Last week I talked about creating the right frame of mind to start a new behaviour or change an old one. Hopefully you’ve moved past the first hurdle, getting started. But now you need to overcome those day-to-day resistances in order to turn your new behaviour into a habit. Continue reading
Do you have trouble starting and maintaining good health habits?
Are there things that you know you could be doing to look after yourself and your health, but you just can’t muster the motivation to start? Or you have started but can’t stick with it?It could be an exercise program, or improving your diet, or establishing better sleep patterns, or practising relaxation techniques such as meditation. The plethora of diet and exercise programs and self-help books assure us that we are not alone in our struggle.
And having IBD (or any chronic illness) makes it even harder. We must contend with fatigue, nausea, pain and diarrhea (and more), and with occasional feelings of hopelessness and depression. There are plenty of completely reasonable excuses available: “I’m too tired to do anything” or “I’m sick all the time anyway so why not have that chocolate / coffee / wine, even though I know it will make me feel worse”.
Quicklinks
This week I have a collection of articles and resources from around the internet, on various topics of interest to IBDers.
Parasitic worm treatment for Crohn’s
This recent article on the use of parasitic worms in auto-immune disorders follows a series of news items released in 2004 on the effectiveness of pig whipworm for Crohn’s disease. The worms can be purchased direct from Ovamed (shipped to Europe, USA and Australia). Keah, who is a forum moderator on the HealingWell.com Crohn’s community, has a brief online journal on her experience using the pig whipworms (Trichuris Suis Ova or TSO).
7 reasons not to join a support group (Part 2)
We now have support groups (locally or online) to help us through any with any number of life’s challenges. This is particularly true for those with serious (chronic or acute) health problems. One of the major functions of IBD Associations around the world is to provide support through local groups or member networks. There are also more informal online communities of patients.
And yet many IBDers (and other people with chronic illnesses) do not join a support group or online forum. They may register with an Association, having been given the forms by their doctor, but they do not join and engage with the community. Last week I gave you the first 3 reasons not to join a support group (and why you should join anyway).
Here are the final 4 reasons…
7 reasons not to join a support group (Part 1)
We now have support groups (locally or online) to help us through any number of life’s challenges. This is particularly true for those with chronic or acute health problems. One of the major functions of IBD Associations around the world is to provide support through local groups or member networks. There are also more informal online communities of patients.
The purpose of these groups is usually one or more of the following:
- offer understanding and emotional support to patients and their families/loved ones
- provide access to the latest medical information
- share personal knowledge and experience
- use the power of the group to advocate for greater funding, research, care or awareness
My experience with support groups
And yet many IBDers and other people with chronic illnesses (that I know of) do not immediately join a support group. They may register with an Association, having been given the forms by their doctor, but they do not join and engage with the community.