditions or in various life-challenges to be |
| adaptation. But disabilities are not only physically | | | | mentors to the new entrants. |
| difficult but could also be a painful, even traumatic, | | | | Common in online support groups are message |
| emotional experience. | | | | boards and discussion forums on various topics. |
| The most difficult phase in coping with physical | | | | Webmasters usually assign experts as moderators; |
| disabilities or terminal illnesses is acceptance. It is very | | | | some professional actually get involved in the |
| common to experience denial at first. Patients in | | | | discussions. These online communities also have chat |
| these situations tend to be very sensitive as they | | | | features for real-time interaction between members. |
| feel no one understands what they are going | | | | Private messaging is also often available to allow |
| through. Families and loved ones tend to get | | | | members to contact other members for private |
| conflicting emotions and feelings as well. Oftentimes, | | | | exchanges. Others also include offsite information |
| they’re also at a loss on how to relate to the | | | | exchanges via open fields for other messenger |
| patient. | | | | facilities, alternate emails and various other offsite |
| To ease the emotional stress associated with coping, | | | | contact information. |
| it’s important to connect with people who | | | | Most online support groups contain tidbits of |
| have gone through or are going through the same | | | | information for professionals as well. This may be in |
| situation. Patients find understanding between and | | | | the form of primers or announcement about |
| among people in similar conditions. Families draw | | | | seminars and fellowships to enhance their professions |
| wisdom from other families in the same situation and | | | | and expertise. They may also include a bit of peer |
| find help understanding what their family member is | | | | counseling as practitioners in some places may have |
| going through. This is where online support groups | | | | more advanced knowledge or better techniques. |
| can be most helpful. | | | | As in the case of other medical resources online, |
| As a medical resource, online support groups are | | | | online support groups usually offer a section for |
| excellent sources of help and support information in | | | | relevant news and updates. Usually, this would involve |
| specific areas. Memberships are normally free and | | | | updates on ongoing clinical trials for various conditions. |
| open to anyone in every corner of the globe. Each | | | | Information for applying in clinical studies is also |
| member is a wealth of information that could be | | | | included. |
| useful to some members of the group at one point | | | | |