Can I be happy after a Crohn's diagnosis? I say, yes you can.

Can I be happy after a Crohn’s diagnosis? I say, yes you can.

By: Mahder Ayalew Bexabih

Crohn’s is one battle itself, but it helps me to win many other battles, for which I am grateful for.

For 6 years prior to my diagnosis, I vomitted almost every day, I had zero energy to do anything, I had a pessimistic mindset, and I didn't care about God. I thought he was the one who did this to me. That he caused the bad attitude towards myself and others, and filled my  thoughts with pain, which became my everyday life. I can say my life was a mess.

Then I found a name for the underlying cause of most crises in my life.

Crohn’s disease.

Knowing that it is treatable gave me hope. It is not easy to think the future would be bright and the suffering would be over, but sometimes all we need is that spark to ignite the light and the positive within ourselves. 

To my delight, I found a doctor who treats, not only my Gut, but also my mind and soul too. This year, I will come back with another article on how this amazing doctor helped me throughout my journey with Crohn's disease.

A few weeks after I started treatment, my body responded nicely. I started working out, helping family, and going to church. For me, I praise God, as my faith has been an important part of my journey, and that I saw the dawn after the darkest hours of my life.

Life after developing Crohn’s sometimes feels like selling ice cream in the winter. There were a couple of times that I stopped my treatment due to depression and financial problems too. But what matters is not getting lost in the bad days and getting back on track. Keeping it all together is a must.

Everything happens for a reason. Going through all the pain has helped me to be more understanding, patient, and empathetic towards others.

Now I do my best to do good to others, I am grateful for the good and bad that happened in my life. Now I know that it wasn’t all for nothing, there is a relief in knowing that you are standing where you are meant to be. Life is not all cupcakes and rainbows. If we truly had to live it, we may as well learn to take a lesson from the bad days too. I have a long road ahead of me in this fight and I will make sure I am prepared.

IBD patients can surely be happy if they see the good in the bad and the light at the end of the tunnel, because there is definitely a bright day ahead and a blessing for going through the darkness.

Our perception is what distinguishes a bad day from good ones.

Feature photo by Melissa from Pexels.