After being diagnosed with a chronic illness, I lost a lot of my self-confidence and it wasn't easy to gain it back. I thought I would never have the chance to live the life I wanted and had planned for myself. I remember making that conscious decision to invest in myself. It was a decision… Continue reading Invest in Yourself
Tag: IBD warrior
Navigating Life’s Great Divide
Little book nerd me recently finished a book titled Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad. I have to say it was one of the best books I have read in recent years. I found it relatable in every aspect - so relatable that I highlighted forty passages on my… Continue reading Navigating Life’s Great Divide
Anniversary of My Diagnosis
Today, January 4th, marks three years since I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. I still remember it like yesterday. I woke up from my colonoscopy with a cup of water in hand and I overheard the doctor tell my parents that it was definitely colitis. "There are ulcers covering her entire colon." At the time,… Continue reading Anniversary of My Diagnosis
IBD Affects More Than the Gut
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
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
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?
Trust Your Gut (But I Can't!) 