You are not alone in your battle with chronic illness. If you live with a chronic condition, it can be difficult to always feel strong and independent. Sometimes, living with a long-term illness can make you feel isolated, even if you have the support of family and friends. Among the many resources that are available to help patients with chronic conditions, there is nothing more valuable than finding someone who also shares your condition. This time of year is often marked by giving back to those less fortunate than us, but how do we give back to someone who has the same disease as us? Let’s discuss how!
Connect with other patients through social media or support groups
Social media such as forums, Facebook groups, and email lists can be a great way to get in touch with other patients who share your condition. You may feel intimidated by joining a public forum or group, but you do not have to post anything if you don’t want to! Simply reading the posts and getting to know members of the community is a wonderful way to feel connected. If you have a condition that impacts your life in some way, there is a good chance another person who has the same condition will have gone through something similar.
Contact local patient advocacy groups
Patient advocacy organizations are a great resource for patients living with a chronic or life-altering disease. These groups often host events for specific diseases and organize charitable activities such as running races or food drives. Regional chapters may also host weekly support groups. Because these organizations often work closely with pharmaceutical companies, they can be a good way to get information about new drugs or treatment options that may not yet be available in your area.
Volunteer locally
It’s always nice to give back to your community. Volunteering at a local hospital or charity group is a wonderful way to feel like you are making a difference in someone’s life. You don’t have to be looking for patients with the same condition as you, but if there is an organization that serves patients who share your disease, this may be your best option.
Volunteering may also involve participating in medical trials and research that are being conducted for a specific kind of disease. These studies are often not organized specifically for patients with the same condition, but may take place in your local community and may be available to you. You can look at clinical trials, surveys and interviews, and even a paid market research study related to your condition.
Learn as much as you can about your disease
You are the expert of your own body. You know how treatment is working for you or if things tend to get worse at certain times of the year. By learning more about your condition, you will be better informed about how it impacts your life and understand what can help you through difficult times. Being well-informed can take some stress out of your life, making you feel less isolated.
Support other patients in your area
Chronic illness can be isolating, even when you have family and friends around you. If you know someone who also has a chronic or life-threatening condition, consider connecting with them to offer support. It doesn’t have to be anything complex. You can just go out for coffee or lunch and share stories of what you’ve been through. Having someone else who understands your experiences is priceless.
Advocate on behalf of patients living with chronic conditions
You don’t have to live with a chronic condition to be an advocate. If you have a network of family and friends who support you, you can help other patients by sharing your own stories and advocating for them as needed. Representing other people facing the same challenge as you does not require any special training or certification.
Donate time and money
Your time and money may go a long way in helping others. Volunteering your time hosting a fundraiser or other activities is a wonderful way to contribute. If you have been blessed with good health and the ability to work, consider donating money to patient advocacy groups, research centers, or hospitals that provide support for people living with chronic conditions.
If you are living with a chronic or life-altering condition, there are many ways that you can give back to your community. You can contact patient advocacy groups, volunteer locally, and learn as much as you can about your disease in order to support others who are living with it. You may also want to consider donating time and money to help those who are struggling. Advocacy is one of the most important things that we can do for each other and by working together we can make a difference in the lives of people who are affected by chronic illness.
