Crohn’s Disease
Re-learning How to Live
When I was first diagnosed with my IBD I just turned 16 years old, now I’m 20 and I’m relearning how to live my life. For so long, I didn’t get to be young and enjoy things that make life so fulfilling like eating my favorite foods or spending time outdoors, out of my room. Fast forward 4 years later, I actually eat 3 meals a day, get 8 hours of sleep and have been trying to work out again. Yet, there are times I still feel like I’m not all there, I guess I’m not used to living a “normal” life and I just got started! Sometimes, I just feel this lingering sadness that I can’t really explain, it’s like I know I should be happy but there are days where I just feel like something is missing. It takes me time to realize I’m mourning all those years where I couldn’t do the things I do day-to-day now and nobody really talks that sometimes the hardest part of recovery is looking back at what my life could’ve been without my IBD. I’d love to hear others’ thoughts on this and how they learned to live life after remission.
💜
1 - 5 of 5 Replies
Care Partner of Adult
First of all, that's a beautiful photograph. :-)
Second, I believe the AMA that Mike did on Monday covers the idea of grieving and IBD. Maybe he had some tips on how to address that? And the webinar on Mental Health and IBD also talked about the therapy necessary for living with IBD. All food for thought perhaps.
Patient
Thanks so much Wendy for your sweet comments! I’ll totally look into everything. And yes, I’m definitely a big fan of therapy! :P
Patient
Love this picture of you!
I am truly with you. It's like you have to find the new normal. I started writing an article about how my IBD had impacted my life. It was only when I start writing that I really realised how many areas had been impacted. It ended up being a NINE article series, covering:
Education
Career
Recreational activities
Family planning
Mental health
Physical activity
Romantic relationships
Friendships
Then a "wrap-up" 😯
This is great thank you for sharing this!