Moving Beyond the Patient Identity: My Journey with Chronic & Mental Health Challenges

I had the opportunity recently to speak with medical professionals across Canada about what it is like to live with a chronic illness, specifically Inflammatory Bowel Disease. I began facing serious health crises when I was a young child, and they continued in different forms throughout my teens and twenties. Throughout this time, I have greatly struggled not only with painful symptoms and sometimes even more painful treatments - but also the emotional, mental and spiritual toll of living as a patient.

I am on an ongoing journey to heal these wounds and grow out of my former identity as a passive victim of circumstances. Here is my message for healthcare providers and patients alike, to become allies and empowered in our own care.