I saw a post on Instagram recently that said "Chronic illness is just as much a mental battle as a physical one." I wish this was something the chronic illness community could easily convey to others, but it just isn't that easy. Only when you are faced with the challenges a chronically ill person faces… Continue reading IBD Affects More Than the Gut
Author: Christie Chaump
Giving Tuesday
Happy Giving Tuesday! For those that don't know, Giving Tuesday is an opportunity for everyone around the world to come together and support non-profits in their community or globally. Support can come in the form of monetary donations or volunteering. This is one of my favorite days of the year and I hope you will… Continue reading Giving Tuesday
The Changing of Seasons
Fall is my favorite season by far (and not only because November is my birthday month!). Something about the changing colors of the leaves, the cooler weather, and turning on the fireplace brings me joy. I don't usually like change, but as someone living with IBD, I have to learn to like it. The change… Continue reading The Changing of Seasons
Combating the Sunday Scaries
The Sunday Scaries - we all dread them. This is a term that has become popular in recent years to refer to the intense anxiety and dread we feel before heading into the workweek. Typically this feeling starts to settle in on Sunday afternoon and evening. According to this article in Better by Today, up… Continue reading Combating the Sunday Scaries
Advice for My Younger Self
The other day, I was looking through old photos of myself before my diagnosis. I thought to myself "Wow, look how far I've come!" Last week, I wrote a paper for one of my classes on integrity. Part of garnering integrity is determining our core values. I mentioned in my paper that the things I… Continue reading Advice for My Younger Self
The Power of Resilience
As some of you may know, I have a busy schedule these days. I work a full-time job, I take night classes in the MBA program, I run an IBD support group, I am a blogger - all while fighting a chronic illness. When I was diagnosed with IBD in 2019 at the age of… Continue reading The Power of Resilience
Tips for Managing a Flare
Many IBD patients have found themselves in a flare over the past year due to the stress and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, I have been able to maintain my symptomatic remission during this time, but that does not remove the constant fear I have of possibly developing a flare. Let's be honest,… Continue reading Tips for Managing a Flare
How Can I Support Someone with IBD?
I get this question often from both friends and family, which is a good thing! It is nice to know that they, who maybe do not quite understand the entirety of my disease, want to contribute in any way they can to make me feel better. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation posed this question last… Continue reading How Can I Support Someone with IBD?
Turning Struggles into Purpose
The biggest lesson that I have learned from being diagnosed with a chronic illness is turning my struggle into purpose. In my eyes, I had two options - one where I could be sad and let my disease affect my life, and another where I could use it to my advantage and lead my life… Continue reading Turning Struggles into Purpose
My IBD Journey: From the Beginning to Now
For those of you new to my site or just wanting to learn more about my story, I figured I would do a blog post talking about my where my IBD journey started to where I am now. I want to emphasize that my experience with IBD has never been linear. It has required a… Continue reading My IBD Journey: From the Beginning to Now
Turning Wellness into a Lifestyle 