- Joined
- Jan 22, 2011
- Messages
- 1
My experience with Crohn's disease spans 47 years. I have had many surgeries, procedures, and challenges but I have developed various tools on how to manage this lifelong ailment. I have focused intently on managing my mind and emotions along with traditional medicine and diet and combined this has given me my greatest relief over the past decade. I remain optimistic that fellow Crohn’s patients can manage this difficult disease. I recently wrote and published a book on what I learned titled “Living with the Bully of Crohn’s Disease.”
Today I heard a talk on Peacemaking and I related it to my experience as a Crohn’s patient. I realize my mind and body are connected and I must work with both of them to experience true health. Creating peacefulness in me is another key component of my healing process. Peacefulness is not a passive energy but instead a dynamic force that says I am blessed and am confident the world is a benevolent place that nourishes me.
I realize that Crohn’s disease is active in me and I cannot wage mental and emotional war on that part of me, (my ill bowels) and expect healing. My anger, frustration, guilt or fear associated with Crohn’s are emotions of war and do not heal me, they make things worse. Instead, I must wage peace on myself and my wounded body and mind. I must come to appreciate and give credit to accomplishments in my life, the relationships I built, the qualities of character I developed and importantly, the need to see Crohn’s as something that I heal through seeing this ailment as a deep wound. I heal this wound by physical and medical treatments AND by the mental treatments of peacefulness, which include gratitude, joy, forgiveness, compassion, patience, kindness, and love. I do not yell at my ill body and swollen intestines but instead use healing energies. This is how I use peacefulness versus war in an effort to heal Crohn’s disease.
In my opinion, while the physical symptoms of Crohn's are distressing, the mental and psychological issues and loss of hope are substantial. That is where I have put a lot of my time and energy in recent years.
Today I heard a talk on Peacemaking and I related it to my experience as a Crohn’s patient. I realize my mind and body are connected and I must work with both of them to experience true health. Creating peacefulness in me is another key component of my healing process. Peacefulness is not a passive energy but instead a dynamic force that says I am blessed and am confident the world is a benevolent place that nourishes me.
I realize that Crohn’s disease is active in me and I cannot wage mental and emotional war on that part of me, (my ill bowels) and expect healing. My anger, frustration, guilt or fear associated with Crohn’s are emotions of war and do not heal me, they make things worse. Instead, I must wage peace on myself and my wounded body and mind. I must come to appreciate and give credit to accomplishments in my life, the relationships I built, the qualities of character I developed and importantly, the need to see Crohn’s as something that I heal through seeing this ailment as a deep wound. I heal this wound by physical and medical treatments AND by the mental treatments of peacefulness, which include gratitude, joy, forgiveness, compassion, patience, kindness, and love. I do not yell at my ill body and swollen intestines but instead use healing energies. This is how I use peacefulness versus war in an effort to heal Crohn’s disease.
In my opinion, while the physical symptoms of Crohn's are distressing, the mental and psychological issues and loss of hope are substantial. That is where I have put a lot of my time and energy in recent years.
