As many of us know, having an IBD can play with our emotions and affect our self esteem pretty easily. Its difficult for others to understand the constant ups and downs that we have to deal with on a daily basis. A person with IBD can feel extremely confident one second and then the next have no confidence at all. These daily battles aren’t easy to deal with and eventually can bring any person down.
Recently I’ve been battling with this a little bit. Over the last few weeks I haven’t been able to get to the gym as much or eat as much as I should. Add on that I haven’t been feeling very well too. This has led me to lose weight that I worked so hard to put on. In just a matter of days I can go from looking like a normal, healthy and athletic person. To someone that looks frail, skinny, and unhealthy. Its constant work in order to look healthy and looking healthy is something that can help all of us have higher self esteem.
The facts are that these ups and downs are just going to happen. I’m not always going to have to time to eat 3,500-4,000 calories a day and work out. At the end of the day I have to realize that maintaining a normal weight isn’t realistic. A part of me has to be okay with these changes and not let them get me down.
Its hard to not be able to live a normal life sometimes. All the work that has to go into living a normal life, plus all the work dealing with a daily disease is exhausting. When I don’t look healthy, I don’t feel nearly as confident. I try not to show it, but its not easy and something I have to improve. My friends, family and loved ones don’t care that my weight might fluctuate, so why should I? They all know my situation and aren’t going to judge me if I lose some weight or look a little tired.
When you have a disease like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis that can change from day to day, your self esteem is going to have roller coaster rides and change too. At times we are going to feel like nothing bad can happen and others we are going to feel like nothing good can happen. When dealing with our IBD we have to realize that this is going to happen and not let it bother us to much. In time it does get a little easier to deal with, but no matter what it never goes away.
Never Stay Quiet!