One of the more neglected aspects of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the emotional impact it has on the people who have it and those that surround them. The big focus on IBD is usually how to treat symptoms when they happen or to prevent them in the first place. But we're not machines, who can just be repaired or patched up and then start working again same as they were before. We're human beings, and when we break down, sometimes it leaves a permanent mark on our psyche, and it could alter the relationships we have with those who are around us.
One of the feelings that many people with chronic illness have is guilt. People who don't have chronic illness feel guilt for a variety of reasons, too, but guilt over being sick requires some special consideration. After all, it's not like a person who is ill did something wrong, and should therefore feel guilty and seek forgiveness from those they've wronged. It's a different kind of guilt, and it's actually so complicated that a simple "I'm sorry" and "I forgive you" exchange will not solve it. Nor does it even make sense to treat it like the typical guilt we have after doing something wrong.
Find out why we feel guilty over being ill, why it's not productive, and how we can deal with it -- even when our loved ones feel resentful.
More about emotions and IBD:
- Feelings of Guilt About IBD
- Do Most People With IBD Have A Mental Disorder?
- Sex And Body Issues With IBD
Image © David Castillo Dominici
