r/ChronicIllness

Community Overview

About r/ChronicIllness

A place of support for those living with, or affected by, chronic illness. Open and welcoming to all. This subreddit is for social and community support, not medical advice. If you need help please contact mod mail with a link to the content you need help with or have questions about.

The community at a glance

r/ChronicIllness is a Subreddit for Mental Health and Chronic Conditions with roughly 117K members. It has been around since 2011. It has both a forum and a live chat communication style. On the Hive Index it ranks #6 in the Chronic Conditions communities list.

Roughly 26K members have joined in the past year. Popular discussion topics include Looking For, Chronic Illness, and Illness. Product recommendations often mention symptom tracking app, heating pad, and mobility aid.

On Reddit
Established 2011
117K Members

Subreddit Analysis

via GummySearch
Yearly: +26K members
Growth: +28.5% / year

Member growth over time

All time (yearly)

  • 2013: 33 members
  • 2014: 27 members
  • 2015: 166 members
  • 2016: 401 members
  • 2017: 744 members
  • 2018: 2K members
  • 2019: 4K members
  • 2020: 13K members
  • 2021: 15K members
  • 2023: 28K members
  • 2024: 14K members
  • 2025: 16K members
  • 2026: 23K members

Past year (monthly)

  • Dec: 2K members
  • Jan: 2K members
  • Feb: 2K members
  • Mar: 2K members
  • Apr: 2K members
  • May: 4K members
  • Jun: 2K members
  • Jul: 2K members
  • Aug: 2K members
  • Sep: 2K members
  • Oct: 2K members
  • Nov: 937 members

Topics

  • Looking For
    19 posts in the past month
    #1
    Looking For
    19
  • Chronic Illness
    18 posts in the past month
    #2
    Chronic Illness
    18
  • Illness
    7 posts in the past month
    #3
    Illness
    7
  • Support Group
    5 posts in the past month
    #4
    Support Group
    5
  • Job
    5 posts in the past month
    #5
    Job
    5

Flair

  • Question
    15 posts in the past month
    1. Currently, what exercises can you tolerate that won't make you crash with chronic fatigue?
    2. Job hunting with chronic illness
    3. Do you have a home health aide?
    #1
    Question
    Currently, what exercises can you tolerate that won't make you crash with chronic fatigue? · Job hunting with chronic illness · Do you have a home health aide?
    15
  • Vent
    12 posts in the past month
    1. I don't care about anything anymore
    2. Flare-up blues
    3. Weather Change Flare
    #2
    Vent
    I don't care about anything anymore · Flare-up blues · Weather Change Flare
    12
  • Support wanted
    12 posts in the past month
    1. So sick of ableism in home health care
    2. I want to start dating again, but my insecurities about my medical condition are holding me back. How do I get over this?
    3. Question about Retaliation
    #3
    Support wanted
    So sick of ableism in home health care · I want to start dating again, but my insecurities about my medical condition are holding me back. How do I get over this? · Question about Retaliation
    12
  • Discussion
    10 posts in the past month
    1. When was the moment you realized you had your condition?
    2. For anybody who has tried "healing" diets that everybody told you would make you feel better but it hasn't, it's not your fault and I think most of the advice is irresponsible.
    3. My mom has been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, and I’m honestly terrified.
    #4
    Discussion
    When was the moment you realized you had your condition? · For anybody who has tried "healing" diets that everybody told you would make you feel better but it hasn't, it's not your fault and I think most of the advice is irresponsible. · My mom has been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, and I’m honestly terrified.
    10
  • Rant
    9 posts in the past month
    1. Does anyone else feel weirdly invalidated by their own chronic illness diagnoses?
    2. Chronic illnesses and decisions
    3. feels like everything takes forever and im just not getting any younger while i wait
    #5
    Rant
    Does anyone else feel weirdly invalidated by their own chronic illness diagnoses? · Chronic illnesses and decisions · feels like everything takes forever and im just not getting any younger while i wait
    9

Product recommendations

  • symptom tracking app
    4 posts in the past month
    1. Can you recommend a symptom tracking system?
    2. Advice: symptom tracking app/recommended method?
    3. Recs for symptom tracking on android
    #1
    symptom tracking app
    Can you recommend a symptom tracking system? · Advice: symptom tracking app/recommended method? · Recs for symptom tracking on android
    4
  • heating pad
    3 posts in the past month
    1. Can someone recommend a heating pad that actually gets hot?
    2. Most recommended heat pad?
    3. Heating Pad Recs!
    #2
    heating pad
    Can someone recommend a heating pad that actually gets hot? · Most recommended heat pad? · Heating Pad Recs!
    3
  • mobility aid
    3 posts in the past month
    1. Can you guys recommend some mobility aids for me?
    2. Mobility Aid Recs
    3. Cute mobility aid recs?
    #3
    mobility aid
    Can you guys recommend some mobility aids for me? · Mobility Aid Recs · Cute mobility aid recs?
    3

Frequently asked questions

Who is r/ChronicIllness for?
Best for Mental Health and Chronic Conditions enthusiasts looking for a Reddit-based community with forum discussion, live chat.
Is r/ChronicIllness free to join?
This listing is not marked as paid-only. Access rules and any fees are decided by the community.
How many members does r/ChronicIllness have?
Roughly 117K members, based on figures reported by the community or its host. Member counts are approximate and change over time.
What platform is r/ChronicIllness on?
r/ChronicIllness runs on Reddit. Reddit communities (or "subreddits") are forum-based groups on the popular social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website Reddit. Reddit is commonly known as "the front page of the internet". Users submit content to the site such as links, text posts, and images, which are then voted up or down and discussed by other members. From investing Reddit communities, to professional ones, to ones just for laughs, you're likely to find a community for you on Reddit.
What topics does r/ChronicIllness cover?
On the Hive Index, r/ChronicIllness is organized under Mental Health, Chronic Conditions.
How do I join r/ChronicIllness?
You can join r/ChronicIllness by clicking this link, or pressing the "Go to community" button above.
What are the Mental Health communities like?
Communities for people navigating anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, loneliness, trauma, and everyday mental health challenges. Find online support groups, peer support networks, and online therapy resources. Reddit has some of the largest and most active mental health communities on the internet, with Discord servers offering real-time peer support.