This is a growing sensation thanks to social networking and the ability to share everywhere, with everyone and in a single click.  Too often we are even sharing with those we don’t know, inadvertently sharing personal details with complete strangers.  People need confirmation that what they are experiencing is either cool (i.e. a “like” on Facebook) or aligned with the experiences of others.  The downside, when you share these vulnerabilities with the World Wide Web, you are exposed.

Do you really want your employers to know you struggle with depression?  Or that your autoimmune condition has worsened?  Perhaps your child has just been diagnosed with ADHD or your husband has diabetes?  There are countless examples of things people share in very public domains, despite the vulnerabilities it creates.  But they do it because they want to find others who are just like them.

Telling your story as the patient, caregiver or health-care advocate is an effective way to identify with others who share your experience.  So what are the alternatives?  Can you do this in 140 characters on Twitter?  Or perhaps Facebook in a paragraph or two; better yet, how about a personal blog?  All worthy options, but what if you could keep a personal diary full of rich detail for others to see and also interact with?  You could chronicle your entire journey from symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, emotions and concerns and with complete anonymity.  Better yet, these diaries would connect you to others with a shared experience allowing you the opportunity to exchange treatment insight and encouragement for one another.

There are a few options that fit this scenario, but onlyTreatmentDiaries.com allows for complete privacy, support for ALL conditions and the opportunity to create a personal experience based on the individual and not limited to topics.  A user on TreatmentDiaries might be registered for 7-12 conditions and keep diaries on each allowing them to get the support they need from a single site.  We don’t share pictures or video, we just focus on the words which define the intimate experience of those affected by illness.  The bonds between strangers are incredibly strong and the experience is truly unique.

TreatmentDiaries is a different kind of social, connecting complete strangers and giving social networking purpose.  It’s definitely worth your time to sign up and read the stories of those with actual experience in navigating a journey with illness.  You will likely be amazed, intrigued and even humbled by the stories shared.  Come experience a different kind of social!

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