Returning to Work
It all begins with an idea.
Like many living with Crohn’s you may have been relieved at the remote working opportunities that lockdown brought. No fear of an urgency for the toilet on the way to or the home from work. Your bathroom was just a few steps away and there may have been a general lowering of stress stemming from this, helping to avoid the risk of flare-ups.
There may now be an expectation or even pressure to return to your work-place. For some this may come with a sense of dread around returning. Through my work with many with Crohn’s I have found the trait of being overly accommodating to be present. Sufferers wanting to people please and not wanting to ruffle any feathers. Perhaps conflict is one of your triggers and you would avoid conflict for fear of a flare-up.
This is a tricky issue to navigate but through counselling and coaching we could work on how you might approach and address your needs with your employer and find what is the best outcome for you.
How You Share Your Difficulties With Others.
It all begins with an idea.
What to share? When to share it? How to share it? With who?
One of the most difficult things people can face is how to go about sharing what they are going through with their friends and loved ones. Sharing can be a key part of growth and a move towards an acceptance and understanding of your condition.
Sharing can also be vital to help ease the burden of carrying your hardships all to yourself. Sharing here with your therapist or coach can be highly beneficial and you can also explore in your therapy how and why to share with your loved ones and what it is you want from that experience.
From a psychodynamic perspective issues with your stomach can be related to containment, a holding back. Learning to share can be hugely beneficial to your mental and physical health.
How Do You Deal With Fatigue?
It all begins with an idea.
For me, my greatest growth in this arena came with learning to say no to things.
It is ingrained in me that turning down an invitation or cancelling is inherently rude and that it should be avoided at all costs. It took me years after my diagnosis to learn to say no and to prioritise my health over any potential rudeness or feelings (often misplaced) of guilt about letting people down.
Accepting that when you are run down and at risk of a flare-up it is okay to say no, to stay in and relax is going to do a great deal more good for you than dragging yourself out to a social engagement, one that you probably wouldn’t be able to give a great deal to anyway given your tiredness.
Learn to become comfortable with doing less.