Connect with Others with
Similar ConcernsWhen you have a medical condition, it’s great to talk to someone else
who’s gone through the same experience. Although it’s no replacement
for your doctor’s advice, sharing with others may help you through a
stressful time. Here are some things to keep in mind when connecting
with others about health-related topics:➟ People with serious medical conditions often share a
great deal of information about themselves that can
lead to identity theft. To stay safer when sharing infor-
mation about a health-related issue, talk about the ill-
ness but refrain from sharing personally identifying
information.➟ Always take others’ comments with a grain of salt.
These people aren’t experts, may be self-diagnosing
inaccurately, may not share the same condition you
have, or may have had unique responses to drugs or
treatments. Ask your doctor the same questions you ask
others online so that you get a balanced perspective.➟ Sites that are primarily medical information sites, such
as WebMD (www.webmd.com), host forums and mes-
sage boards on a wide variety of health topics. Choose
a reputable site for participating in discussions.➟ Some social networking sites provide ways to interact
with other members over health-related issues.
However, you should always be cautious about sharing
health information if you’re identifiable, for example,
from information in your social network profile.➟ For those with addictions like alcoholism, there are
sites such as SoberCircle (www.sobercircle.com;
shown in Figure 14-1) and DailyStrength (www.
dailystrength.org), where the encouragement
of others can help you with recovery.280
Part III: Protecting Your Wealth and Your Health