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My SMA Challenges Make Social Media Essential for Friendships
The internet is a valuable tool for everyone, especially for the purpose of connecting with people all over the world. For people with chronic illnesses, it can help ease the loneliness of being homebound and isolated from a lot of in-person social activities. Columnist Ryan Berhar writes about both the joys and pitfalls of connecting with most of his friends on social media platforms.
Click here to read more on this subject from Ryan: “Social Media Is a Double-edged Sword”
Can you relate to Ryan’s experience? How do you handle making and keeping online friends? Have you met any of your friends in real life?
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7 Replies
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A good balance of face to face and social media is definitely key. Simply put it’s easier to connect online. As Ryan pointed out not all of the acquaintances will become lifelong friends, but one or two might. Social media is a great learning tool as well. In the last few years I’ve learned more about SMA than I have my entire life because of it. I credit social media for learning and acquiring Spinraza. You do have to take information, and even friendships with a grain of salt though. As I’ve heard Kevin Schaefer say, you have to do what works for you.
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I too have learned a lot more about SMA in the last few years through social media, even before I started working for Bionews. Prior to that I was pretty dumb when it came to explaining the science of it lol. And that’s great that it’s what led you to Spinraza. I agree though that it’s important to have a balance of in-person and online friendships.
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I think I was writing that one of my hobbies is find more friends with SMA on Facebook.Why I do that?I wanna know how they live and change our experience.For example I have more understanding to you DeAnn and you problems then some health friend.In Bosnia we say-Health man don
t believe or dont understand sick man.-
It definitely helps in this regard. I’ve added a ton of SMA people on Facebook in recent years, and it’s really cool to see how people manage their daily lives and what they’re doing either in school or in their careers. Social media can definitely be a great educational tool if you use it for that purpose.
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Adnan, I agree, it’s nice to know people who can relate. Everyone is unique yet we share a lot in common. Stuff that other people will never quite understand unless they’ve been in our situation. Since the world is such a big place, social media certainly helps make those connections.
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Social media has allowed me access to the world. While a face-to-face friendship or a one-on-one personal encounter with someone is always the best, my computer, Internet connection, Skype and other devices allow me to not only be a part of someone else’s life, they too can be part of my life.
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That’s great Michael. Yeah when you use social media and modern technology effectively it can really help you connect with people all over the globe.
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