Surviving a motor vehicle collision can be extremely overwhelming and isolating when you are recovering. You can be diagnosed with health conditions you may have never heard of before. The struggles are real and you may be feeling alone. I have been wanting to write this blog for quite some time but wasn’t sure how I was going to approach this subject. You see, as survivors or victims of collisions, one of the first thing we hear is “stay off of social media” but facebook continues to help me tremendously through my recovery and I will explain why.
We now live in a digital world where everything is available at a touch of a screen. The internet contains an endless supply of knowledge and information that allows you to learn almost any topic or question you may have. Let’s face it, we have all self diagnosed ourselves at least once through the “google hub” before attending a doctor’s appointment because we were concerned about our recovery.
Social media has made it easier to connect with other people and is easily accessible. Not only can you contact anyone with an internet connection, our need for communicating has become invaluable. When most people think of Facebook they think of re-establishing old friendships and keeping in touch with people you otherwise wouldn’t see. You can use Facebook to connect with your family, friends, work colleagues and you can even meet new people on Facebook. What I like the most about Facebook is the possibility to expand your support system while you are recovering from your collision and the amount of information that is available to us.
Don’t Have a Facebook Account?
- When you open up a Facebook account, make sure to remember your password and if you think you may not remember it, write it down and put it in a safe place. If you are having difficulty opening an account, ask a friend or family member that has a facebook account to help you.
- Never give out too much personal information on facebook but you want enough information on your account so groups accept you as a member. If you do not feel comfortable posting a picture of yourself, then don’t! Post one of your favourite pictures that brings back a good memory instead. To finish creating your account you will need to confirm your email or mobile phone number and did I mention that it’s free?
- If you are involved in a lawsuit from your collision, refrain from posting pictures on your Facebook Profile.
- Once you have created your Facebook account, at the top left corner of your screen you will see a little Facebook Logo and beside that is your search screen. It is in that search screen that you may find the exact support group/page that you may be seeking. Say for instance you are suffering from a concussion, if you type the word “concussion” in that search screen, you will notice several concussion tabs pop up below and what you want to do is click on the bottom where it says “See all results for concussion”. When you click on that, you will be able to see all the groups, pages, videos and articles that have been created for concussion. Try typing another health issue you may be experiencing and the same wealth of information will pop up on that topic.
There Are Numerous Online Support Groups You Can Join
- Some Facebook groups that you come across are public and you can join immediately. Keep in mind that if you join these public groups, any comment you may share with other people in that group could also be shared with your friends on Facebook.
- Some Facebook groups that you may come across may ask for permission first before you join the group. These groups are private and comments that are shared within this group are only shared with its members and do not get posted outside of the group. In other words, what is posted in the group stays in the group.
- You can join as many groups as you want. Don’t be afraid to leave a group if it is not the right fit for you. Joining a group doesn’t necessarily mean you will need to comment or join the conversation. Most groups do not focus on you personally but rather encourage members as a whole. Check to see if the group that you joined has a website. Most groups may have websites that contain very useful information.
- See a Facebook Page that interests you? Follow them! By following their Page, you will get updates through your newsfeed on Facebook so do not miss out on their daily posts that contain information or articles that may support you through recovery.
- If you have legal representation, see if their firm has a page on Facebook and follow them. Most law firms are now writing articles and/or blogs that may also contain useful information.
The reality is Facebook is the biggest social media network on the internet and it’s not just for kids to post selfies and to check in at their favourite spot. In fact, I’ve read some of the most courageous stories on Facebook that relate to me as a survivor and I continue to see amazing observations made by people I admire through social media on a daily basis. To put it simply, if you join the right group(s) or like/follow the right page(s), Facebook can become a huge support system in your recovery without even leaving your home.
Feeling alone and struggling? I encourage you to join our online support group at: Crash Support Network.
S. Dawne McKay is a survivor of a horrific crash that changed her life forever. Dawne shares her personal journey as a Crash Survivor Blogger and also collaborates with crash survivors as Guest Bloggers allowing them an opportunity to share their stories. Dawne is also the author of the book, “Talk Crash to Me – What to Expect After Surviving a Collision and How to Manage Your Recovery” which is available for purchase on Amazon.
