Living

Everyone has their own holiday traditions, with things they enjoy doing each holiday season. But after you’ve been diagnosed with IBS, you’re not always able to participate fully in those...

I am a big fan of journaling. I use journals for everything. Organization, venting, keeping track of time and the events in my life. My favorite kind is the journal...

When I was diagnosed with IBS it was one of the happiest days in my life. I can still remember the moment my doctor told me: “I believe that you...

*Warning: this article contains possible triggers* I know that I am not alone when I say that sometimes IBS affects not only how my mind thinks, but also how it...

In our continuing discussion about the Buddhist Eightfold path, today we will look at the concept of Right Livelihood. My intention in expressing my thoughts about these eight ‘guides’ to...

As I’ve mentioned throughout our discussion of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP Plan), you do not need to complete the entire plan. Whatever aspects of the plan you may...

When I was a teenager, I was able to do so much (i.e. work, play sports, go to parties, etc.) that I felt a sense of liberation because I felt...

Many years ago I used to rush from one thing to the next. Constantly busy with a million tasks on my plate, juggling work, friends and family, and everything between...

Does it ever feel like your fibromyalgia and IBS are at war with each other, constantly bickering, disagreeing, and disrupting your life? Well, I'm here to tell you that you're...

I haven’t seen a doctor in years, but before I go into why, let me tell you a brief story about myself. It all started with a bacterial infection in...

No, not being A PATIENT with new meds…funny, right? Oh, ok, here we go… Medication can be one of the cornerstones of illness management and if we find the right...

Last time out, we discussed the ‘Early Warning Signs’ section of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (or WRAP) plan. As a reminder ‘Early Warning Signs’, in this context, refer to...

I tell this story with a disclaimer because we are all so very different and what works for one person may not work for another, plus the cause and triggers...

From all the groans and gurgles going on in my abdomen, it sounds like a major battle is being fought. I’m not sure yet which side is winning, but I...

Not everyone can afford a trip to the spa. This, and the fact that not everyone suffering from IBS will find themselves comfortable in such a public setting, can make...

Giving can seem like a one way street. We let go of something that belongs to us - often my money or clothing or food - so that someone in...

I’ve got to be honest. The holidays are around the corner and I’m kind of excited! As an IBS sufferer, I tend to have a love/hate relationship with the holidays...

These are the words I try to live by with my IBS… “I choose to”. The help me to decide what I will do and what I won’t do, what...

As a person who suffers from a debilitating condition, I can’t help but to have a sea of bad thoughts from time to time. There’s so much that goes through...

In this series about the Buddhist ‘Eightfold Path’, I would like to share my thoughts about how very simple concepts and ideas about how we live our lives can be...