Living with Ulcerative Colitis | Overview
Learn what it's like living with ulcerative colitis and how to help your child.
Summary points
- Meeting with a social worker at the time of diagnosis can help with lifestyle adjustments.
- Families often experience grief over the loss of normalcy and predictability.
- For young children, it is important to get back to a routine as soon as possible. Even if activities have to be a bit altered, rituals and predictability can help bring back a sense of safety and normalcy.
- Stress doesn’t cause ulcerative colitis (UC), but it can sometimes make symptoms worse. Anticipating stressful situations provides the opportunity to problem-solve ways to cope.
- Pre-teens and adolescents are most concerned with the social implications of their UC and the invasion of privacy. It is important for them to regain a sense of control and decide what to tell others. There is no right or wrong way to share information; however, telling friends can help provide support during a flare up.