Perhaps one of the hardest things in life is coping with illness and pain. In some ways, it can be even harder when we are having to look after a loved one who is ill, than with our own illness.

	We have put together a collection of links to bring you hope and help. Knowing that we are not alone in our suffering and have someone to share it with, can make a very big difference.
Most of these pages offer you email support and friendship and links to support sites of different types. So do spend time checking out the links for the help you need. If you know of other good links, please tell us.

Annie's chronic illness and pain survivors page
As a sufferer with RSDS (Reflex Sympathetic Dystropny Syndrome), Annie shares how she copes with severe pain and gives a list of some top disability and illness web sites. This lovely site also covers many other subjects. Annie has a team of volunteers who will give you email encouragement.

Joni Erickson Tada Ministries
Joni has been an inspiration to many through the way she survived a diving accident and has learned to live as a quadriplegic. She is an author of a number of books, is a wonderful mouth-painting artist, and her life-story has been made into a film. There is a very good list of disability links on the site.

Living with spina bifida
Denice's personal story (and also how her own daughter coped).

Chronic Fatigue
In 1993, Michelle Akers (whom some experts have called the greatest women's soccer player ever), was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS). She shares her story.

Panic and Agoraphobia homepage

Christian-based resources for recovery, addiction, and illness problems.

Follifoot
A riding centre in Yorkshire (UK) for physically and mentally handicapped people of all ages.This wonderful volunteer centre is fulfilling a big need. You can also find friends and penpals, visit the chat room, and be part of the Follifoot community.

Jon's place - the congestive heart failure web site
A very helpful large site by a sufferer, with information and links on almost every aspect of heart health, diet, medication, treatments and much more.

Autism and PDD "One Moms" View
For parents of children with autistic disorders. Lots of very helpful links including a search option to check the big listings at Mental Health Net.

Chronic Illness and Pain Resources
Lisa's experience of rheumatoid arthritis led her to build this site. Includes how to help a friend with chronic illness, a printed monthly newsletter, bulletin board, how to start a support group and 100s of disability links.

Living with Fibromyalgia
Patty's story.

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome
Karen's experience and useful links.

Dear Sister links page
A women's magazine list of Christian and secular links for deafness and other disabilities.

Roxane Laboratories
Pain control and links.

The Christian Depression Pages
To understand depression and its causes in ourselves or others, can help us to fight it.

The Christians Recovery Connection
As well as recovery resources for addictions and other problems, there is a searchable list of support groups for a big range of syndromes, illnesses and disabilities. Just select "support groups" from the list of choices at the bottom of the page.

Suffering, Pain and Chronic Illness
"Christians in Recovery" suffering links page.

Opera Web Browser
The Opera browser is very help for disabled web users. It offers features like keyboard navigation and zoom functions for graphics and text. They also offer a big range of links for blind and visually impaired web users, including the WebSpeak talking browser.

Newsletters, newsgroups, forums, bulletin boards and chat rooms.

There are many email newsletters and newsgroups, as well as forums, bulletin boards and chat rooms about sickness and disability issues. These searchable indexes will help you find them:

Liszt - a directory of 70,000 newsletters.

CataList - a smaller listing of newsletters

Deja News for newsgroups. (If you are not familiar with the "newsgroup" system, look at the Netscape and SEWeb newsgroup guides.)

ForumOne for forums and bulletin boards.

The surprise

As you visit many of these pages, you will perhaps notice a surprising fact. Many of these people have made an important discovery which helps them see their illness or disability in a new way AND gives them a new inner strength to live life and strengthen others to do so.

It seems they have often found peace of mind in the middle of terrible circumstances or have found happiness even when in pain. They will even tell you how good has come out of their suffering.

The key

These people say they have found God's help. They do not just believe in a God that seems far away, but they claim that God is close to them, real, a friend. Someone who understands how they feel, who gives them real inner strength and peace.

If only one person was to claim this, it would be easy to dismiss it. But when many people in different situations and countries all tell us the same, is it time to stop and think about it?

Does God have the answers?

What do I really need?

Samaritans and Befrienders offices around the world, offer a telephone advice service. Look in your phone book under 'Crisis'. You can also contact them by email at Samaritans.org in UK, and Befrienders in many countries around the world. They are completely confidential - they will never tell anyone else what you have shared with them They say, "Whatever you are going through, we will go through it with you."

You can also get help at Women Today Magazine and Men Today Online and email their support address.

The problem page
Coping with other problems - fear, worry, stress, suicide and more.

Your language and country
Find links about your own country, often in your own language.

SOON Online Magazine index page
The international magazine with a difference. True stories, short story library, interviews, science, religion, visiting Britain, and much more.