Online Support Groups

Monday October 9, 2006

If you’re not able to go to a local support group, don’t have one in your area, or are looking for support between meetings, online support groups may be your answer. Online groups can help reassure you that you’re not alone, give you input from others in similar circumstances, and give you an opportunity to encourage someone else who is having a rough time. Here is some basic information about online support groups.

How do online groups work?
Online support generally comes in the form of message boards (also called bulletin boards, forums, groups and communities). If you don’t know how to use message boards, there should be instructions available before you enter a group. You will usually have to sign-up or join to participate in a message board, however, there is no fee and generally all you have to do is choose a username and password and possibly give them your e-mail address. A good group will not ask you for identifying personal information – in fact, they will encourage you not to share any personal information (like full name, address or phone number) on the message boards.

A few online support sites also offer live chatrooms where you can “talk” with others in real time. Some have open chatrooms available 24/7, while others schedule times for live chats. If you’ve never participated in a live chat, it can be a lot of fun, although if a lot of people are chatting, it can get a bit confusing!

Where can I find online support groups?
Following are a few good online support sites for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis. They vary in size and activity level. Try several and find one or more that you are comfortable with.

About’s FM & CFS Forum – Message boards
ImmuneSupport.com – Message boards and live chats
FibroHugs - Message boards and live chats
Co-Cure - Message boards
Reaching-Out - Message boards and occasional live chats
Rest Ministries - Message boards and live chats with a Christian emphasis

The following groups offer a wide range of message boards on just about any topic you can think of. After you click on the link to one of these sites, you will need to type in the type of group you are looking for (i.e., fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome). You will probably find several groups related to your topic to choose from.

If I have missed an online group that you are part of and have found helpful, please e-mail me or click on comments below and tell me about it.

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