Talk About Your Feelings - Where to Go Online to Express your Emotions
How are you feeling? Sometimes our emotional health gets in the way of our physical health and our physical health can affect us emotionally. Do you ever feel down? Do you ever want to talk about how you're doing with others who care? There are communities online that you can join to express yourself and talk all about your feelings.
Maybe you're feeling sad because of recent hardship, personal tragedy, family problems, a physical ailment or illness, or depression. Maybe you're angry. Maybe you are just having a really bad day. There are ways to find the support you need. Sometimes all we need is to find someone to listen to us and we begin to feel better. Sometimes connecting with others and sharing advice is a way to cope. Even if we're having good days and feeling well - sometimes sharing that joy with others can really help us feel better too!
We've decided to compile a list of online sources for you to go to when you need a "hug" or just want to talk about your feelings. Remember that no website can replace the relationship you have with your doctor. These sites are merely there to support you and help you through your feelings - not to treat or offer medical advice. But hopefully they will give you an outlet where you can share your experiences and get help through the hard times.
Daily Strength - a great collection of online support groups that offer you support for any health issue or life challenge you may be going through.
Happy News - sometimes reading the news can make us upset. Try Happy News for a change. The site promises "Real news, compelling stories, always positive" in every topic imaginable.
Inspire - An online community that offers support about health topics that matter to you. They are sponsored by trusted organizations that care about your health. Safe and lots of privacy controls. Make friends and inspire yourself and others.
Help for parents - being a parent is one of the hardest jobs there is. Sometimes it is overwhelming. You don't have to feel alone or that no one understands or cares - call The Childhelp National Hotline. 24-hr, trained counselors can talk to you. Calls are anonymous and free. 1.800.422.4453.
MD Junction - in these online support groups you can share your experiences, your feelings and wisdom. It offers a comfort zone for people dealing with the same health challenges that you are.
Find The Light - online support group for Anxiety, Mood Disorders, and Substance Abuse. Peer support is a great addition to therapy and possible medication (both of which are determined with your doctor). Positive thinking and communication can help stop negative feelings.
Wing of Madness - a site that focuses on Depression. Honest and comprehensive - share your feelings and learn from others who suffer from Depression and Anxiety.
Family Caregiver Alliance - if you are a caregiver, you need a special kind of support. Visit the FCA for a list of online support groups to help you talk with others about how it feels to be a caregiver and all the challenges you face.
Fibrotalk - For those dealing with Fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Discuss treatments, healthy living, rant, diagnoses, understanding, coping, and more with fellow Fibrotalkers.
Parenting Forums - Just us Parents and Parenting Forums.org
Here is a list of Mental Health hotlines and Referral Resources
If you or someone you know is in a crisis, feeling desperate, alone or hopeless - please call - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1.800.273.8255. It is a free, 24-hr hotline, and confidential. Call for yourself or someone you care about. With help comes hope.
While we cannot provide you with any medical advice - we care about your well-being. We hope that you find all the support and information you are looking for.
• Do you have favorite sites to go to when you need support?
• Where do you turn when you just can't cope?
• Please share your favorite website destinations for support. It can be condition-specific or just a place where you go to lift your spirits.
Maybe you're feeling sad because of recent hardship, personal tragedy, family problems, a physical ailment or illness, or depression. Maybe you're angry. Maybe you are just having a really bad day. There are ways to find the support you need. Sometimes all we need is to find someone to listen to us and we begin to feel better. Sometimes connecting with others and sharing advice is a way to cope. Even if we're having good days and feeling well - sometimes sharing that joy with others can really help us feel better too!
We've decided to compile a list of online sources for you to go to when you need a "hug" or just want to talk about your feelings. Remember that no website can replace the relationship you have with your doctor. These sites are merely there to support you and help you through your feelings - not to treat or offer medical advice. But hopefully they will give you an outlet where you can share your experiences and get help through the hard times.
Daily Strength - a great collection of online support groups that offer you support for any health issue or life challenge you may be going through.
Happy News - sometimes reading the news can make us upset. Try Happy News for a change. The site promises "Real news, compelling stories, always positive" in every topic imaginable.
Inspire - An online community that offers support about health topics that matter to you. They are sponsored by trusted organizations that care about your health. Safe and lots of privacy controls. Make friends and inspire yourself and others.
Help for parents - being a parent is one of the hardest jobs there is. Sometimes it is overwhelming. You don't have to feel alone or that no one understands or cares - call The Childhelp National Hotline. 24-hr, trained counselors can talk to you. Calls are anonymous and free. 1.800.422.4453.
MD Junction - in these online support groups you can share your experiences, your feelings and wisdom. It offers a comfort zone for people dealing with the same health challenges that you are.
Find The Light - online support group for Anxiety, Mood Disorders, and Substance Abuse. Peer support is a great addition to therapy and possible medication (both of which are determined with your doctor). Positive thinking and communication can help stop negative feelings.
Wing of Madness - a site that focuses on Depression. Honest and comprehensive - share your feelings and learn from others who suffer from Depression and Anxiety.
Family Caregiver Alliance - if you are a caregiver, you need a special kind of support. Visit the FCA for a list of online support groups to help you talk with others about how it feels to be a caregiver and all the challenges you face.
Fibrotalk - For those dealing with Fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Discuss treatments, healthy living, rant, diagnoses, understanding, coping, and more with fellow Fibrotalkers.
Parenting Forums - Just us Parents and Parenting Forums.org
Here is a list of Mental Health hotlines and Referral Resources
If you or someone you know is in a crisis, feeling desperate, alone or hopeless - please call - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1.800.273.8255. It is a free, 24-hr hotline, and confidential. Call for yourself or someone you care about. With help comes hope.
While we cannot provide you with any medical advice - we care about your well-being. We hope that you find all the support and information you are looking for.
• Do you have favorite sites to go to when you need support?
• Where do you turn when you just can't cope?
• Please share your favorite website destinations for support. It can be condition-specific or just a place where you go to lift your spirits.
Tags: angry, coping, depression, discussion, feeling, forum, happy, sad, spirit, support
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sarah on -
I use my own personal blog as well as Twitter for outlets for me. I chat with friends through GChat and I know that I can call a couple of them no matter what time of day. I refer to my three best friends as my skeleton crew, because they know all the skeletons in my closet AND they hold me up like strong bones no matter what's going on.
When I just can't cope, I oftentimes isolate myself and only reach out to those who can't really "see" me - online through my blog. Thankfully, a few friends who live in my town also read my blog and know when it's appropriate to just show up at my house. My closest friend knows that if I don't answer her voice mails three times in a row she has permission to just show up. When I'm feeling good, I try to be sure that my friends know I have issues and what they can do to help me.
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Permalink Reply by Amy K on -
I often use my blog, twitter and occasionally facebook as a way to connect with others and express my feelings. I usually find that these avenues are great sources of encouragement because I am surrounded, selectively so, by positivity. There are many, many great resources on-line that I have found to be helpful to me as well. I am known to isolate and ignore messages, voicemail. etc when I am really struggling and opening up on-line has helped me to keep myself "out there" even when I feel like retreating.
I love this list you have created and especially including the hotline for National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. I have recommended it time and time again and have received feedback that the people who were on the other end of the line were extremely helpful.
I would love to contribute to your list... off the top of my head I can think of two places where I found great friendship and support online regarding chronic pain and health issues...one is Rest Ministries Sunroom and the other is Living Whole with Chronic Pain Network. Also, I have recently become aware or involved with some new resources that are just starting out and growing... BringChange2Mind.org and NKM2.org (No Kidding, Me Too).
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