Here’s a listing of just some of the websites available for those struggling with illnesses, injuries and other health-related ailments. They tell the inspirational personal stories of others who’ve faced the same problems, because it’s healing to know that you are not alone.

General:

• AllEducationSchools.com: Celebrities who overcame disabilities to become famous and successful
• eHow.com: How to turn personal tragedy into triumph
• MarshfieldClinic.org: Stories from patients of Wisconsin’s Marshfield Clinic
• MayoClinic.org: True stories from hundreds of patients of the Mayo Clinic
• ValleyRally.com: Stories of inspiration from real people with a variety of ailments and issues

Alzheimer’s:

• About.com: Readers share their experiences with Alzheimer’s
• Alzheimer’s Association: Stories of people with Alzheimer’s

Arthritis:

• About.com: Inspirational arthritis success stories
• ArthritisInsight.com: Stories of everyday people with various types of arthritis
• New South Wales Young Adults With Arthritis: Stories of young adults age 18-45 with arthritis
• ResourceHelp.com: Personal rheumatoid arthritis stories

Autism:

• Autism Blogger: Online support group where people dealing with autism can relate their experiences
• Foundation for Autism Information & Research: Videos of parents talking about their children’s battle with autism
• Parents and Carers of Autism: Stories of parents of children with autism or carers of people with autism

Cancer:

• American Cancer Society: Stories of hope from cancer survivors
• Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network: Survival stories from bladder cancer patients
• CancerGuide.org: Inspirational stories of patients with cancer
• Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation: Inspirational stories from breast cancer patients
• Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: Inspirational stories from survivors of pancreatic cancer
• Time.com: Photo essays of cancer survivors involved in Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong Challenge

Cerebral Palsy:

• 4MyChild: Inspirational stories and support from parents of children with cerebral palsy
• Medtronic.com: Personal stories of families living with cerebral palsy

Crohn’s Disease:

• Crohn’s Disease Stories: Stories about living with Crohn’s disease
• Crohn’s Disease and Stress: Stories from Crohn’s sufferers around the world
• Suite101.com: Personal stories form people with Chrohn’s disease

Diabetes:

• Daily Strength: Type 2 diabetes support group
• GlucoStories: Contest for inspirational diabetes stories
• Your Diabetes Network: Inspiring stories of how diabetics have coped

Eating Disorders:

• About.com: Personal stories of eating disorder sufferers
• Caring Online: Stories from people coping with anorexia
• Daily Strength: Eating disorder support group
• HealthyPlace.com: First-hand eating disorder stories

Heart Disease:

• Medtronic: Personal stories of heart disease
• Smart Heart Living: Heart disease stories
• US News & World Report: Faces of heart disease: 3 women’s personal stories
• WebMD: Stories from people dealing with heart disease

Injuries:

• Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust: Stories of recovery from brain injury
• The Neuro Institute: Spinal cord and brain injury recovery stories
• Thin Threads: True story of survival
• WiNKKK.com: Videos of spinal injury rehabilitation

Kidney Disease:

• Children’s Kidney Disease Support Group: Encouraging stories of children with kidney disease
• Fresenius Medical Care: Stories of patients of Fresenius Medical Service’s outpatient dialysis clinics
• MyKidney.com: Blog documenting a woman’s kidney disease and transplant

Lung Disease:

• American Lung Association: Stories of living with lung disease
• ChristmasSeals.org: 31 days of inspirational stories of lung disease
• The Lung Association: Stories of living with asthma

Lyme Disease:

• Lyme Disease Foundation: The faces of Lyme disease
• Lyme Info: Lyme disease patient stories
• Lyme Project: Lyme disease stories as part of an e-book

Mental Illness:

• Alaska Mental Health Consumer Web: Stories of recovery from mental illness
• Experience Project: Support group for mental illness
• Internet Mental Health: Stories of recovery and personal experiences with mental illness
• Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia: Stories of mental illness
• WhataDifference.org: Varied stories of mental illness
• World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Alllied Disorders: Stories from those touched by schizophrenia

Sexually Transmitted Disease:

• 28 Stories: 28 stories of AIDS in Africa
• Avert.org: Personal stories of HIV/AIDS
• The Body: Inspiring stories of people affected by HIV/AIDS
• HIV/AIDS: Positive stories about HIV/AIDS
• RedSkyHealing.com: Inspiring HIV positive stories
• Yoshi2Me.com: Inspirational stories about herpes, HPV and sexually transmitted diseases

Stroke:

• Abington Memorial Hospital: Stroke survivor stories
• American Stroke Association: Personal stories of stroke survivors
• Colorado Neurological Institute Stroke Center: Success stories from CNI’s Stroke Center
• The Internet Stroke Center: Stroke survivor stories
• Stroke and Aphasia Info: Inspirational stroke stories