Living with Remission Guilt and Finding Value in My Story

My ulcerative colitis has been in remission for two years, at the time I’ve writing this. Sometimes it makes me feel guilty or as if my chronic illness story isn’t as valuable.

Keep reading to hear my confession in today’s mini post and let me know in the comments if you’ve every felt this way.

Jenna sitting on bench in front of flower wall smiling toward the sun

I Feel Like a Fraud (Sometimes)

I’ve been in remission for exactly two years now—the longest remission I’ve ever experienced. And sometimes, I deal with remission guilt.

Like, who am I to advocate for others who are sick and in pain when I am currently in remission? Has anyone else ever felt like this?

If you have, today’s post is for you as much as it is a reminder for me. Just because we may not currently be flaring does not invalidate our experience. If we’re in remission right now, it doesn’t mean our IBD stories have less value than anyone else’s story.

After all, chronic illness isn’t a race. It’s not a comparison game of “whose had it worst.”

Every IBD Story is Valuable

Every single one of you reading this has a story to tell, whether you’re in remission, flaring, dealing with chronic pain, managing your IBD with nutrition only, taking twenty different pills, living with extraintestinal manifestations or not…

That’s the beauty of being advocates and sharing our stories: each one is beautifully unique and brings something different to the table.

So, if you’re like me and sometimes feel like a fraud, I want to tell you that you are worthy and so is your IBD story. Don’t let this guilt talk you out of sharing it.