Chronic illness can affect us at any time in our lives. The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in particular are often diagnosed in teens and young adults. This means there is so much life to live while managing a complex disease.
IBD affects every aspect of our lives. People outside the IBD community tend to focus on restroom access. This is not completely inappropriate, because during a flare-up, many people with IBD need consistent access to clean bathroom facilities.
However, zooming out from that, we can think about the ways in which not having bathroom access can affect us in tangental ways. This includes participating in sports and outdoor activities.
Anyone who loves to run, bike, hike, or camp and also lives with a chronic condition will want to know how to keep enjoying those activities. That’s why I talked to Jonathan Stewart of EverGreen Adventures on About IBD Podcast episode 176.
EverGreen Adventure works to remove barriers for people with chronic illnesses, encouraging them to get out into nature and enjoy outdoor activities. Jonathan points out how important outdoor activities are to both physical and mental health.
Jonathan gives us advice on how we can reframe our relationship with the outdoors.
Redefining Adventure
We tend to think of getting outdoors as an all day or even multi-day activity. But we can get benefits from a walk in our own neighborhood or even sitting outside in the sun for a few minutes with a favorite drink.
Think about ways to get outside that takes your current health status into account. It does not have to be a weekend camping trip or white water rafting, even if you do those things when feeling well. You can also take a short walk or bike ride, sit outside, or simply enjoy some fresh air.
Planning and Preparation
In the past, you may have been able to grab your running shoes and get outside without a lot of preparation. IBD, and other chronic illnesses, have ups and downs to them. During times when symptoms aren’t a problem, it might be easier to get outside.
But during times of a flare-up or when dealing with complications, getting outside might take more effort. It can be frustrating emotionally to need to pay more attention to making outdoor activities happen. It’s OK to be annoyed when things change, but it helps to remember that you have options.
When getting ready for any outdoor activity, think about how to plan and prepare to accommodate your current physical capabilities and health needs. This might mean scaling back adventures while working on your health and getting back to the things you love.
The Importance of Community
People with chronic illness may be worried that they can’t participate in group activities in the way that they used to. You may worry that you’re suddenly the slowest in your running or biking group.
We may not give our communities enough credit when it comes to difficult situations or conversations. You’re worried that you’re holding the group back, but the people in your group are probably just fine with accommodating you so that you can continue to participate.
Support from community is so key. Opening up and being transparent can be helpful. Your friends, colleagues, and community members don’t want you to drop out of an activity you love, especially if they can help you.
When we don’t allow people to help us, we deny them the experience of being of service to us. That is an important part of being in community with one another.
Aside from that, you may only be able to give 10% of an effort right now. But one day, you’ll be back at giving 90%, and someone else in the group may be at their 10%. Supporting one another is key and is so beneficial for our emotional and mental health.
Getting Outside Is a Human Need
There are so many aspects to caring for yourself while living with chronic illness. Getting outside might seem like a “nice to have” but I would argue that it is vitally important and worth the effort. Even a short walk outside can help regulate the nervous system, as well as the physical benefits. Once we stop moving, it’s difficult to get started again, so its important to adapt our activities to wherever we are in our health journey.