If anyone suffers from a chronic illness they know that in order to help achieve better treatment options for patients and a cure for the disease it needs to achieve publicity. The following are some ways to help better make others know about certain illnesses and conditions so that additional research and knowledge can be attained.
1) Post links as soon as anything is published and share these links with others. I recommended looking at the “Share This” link on the bottom of this post to see some ideas of social networks to share with.
2) Write to doctors with columns in the papers. If you don’t hear back, write another letter. The practice is to write a 150-word ‘synopsis’ of the article you want to write – a bit about the condition, and with experiences you’ve (ie. doctors who don’t believe you, treatments that made you worse, or better, and how you’re coping with constant pain).
3) Call your local TV station, explain your story, and ask if they are interested in doing a piece on it.
4) If you get on the news it’s very important to have the segment on YouTube. This can potentially reach thousands upon thousands of people. Consider making your own video if you are up to it.
5) Contact local research universities and see if anyone is interested in studying about your illness or is currently studying it. If you get a professors name you may want to contact him or her and set up a meeting to talk or send them a more detailed explanation of your illness, how it affects you, and what you would like to see done.
6) Write to Congress, explain your story, and ask them to support more money for research.
Remember persistence usually pays off. Keep trying, stay optimistic, and do not give up.
Adapted from materials posted by “BritChick” at MDjunction.