I agree, Ames, the psychological impact of these monsters on our mental health (and the mental health of our closest, I might add) is seriously under-estimated.
I mean, I've had a part of my body chopped off, my perianal area "decorated" with setons of various colors, the threat of becoming incontinent, the ghost of a possible ablation of the anal area... times of complete inability to function, inability to digest, a deep feeling of injustice and uselessness... severe pain, severe nausea, the big D... I've cried of despair in doctors offices, cried of exhaustion when entering surgeries, got angry at entire days of waiting in ER...
... yet not one single doctor throughout my 27 years of crohn's mentioned counseling or anti-depressants.