Young People w/ Chronic Illness - PsychToday article

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I found this to be a really good read. I related to a lot of it.

Thanks for that article. I can totally relate. I was often told that I'm just pretending to be sick and there is no possible way that I'm really sick. People told me I use my sickness as an excuse to be "lazy".

I also had a hard time finishing my apprenticeship. My boss gave me such a hard time because he was one of the people who thought I was just "lazy".

I've been quite traumatized by people I love who have been telling me these bad things.

Andrina... thats terrible!

Invisible illness is so hard to "prove" to people! Ughhh!
we shouldnt have to prove it, darn it!

I have had no support from my family... they all think im just going to get better soon amd to stop complaining... they dont "get" that this isnt a cold or an infection... its a DISEASE... forever... unpredictable!

Im sorry you've been hurt and im glad you could relate to the article.

**hugs**

gosh. i'm crying at 11 am. that's embarrassing. i related to everything on here.

1. all the time.
2. all the time.
3. forever single!
4. made it through school but it was tough
5. i remember the day i walked from my house to the first telephone pole on my street WITHOUT my walker, i felt like a superhero.
6. i'm definitely known as the sick girl by everyone.
7. honestly, i am not a future thinker and i try to avoid thinking of it. i am totally an "in the moment" type of person because i can't control tomorrow or the next day. i can only make the best of every moment.

1) Never happened to me, seem to get even more people empathising with me because I was diagnosed as a young person. I have very supportive family and friends.
2) Same with this one.
3) Not a problem, I've been in a relationship with my current boyfriend for 4 years and he's been very supportive since I was diagnosed. Though I do feel bad that so far 2014 has just consisted of me being sick, and I feel like I complain and whine all the time.
4) Hasn't happened to me yet, but I'm worried that my grades are slipping. It's just so hard to concentrate on studying school related material when all you can think about is how to get better!
5) This has been hard for me. I'm only 21, so majority of my friends are having a ball drinking and partying while I sit at home feeling sick!!
6) Never happened to me.
7) Definitely. I'm so worried that I won't be able to get my GPA up in order to apply to the program I want to apply to. I'm also worried that I will be forced to drop out of school if my condition ever gets worse but my dad's insurance only covers my meds as long as I'm enrolled full-time in school. Mezavant is soo expensive!

From my own perspective...having been diagnosed at age 14 (now almost 53), and missing months of high school (remember back in the 70's, they had nothing but hospitals and IV steroids), it is of UTMOST importance to get a support system.

****SURROUND yourself with people and things that are GOOD for you and your situation. Do not be afraid to DISCARD people and things that are not, they are of no use to what you need....no matter how painful it may be to do it.

Never be afraid to ask for HELP when you need it. I cannot tell you anything of more importance than this. FOCUS on what your goal is, even if short term, and even though this disease is a part of your life, it is NOT your life. *******

You eat an elephant a piece at a time, remember.....baby steps on all of your goals.

I spent a lifetime learning this, and lived to be pretty darn successful and never let it stop me from traveling or doing anything, and am still beating this disease without ever having surgery! And, once again, 8 days into Simponi, I am having a great day...well, except I really shouldn't have eaten that unwich from Jimmy Johns yesterday, then cabbage rolls for dinner...lol...but aside from that, it's a great day stomach wise! We all live and learn.

I can honestly say, no matter how crapty (ha!...a pun) the bad times were when I was younger, it made me a better person today, and I can guarantee that for all of us in some way.

awwww... NCOT - I agree that these stupid IBD are terrible at ANY age. I was diagnosed at 27... so I'm not super young... but darn young enough! As are your 30s!
I think seeing what other people are doing and knowing I can't do those things... is pretty annoying. And always will be... wether I'm 27 or 47... my UC will always stop me from some things no matter what.

But the part that I find the worst about being diagnosed young (anything under 50 with a chronic illness is less common) is that people don't get it... they dont SEE how it's possible. They have a hard time believing.
When I find people who know what Ulcerative Colitis IS or IBD is... they are usually amazing and wonderful and kind.
But most people I run into have no idea that younger people can get chronic illnesses that destroy their quality of life.