Write about how your life would change if there was no social media.
I kind of touched on this is some of the other posts that I have written. What would I do, or better yet have done, if there were no social media?
No social media. That means no Facebook, no Twitter, no Instagram, no Pinterest…etc. That would be almost no interaction with other people with my disease. Well, for most of my diseased life, I didn’t have any social media. I grew up and was diagnosed in the 80′s. There was no internet. Computers were still in their infancy. And I think by now you know how I dealt with my disease. I ignored it. I didn’t know anyone else with IBD. I didn’t talk to anyone about my disease. I just lived day to day ignorant of what my disease was all about.
In all honesty, I haven’t been on social networks for that long. I have only been on Facebook for maybe 5 years…Twitter for a little less. Since I have had my disease for about 25 years, social media has played a small part overall in my life. However, it has made a major impact. It has helped me come to terms with what I have. I have found an outlet to help speak my mind and deal with issues.
Social media has really helped me in one way. It helped me get the courage to start this blog. It was only after talking to some people that I decided to do this. I would never have met them without social media. It all started with YouTube. That is where I saw videos of inspiration. I then went to Facebook to talk to these inspirational people. Without those two sites, I would still be alone with my disease.
Social media is also allowing me to help others. One of my main goals now is to help others so they don’t feel alone with their disease….like I did. Without social media, I probably wouldn’t be successful at it. I could still write a blog but not many people would know about it or read it.
Our disease is often overlooked. It doesn’t get the best research. It doesn’t have tons of money thrown at it. Many people don’t know what IBD is. Social media is helping to change all that. Us IBD Warriors are now coming together and spreading the word. Thanks to social media, we have a voice now and maybe one day a cure.
Tagged: #HAWMC, Crohn's Disease, Facebook, IBD, IBD Warrior, inflammatory bowel disease, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media, Twitter, Ulcerative Colitis, Youtube
