Hi Sam. I am 12 years old and recently I found out that I have a chronic illness called Crohns Disease. It's not terminal or anything like that, but I have been in so much pain and suffering for the past year and I feel like a ghost from who I was before. It's not just the pain, I also feel so depressed because this disease has sucked the joy out of everything in my life and sometimes it gets so bad that I want to die just to take it away. I'm on new medication for it now, but the pain is still there and I'm scared it will never go away. I'm not expecting you to give ne medical advice or anything like that, but I just want some advice on how to feel happier during this, because I don't fee like I can tell anyone except my doctors about this problem because it's so embaressing and I don't want to sound like I'm over-exaggerarting when others obviously have it worse then me. Is there anything I can do to feel happier? :(
Sam
Hi there,
Living with a chronic illness like Crohn’s disease can be challenging, especially when it’s affecting your ability to enjoy life. Feeling like a different version of yourself and struggling with pain can be difficult to cope with. What you’re feeling is important and support is available.
Finding small ways to feel happy when things are hard can be helpful. This could be something like listening to music, reading, drawing, or spending time with a pet. Some people also find mindfulness or breathing exercises helpful in managing stress and pain. It’s not about ignoring what you’re going through, but about giving yourself small moments of happiness and focusing on self-care. The coping kit can be useful to find different ways and ideas to manage feelings and emotions.
Even if it feels embarrassing to talk about, you don’t have to go through this alone. It can also be helpful to connect with others who understand what you’re going through. The message boards can be a great place to read about how others cope with long-term health conditions. You can get advice from others who are going through something similar.
It’s important to reach out for support when you’re struggling, especially when you’re having thoughts of wanting to die. Lots of people struggle with these feelings, and your doctors may also be able to help you connect with others in your life. Suicidal thoughts are not something anyone should have to deal with on their own, and we’ve got advice to help you speak to someone you trust. You can also always speak to Childline.
Take care,
Sam
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