Taking a holistic look at your healthcare plan should always include your community – we know that meaningful connection, purpose and a supportive network can be, in some cases, as crucial to Patient wellbeing as the specific therapy itself.
Increasingly, Patients are looking to platforms like Reddit, Discord and beyond to provide additional guidance, resources, feedback and more – so, how do you smartly and safely navigate these platforms to get the best out of them?
Medicinal VS non-medicinal
Here in Australia, the landscape of alternative medicine advocacy has continued to flourish, with places like Reddit, Discord and even dedicated forums on relevant websites steadily growing their members and followers. When you’re dipping your toe into the online community space, remember to make the distinction between legal (therapeutic) use and recreational (which can, in some countries, be legal), especially if the members are international.
Advice for alternative medicine Patients domestically will be very different to the advice provided a recreational consumer or medicinal Patient in somewhere like Canada because of the legal status of the medication, driving implications and beyond.
Don’t (always) believe the hype
It’s not uncommon to see rave reviews from Patients for specific alternative medicine products online (or conversely, very negative reviews) or clinics. Be mindful that there will always be differing opinions from Patients, as no two alternative medicine journeys will ever be identical – don’t get lost in the buzz or allure of new products as they may not be appropriately matched to your needs.
If you are keen on trying something new, share these questions with your Doctor if you are interested in trying a new prescription and they will assess the suitability for your specific conditions and symptom management.
Sharing online
Online communities can be great place to share your individual experience and wellness journey, especially if you can find others who you can support and vice versa. If you’re new to the online forum space, consider keeping yourself anonymous (with a username that can’t easily identify you) if you plan to share personal medical details or anecdotes for your own safety.
If you’re reviewing specific products online, always block out any personal details (like shipping addresses on packages or prescription details) and don’t capture any identifiable locations within your photos again to preserve privacy.
Security tip: Keep an eye on your DMs (direct messages) on these kind of platforms, and keep an eye out for illegal activity such as suggestions for black market sources or similar, and immediately block users who are requesting you to go to external sites or links.
It can take some time to become comfortable with a new platform online as you find your sweet spot of engagement. Online communities can be lots of fun but also overwhelming at times, with so many different opinions and posts, so ensure you enjoy the process and just like all things alternative medicine – start low and go slow.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice. For accurate legal guidance, please consult with relevant legal authorities or a qualified professional.