Staying Positive During A Flare

Dealing with an IBD flare is challenging. It can be hard to keep a positive outlook when you're dealing with so much pain and frustration. Even when I'm not flaring, I find just trying to live with a chronic condition can be a mood killer. At times I get down and become extremely hard on myself. It's okay to get down, it's not okay to stay down. Don't allow yourself to dwell in negativity for too long. It's not good for you or your health. Instead of sulking, lately I've been trying some different methods of comfort.

Here are a few things I've tried to boost my spirits!

1. Positive Affirmations - You can find these on Pinterest or just browsing Facebook. I find affirmations to be so beneficial for me and really help me when I just need to take a look at life from a different perspective.
2. Meditation - I never realized how amazing meditation could be until recently. I was on a flight home when I decided to turn on some sounds I had downloaded, I want to say it was Ocean Beach sounds. I began to meditate during take off, I found that not only did it soothe my fears but it allowed me to have the most amazing sleep I'd had in days. You can turn on some tunes or meditate in silence but I assure you, if nothing else, you'll certainly be at peace.
3. Social Media - You can look at social media from many different perspectives but for me personally, it's come in handy. Today I was feeling pretty low so I asked my Facebook friends to "leave positivity" on my status. Within a few hours I received almost 40 comments with positive feedback, funny memes and more. While there can be a lot of bad and negativity on social media, if you use it in the right ways, I'm sure it can be helpful!
4. YouTube - Lately, I've found that the shortest videos can really change my mood. You don't have to search for anything too serious. Just something upbeat like kittens or babies! If you're really looking for some inspiration, you can search terms like "how to be a more positive person." YouTube has so many creators who speak on a slew of different topics. There are also a ton with IBD too!
5. IBD Forums - I know when I'm down I don't always feel like talking about my condition, on the days that I do, I prefer to talk to people who understand: people who don't need to question what I say, they just get it. If you're like me, you may benefit from forums and social networks that are exclusively for IBD patients and caregivers. You can find them via Google and Facebook search.

As you can see, it doesn't really matter what you do to be positive, as long as you do something. I personally know how easy it can be to fall down that slippery slope of depression. It's not a fun one. Don't allow yourself to dwell on negativity and live in sadness. That's only going to put more stress on your body and ultimately worsen a flare. Relax and give yourself permission to be happy.