Problems are only solvable when they are known.
That sounds like a “duh” statement, but think about it for a minute.
Say you take your car to the shop. The mechanic pops the hood and looks around the engine. After a few minutes, wiping his greasy hands on a rag, the mechanic says: “I don’t know what’s wrong, but I’ll charge you $50 an hour to start replacing parts and random.”
Would you stick around? No! Of course not. You’d get a second opinion at another mechanic shop.
It’s silly to try fixing thing before you know what’s broken. And yet—so many of us try to do this with Crohn’s Disease.
“Not so,” perhaps you say, “I already know what’s wrong with me! In fact, you already said it: Crohn’s Disease.”
Ah, but what is Crohn’s Disease—can you point to it on your body? (You’re pointing at your intestines.)
Crohn’s Disease is a label, a linguistic shortcut that refers to a constellation of symptoms.
Symptoms are what actually happens in your body. And if you want to get started fixing your body, symptoms are what you need to focus on. Not your interpretation, or the label, or your expected prognosis—but what your actual body is doing and feeling.
So take a minute. Sit back. Deep breath. Check in with your body.
Stop trying to conceptualize “Crohn’s Disease.” It doesn’t exist.
- How’s your emotional state?
- What is your body feeling in the room that you’re in. Are you hot? Cold? Comfy?
- How’s your energy level?
- Are there any parts of your body that are hurting or uncomfortable?
- Are there any thoughts or feelings that have been lingering in your mind for a while? Where did those come from?
- What actions has your body taken today? Have those been helpful, or unhelpful?
There, you’ve just popped the hood and rummaged around the engine for a while. You have a better—and more specific—idea of what is not working in your body.
Do it again tomorrow. And the day after that. And next week. Eventually the picture will get clearer, and you will take action.
But for now, observe.