Crohn’s Disease Affects More Than Just the Physical Body
Posted by admin on Aug 18, 2008
We, as humans, are encased in a physical body made up of skin, blood, and bones but are made up of much more than that. We have emotional and logical components and some may include a spiritual component as well. Crohn’s disease is a physical disease but it affects all aspects of the human condition which can make dealing with it even more difficult.
At this time, there is no medical proof that emotion, or stress if you prefer, causes Crohn’s disease. However, there are studies that prove that stress does have an effect on the symptoms of Crohn’s and colitis and a person who has gone through weeks and sometimes months of the physical symptoms before it has finally been diagnosed, is most likely very stressed and very emotional. With advancements in technology and how readily available it is today with tools like the internet, many people often find themselves trying to diagnose their own ailments before seeking the opinion of a real life doctor. This is a double edged sword, of sorts, since one can surmise one of three possible scenarios; 1) things don’t look as bad as I had thought, 2) things are just as I had thought, or 3) things look a lot worse than I had thought. Each of these assumptions can cause problems of their own but for this article I want to address the last one only and how it correlates with the emotional component of the human being.
People exhibit varying emotions when faced with a physical ailment such as Crohn’s. With the extreme symptoms of this type of disease, one can logically make the assumption that things are pretty bad. With that type of assumption, emotions can be all over the chart. Some people become very angry while others feel guilty and think they have done something that has caused this problem. All the while, a person’s imagination tends to run wild and conjure up all types of possible causes and outcomes often making the stress level rise dramatically. With Crohn’s disease, this often causes symptoms to worsen making the emotional factor a roller coaster of a ride. Once finally diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, some may be relieved to finally have a name for what is wrong. Others may be just a scared or worse due to the lack of knowledge about the disease.
Depression often sets in soon after the diagnosis of a disease such as Crohn’s. Coping with a chronic illness is no walk in the park and it soon dawns on the patient that every aspect of his or her life has been changed in some way by this disease. Depression is a normal response to the diagnosis and needs to be dealt with accordingly. Counseling can often help a person deal with their depression and is often recommended as the first step in dealing with any chronic disease. Another means of dealing with your recent diagnosis is talking with others who have Crohn’s disease and are, in fact, coping with it and controlling it. A local or online support group should be sought out and many are readily available by searching the internet. Becoming educated and informed about the disease and knowing what research is taking place can help to alleviate your depression reducing your stress level as well. There are several alternatives to the conventional methods of dealing with Crohn’s, such as The Crohn’s Diet, and one should educate themselves on those as well. Bouts of depression are normal and need to be addressed, treated and relieved; sooner rather than later. It is important to understand that while Crohn’s disease can be bad, it’s not as bad as cancer and can be dealt with easily and effectively.
Crohn’s patients eventually learn how to prepare and plan for the events in their daily lives and work around the sometimes potentially embarrassing symptoms that come with the disease. It is a fact that life does go on and their depression will abate with time and help from their support network comprised of friends, family, and others who have gone through it already. Living with Crohn’s disease is a challenge but it is possible to live a full and productive life and have Crohn’s at the same time.
A key factor in dealing with any such disease or diagnosis is to take immediate action. It is often difficult to get motivated to do something about your condition when you are dealing with depression. However, it still remains incredibly important to take immediate action to improve your situation. It has been said that the hardest part of a journey of a thousand miles is the first step. Take that first step, start making changes in your life to help yourself and help you manage your condition.