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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/3/2019 5:55 AM (GMT -7)
I’m sure that there are threads like this already, but I’ll start another onesmile
How do you all deal with this disease emotionally?

I was only diagnosed two years ago and I think I’ve dealt with it by being in denial. I just kept taking my salafolk suppositories, notes foods that caused pain, and muddled through. I sometimes felt defeated and sad because of fatigue, but I chose to blame other valid reasons for being constantly tired.

Social support is very important but UC is hard to talk about and I look fine on the outside. Also, so many social events involve food, and navigating this can be tough.

I do talk about his with a few people at work who are familiar. I have to do a training at work that is quite stressful on Thursday, and I’m not letting possible diarrhea or agitation from pred, make me worry. I’m not sure if I’m exactly facing it head on right now, or what that would even look like, but this colonoscopy and doctors’ prescriptions might have been the wake-up call I needed. I can be grateful for that.
Posted 9/3/2019 10:35 AM (GMT -7)
>> How do you all deal with this disease emotionally?
In a remission it is easy, as I have no UC symptoms at all, so I am happy-go-lucky and an optimist. In flares, it can be one hell of a struggle when I'm drowning within symptoms, have limited quality of life, and I become the darkest pessimist.

General recommendations on coping, no person can expect to remain sane when worrying about his/her health 24/7/365. You need healthy ways to vent, and healthy escapes from thinking about your UC. That's things that you look forward to and enjoy which can be light exercise, loosing yourself within a book series or netflix series, gaming, and other hobbies. Practice mindfulness, yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises to help calm yourself down when your mind and anxiety start to run away. You take reasonable precautions before morning travel, presentations, etc for peace-of-mind. Give yourself extra time within the morning to poop before leaving, eat lightly or not eat at all, take imodium, and bring an emergency cleanup kit (a ziplock bag with a change of underwear, extra TP, and wet cleanup wipes). Peace-of-mind is a big one, don't let that anxiety train get a head of steam, as once that trains starts rolling it becomes unstoppable. Focus on the here and now, look at your feet and where you are right now, rather then worry about 100's of nightmare, worstcase scenarios that could happen (but probably will not).

It's a challenge, there is no easy-button. If what you're dealing with is more than any reasonably sane person can be expected to handle, then please do seek out a therapist and antidepressants, as they have helped many of us when we're at our absolute worst!
Posted 9/4/2019 6:32 AM (GMT -7)
Do not allow negative thoughts/emotions to make a nest in your mind. Do not fight with them. Try to gently divert attention from them. It is not easy during demanding circumstances but it is feasible during undemanding periods. Practice makes perfect.
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