|
|
 |
Ultimately, life is all
about choices and growing up is about learning to make those choices.
Independence is the ability to make choices in all areas of life and
the freedom to implement your decisions. One of your biggest choices
is whether you will take responsibility for your health. No one can force you to
take your medicine, follow the right diet and have a healthy
lifestyle. The possibility of getting sick, no matter what you do,
always is present, but you lessen that chance with every decision you make
for proactive self-care.
Talk to anyone who’s been through it, and you’ll see it takes a while
to understand IBD is permanent. It’s not going away. Sounds
depressing, yet thousands of people with IBD have complete and
fulfilling lives. What’s the catch? They’ve reached a stage where IBD
no longer defines their lives but is only a small part
of who they are. If you haven’t found out already, you are more than
your IBD. Even if you’re in the hospital and can’t do a single
physical thing, you still have your personality and brainpower.
Just like any part of your life, IBD has its own sets
of problems and inspirations. At times, IBD may completely
overwhelm you and, at other times, it may recede until you hardly
notice it. Do you think every day about your role as someone’s
child? Or as a student, worker or any other way you identify
yourself? Chances are you don’t. After some transition time, like
going to a new school or starting a new job, those parts of you
become routine and take less energy and time to deal with. It’s the
same with IBD. Sometimes it’ll take all your time and energy,
and sometimes you’ll come closer to forgetting you have it. You,
however, have to make the choice to treat it like another part of
life and not let IBD envelop your identity.
Taking responsibility for your health and life choices can keep IBD
as unobtrusive as possible.
You don’t
necessarily have control over everything, but you do have ways to lessen the chances
of chaos. That’s what this Web site is all about.
|
 |
|