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Your peeps are out there, you just need to hit the right keys. In this column for HealthCentral, I share tips on how to find the right rheumatoid arthritis support online:

“LIVING WITH RHEUMATOID arthritis (RA) can feel very lonely. Since this condition affects just about 1% of the population, it’s rare to meet others with RA in real life. Going online to find a supportive and understanding community can be one of the best things you’ll ever do for yourself. You can bounce treatment options off others who’ve already tried them, commiserate about flare days, and sometimes even find real friendships. But every now and again, you might end up in a place that will do more harm than good. In this column, I’ll share tips to find the online groups that will feel like coming home and some of the signs that you should go elsewhere.

How I Found My Community

I have lived with autoimmune arthritis since I was four years old and aside from several years spent in hospitals as a child alongside other kids with similar diagnoses, I never knew anyone else with RA for most of my life. It made me feel very alone and isolated, but also exacerbated my sense of being different from everyone around me.

Fast forward several decades to 2005 when I started my blog “The Seated View” and that all changed. My blog allowed me to connect with other RA bloggers who understood how I felt on a deep, been-there level. Those connections made a tremendous difference in my experience with RA. I’ve learned so much from this online community of people who have supported me and made me laugh for almost 20 years. Many have become friends and I’ve even met several in person. And let me tell you: There’s nothing like the hug you get from a long-time friend you’re meeting in person for the very first time.”

Read my tips on finding your online community on HealthCentral.