My journey with Crohn’s Disease

When diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in 1998 my initial response was one of relief: now the illness had a name I was confident I could deal with it. I had always done well academically – I was a good researcher, great problem solver and quick learner. All I had to do was apply myself to the challenge. Of course, I soon discovered it is not so easy to overcome IBD.

So what have I learnt after more than a decade with Crohn’s Disease?

I can’t control everything that happens in my body but I can choose how I live.

I can cut myself some slack. I can shoot for my dreams. I can be honest. I can be strong. I can reach out to others. I can get informed. I can ask for help. I can decide what is good for my health. I can be angry, afraid and sad. And I will still be OK.

I am not a doctor, health professional, psychologist or therapist. I don’t have the answers and I don’t manage my IBD or my life perfectly everyday.

But I believe that as we learn to live with IBD, we can also learn to live beyond it. We are not defined by our disease. We can make choices and develop strategies to face the challenges of IBD, and create happiness for ourselves.

BeyondIBD.com was born of my desire to share these ideas with other IBDers and my love for writing.

I’m a self-employed writer-artist and business message medium living in Queensland, Australia. You can find out more about my current projects at rebecca-leigh.com

If you’d like to get in touch, email: rebecca[at]beyondibd[dot]com