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 105K members. It has been around since 2011. It has both a forum and a live chat communication style. On the Hive Index it ranks #4 in the Chronic Conditions communities list.
Roughly 21K members have joined in the past year. Popular discussion topics include Chronic Illness, Diagnosis, and Pain. Product recommendations often mention symptom tracking app, heating pad, and mobility aid.
Community Topics
Subreddit Analysis
via GummySearchMember 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: 12K members
Past year (monthly)
- Jul: 1K members
- Aug: 1K members
- Sep: 1K members
- Oct: 1K members
- Nov: 2K members
- Dec: 2K members
- Jan: 2K members
- Feb: 2K members
- Mar: 2K members
- Apr: 2K members
- May: 4K members
- Jun: 291 members
Topics
- Chronic Illness181 posts in the past month#1181Chronic Illness
- Diagnosis28 posts in the past month#228Diagnosis
- Pain27 posts in the past month#327Pain
- Mental Health26 posts in the past month#426Mental Health
- Symptoms25 posts in the past month#525Symptoms
Flair
- Question61 posts in the past month
- Caregiver refused to read my written instructions, left after 15 minutes, and now I’m being treated like I’m unreasonable
- Has anyone else become nihilistic/had their world view shattered?
- What is the most upsetting or rudest thing someone has said to you either about your chronic illness or just how it's affecting your daily lives?
#161QuestionCaregiver refused to read my written instructions, left after 15 minutes, and now I’m being treated like I’m unreasonable · Has anyone else become nihilistic/had their world view shattered? · What is the most upsetting or rudest thing someone has said to you either about your chronic illness or just how it's affecting your daily lives? - Rant40 posts in the past month
- ‘You just don’t want to work’
- PSA ABOUT THE JUNO APP (PLEASE READ) THIS SHOULD MAKE YOU ANGRY
- I was looking through some old consult notes and this did not age well at all
#240Rant‘You just don’t want to work’ · PSA ABOUT THE JUNO APP (PLEASE READ) THIS SHOULD MAKE YOU ANGRY · I was looking through some old consult notes and this did not age well at all - Vent23 posts in the past month
- Does anyone else feel that modern medicine and doctors failed them?
- I hate when strangers turn “small talk” into life advice
- My mom thinks I’m choosing to be chronically ill and not do things
#323VentDoes anyone else feel that modern medicine and doctors failed them? · I hate when strangers turn “small talk” into life advice · My mom thinks I’m choosing to be chronically ill and not do things - Support wanted22 posts in the past month
- Chronic illness slowly changes who you are
- Friend’s comment about my body/illness really affected my perspective on my future
- Chronic illness doesn’t just affect your body. It changes your entire identity
#422Support wantedChronic illness slowly changes who you are · Friend’s comment about my body/illness really affected my perspective on my future · Chronic illness doesn’t just affect your body. It changes your entire identity - Discussion20 posts in the past month
- Chronic illnesses force people to think about energy in a completely different way
- I’m tired of pretending brain fog is just being “a little distracted”
- Bedbound. Severe ME/CFS. The judge granted my accommodation. I still can't find a lawyer.
#520DiscussionChronic illnesses force people to think about energy in a completely different way · I’m tired of pretending brain fog is just being “a little distracted” · Bedbound. Severe ME/CFS. The judge granted my accommodation. I still can't find a lawyer.
Product recommendations
- symptom tracking app4 posts in the past month
- Can you recommend a symptom tracking system?
- Advice: symptom tracking app/recommended method?
- Recs for symptom tracking on android
#14symptom tracking appCan you recommend a symptom tracking system? · Advice: symptom tracking app/recommended method? · Recs for symptom tracking on android - heating pad3 posts in the past month
- Can someone recommend a heating pad that actually gets hot?
- Most recommended heat pad?
- Heating Pad Recs!
#23heating padCan someone recommend a heating pad that actually gets hot? · Most recommended heat pad? · Heating Pad Recs! - mobility aid3 posts in the past month
- Can you guys recommend some mobility aids for me?
- Mobility Aid Recs
- Cute mobility aid recs?
#33mobility aidCan you guys recommend some mobility aids for me? · Mobility Aid Recs · Cute mobility aid recs?
Community Reviews
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 105K 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, trauma, and everyday mental health challenges. Reddit has some of the largest and most active mental health communities on the internet, with Discord servers offering real-time peer support. Range of spaces from general wellness discussion to communities focused on specific conditions.
Monthly Stats
- 14
- Views
- 14
- Visitors
- 0
- Referrals
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