Hello, this is my first posting on the Crohn's forum. Before moving on, I would like to say that I am heartened by the diligent online support of fellow Crohnies (I just came up with that term as I wrote it...I like it.) Nobody can fathom what living with IBD is like except those that do. I am 25, and I was diagnosed 3 years ago. I have had two surgeries for peri-anal abscesses (dear god, so dreadful. Although, as I soaked my bum in the bath four times a day, I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of my situation).
My symptoms mostly revolve around chronic lethargy and abdominal pain. My doctor has advised me to go on immuno-suppresents, but I have been reluctant to take them due to the fact that I want to try all possible alternatives before recourse to powerful pharmaceuticals, ones whose long term effects are dubious, to say the least. (Incidentally, I just had my first acupuncture treatment today, and I feel great!)
Anyway, the reason for my posting is that I have found the experience of Crohn's, more often than not, leads to despair, lamentation, and/or self-pity (an emotion I particularly find distasteful). One way to combat such depressive states is to focus on the ways in which Crohn's actually betters your life. I know it is hard to appreciate in the midst of bloody diarrhea and soaking your bum lacerations, but I wanted to share some examples with you kind folks, and hopefully hear yours, if you have them, as well.
My primary example is that I always wanted to practice meditation daily. I always respected the idea of mindfulness, of being as aware as possible, but never had the resolve or focus to do so. However, it wasn't until my diagnosis that life COMPELLED me to do so. Crohn's has revealed to me how interconnected the mind and the body truly are, as anyone who has Crohn's knows; stress is a killer. Thus, through forcing me to be aware of my body, Crohn's has indirectly forced me to be aware of my mind. I am inspired to be as calm, patient and understanding an individual as I can be, because these emotions immediately benefit my health; not in some vague, inappreciable way, but immediately and viscerally. In this respect, I am grateful for Crohn's.
Given, there are times, especially when my abdominal pain is extreme, that I have "woe-is-me" thoughts. But I try my hardest to focus on the ways in which Crohn's can, and does, better my life.
Please share your experiences as well!
My symptoms mostly revolve around chronic lethargy and abdominal pain. My doctor has advised me to go on immuno-suppresents, but I have been reluctant to take them due to the fact that I want to try all possible alternatives before recourse to powerful pharmaceuticals, ones whose long term effects are dubious, to say the least. (Incidentally, I just had my first acupuncture treatment today, and I feel great!)
Anyway, the reason for my posting is that I have found the experience of Crohn's, more often than not, leads to despair, lamentation, and/or self-pity (an emotion I particularly find distasteful). One way to combat such depressive states is to focus on the ways in which Crohn's actually betters your life. I know it is hard to appreciate in the midst of bloody diarrhea and soaking your bum lacerations, but I wanted to share some examples with you kind folks, and hopefully hear yours, if you have them, as well.
My primary example is that I always wanted to practice meditation daily. I always respected the idea of mindfulness, of being as aware as possible, but never had the resolve or focus to do so. However, it wasn't until my diagnosis that life COMPELLED me to do so. Crohn's has revealed to me how interconnected the mind and the body truly are, as anyone who has Crohn's knows; stress is a killer. Thus, through forcing me to be aware of my body, Crohn's has indirectly forced me to be aware of my mind. I am inspired to be as calm, patient and understanding an individual as I can be, because these emotions immediately benefit my health; not in some vague, inappreciable way, but immediately and viscerally. In this respect, I am grateful for Crohn's.
Given, there are times, especially when my abdominal pain is extreme, that I have "woe-is-me" thoughts. But I try my hardest to focus on the ways in which Crohn's can, and does, better my life.
Please share your experiences as well!
