Therapy to Help Cope

Hey .. I can understand what your son is going through. I was hit pretty hard when I was told this was something I would have forever...and the symptoms have changed my life a bit.
I am only 28, so a bit older than your son, but not too far from the college partying days. I have never gone to talk to anyone, but I have done a lot of thinking.
Tell your son, once he accepts this, he can move forward. It is alot easier to deal with once you accept it. I know I might not be saying all the same things if I was feeling worse than I am (at the moment feeling not bad), but it's true. After that, focus on him, his health and doing things that work for him. Life changes a bit, but it's far from over. So he can't eat certain things, or maybe not drink as much (everyone's different). No biggie. Doesn't mean he can't do whatever else he wants when he's feeling good. He needs to work with his Dr. ... figure out what's best for him...maybe read a bit about what he's going through...
The key is, he has to WANT to take control...I dunno, maybe I'm blowing smoke...but I hate to see a young guy feel like crap. I hated feeling like crap...but this site has helped and made me realize that all these people work, do things everyday. Some days suck, but some don't. He's not alone. Maybe he doesn't need therapy, but if he just wants to chat to someone who has it, this site is good. He can have my e-mail if he wants. Tell him to keep his head up. Enjoy the days he feels good and do what he can to make more of them. Also, life's short, don't sweat the small stuff.
Good luck.

Thank you both for your thoughtful reply's. He has battled this disease for almost half his life. Somehow it seems the earlier years were easier. He had a 13 month flare that lasted his entire freshman year and both summers on either side. That was a trial for all of us. The he had a wonderful remission following that flare that was his longest ever. Had a mini flare back in October and is just beginning a flare now. It's in part the unknown - will this flare just last a week? a month? a year? longer? I think it is the lack of control. I think it is being a teenager and not wanting to have to deal with bodily functions when he is at school of with friends.

I think in part what is making this harder is he is the most social he has ever been. This past summer was his very first since the 1990's that he didn't flare. He got to travel and be "normal". This flare is reminding him that he is not. He has a new girlfriend - what will he tell her. Of course he doesn't open up much so I'm trying to guess what he is going through, but I do know he is suffering emotionally and it kills me!!

He is very intelligent. Has only gotten one B in his entire life (Trig and he barely missed the A). Got a 32 on his ACT without studying. Wants to be a physician, but will he be able to?

Any other therapy stories out there?

I appreciate you all taking the time to post

Tell him the "strength" of a man is between his ears and connected with his heart. It has nothing to do with muscles or macho.

UC, pain, suffering, the emotional journey, some great counseling on the way has helped shape me into a better "healthier" person than I was before.

In many ways therapy should be standard issue for a UC diagnosis.

If his car etc wasn't running right would he limp it along or take it to a mechanic? In my opinion, the meds etc (which I take also) are kind of like duct tape on the issue. Getting in touch with the cognitive side of things give a better chance for better overall outcomes.