Dealing with a New Diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis

Being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis can be overwhelming and devastating, especially to those who have never heard of diseases like inflammatory bowel disease. When I was first diagnosed I was 24 years old. Being this young brought about a lot of questions about this disease and how it would affect my future. I was still in college, not yet married and had no children. Dealing with a diagnosis like this was difficult for me. I was already dependent on my parents and family at this point in my life and being told that I had ulcerative colitis only meant that I would depend on them even more. Burdening others was an immense issue for me. My parents and family have always been very supportive and my fear wasn't so much if they'd be there for me but how it would affect my relationship with them.

When you are first diagnosed you will naturally experience the mind-set that this is going to be the center of your life and everything will revolve around your disease. You will naturally be pessimistic and might feel like there is no future ahead of you. A lot of people will fall into a deep depression and will give up all of those things in life that make them happy and give them a sense of accomplishment. In order to avoid falling into this depression it is important to continue living your life the way you did before your diagnosis.