Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with IBD, have lived with it for years, or are still figuring out your diagnosis, this post is for you. Having IBD can be a full-time job and at times it can be easier to ignore your symptoms.
However, what we know about IBD and its activity, is that the longer we wait to address our symptoms, the more severe it can become. We’ve gathered ways how to ask for support since we know how difficult it can be to live with IBD. Difficulties with asking for support can be the asking portion of it alone, not knowing where to find support, fear of what others may think, and many other thoughts and emotions that we feel as IBD patients.
Advocate
When you see your doctor or other healthcare professional, don’t fret. Have a plan in place before you see them so that you get everything you want and more out of your session. The idea is to advocate for yourself and address your concerns.
Your doctor’s priority is to provide you with a treatment plan that will work for you and your IBD. In the event that you don’t feel comfortable with your doctor, then it’s okay to find a new one. Remember, it’s okay to change doctors if you feel that it’s best for you- that’s part of advocating for yourself!
Advocating also includes speaking to insurance companies, pharmacies, and even loved ones for what you need. We understand it’s not always easy for many reasons. If this is an area that you would like to work on, consider consulting with a mental-health professional to explore what could be preventing you from addressing your concerns. Advocating for yourself can help create a respectful, less stressful, and healthy environment for you and your IBD.
Ask
Asking is not the same as being incapable of doing something. It simply means that the person is doing the best that they can do and having additional support can get them closer to their desired outcome.
Examples of asking for support can include requesting your partner to help with the chores when feeling fatigued. It can also look like being asked what you would like to eat that is tummy friendly for you by your friends and family.
Having support from your medical team and those that are close to you can be a great way to advocate for yourself and receive that extra cushion that we need at times.
Process
While we all may have the same diagnosis, our experiences can look very different from one another. Every person with IBD processes their emotions differently. There is no right or wrong way of processing a diagnosis. This is where working with your healthcare team to address mental health and well-being become crucial.
Speaking to a psychologist can be a great tool to reflect and process your diagnosis. This can also be a great step toward feeling comfortable in asking for support when it’s needed the most.