How I Forget About the Stress of My Ulcerative Colitis

Of all of the things that come with being an ulcerative colitis sufferer, stress is the one that has had the biggest impact on my daily life. The emotional tension can sometimes be the worst part of a condition that affects most parts of my life. And so, in order to deal with this unnecessary stress (which, by the way, often just ends up making the symptoms worse), I have constructed a bit of a weekly ritual for myself. At times, I do this more than once a week if my ulcerative colitis is especially bad or if I just need a pick-me-up.

I start by taking a long, very hot shower. The shower has always been one of the places that releases the most stress for me. There is something about being in a room with no clocks that is warm and filled with steam and the best smelling body washes and soaps, then emerging from that room completely clean. It is some of the best stress relief that I could ever accomplish. I let the hot water just run over me for as long as I want, and let my mind wander over anything, everything or nothing at all. Now, in the midst of my mental wanderings, I have a very specific meditation that I do. It takes only a minute or two, and it is one of the most effective relaxation tools I know of. Combined with the stress relief of the shower, I can just about forget about my ulcerative colitis worries. The meditation is called "Twenty Circular Breaths," and consists of breathing in circles in a pattern. Inhale deeply, and just as you begin to feel that you cannot take in any more air, start breathing out without pause. In other words, you are completing a seamless full breath, from inhale to exhale, without stopping the motion of air in your lungs. This is one circular breath. The pattern in which you complete these breaths consists of four shorter circles, followed by one long circle. This creates a cycle of five breaths, and this cycle is repeated four times for a total of twenty. Breathing this way gets oxygen into every bit of your body, and the focus your attain from counting and honing in on the functions of your breathing creates a relaxation and euphoria that I love very much. Then, I finish my shower, towel off, and ask my body what would make me feel best about myself right at that moment. For me, it is usually giving myself a fresh pedicure. Sometimes, it's a cup of green tea. For you, it could be a nice long walk with the dog, or just simply stretching.

This is how I deal with my stress from UC. I come out of it feeling alert but relaxed, pampered and happy. Another nice aspect of this particular practice is that whenever I am getting stressed during a normal day or really feeling the effects of the ulcerative colitis, I do a set of twenty circular breaths wherever I am. It takes me back into that stress-free environment of the hot shower, and I am able to continue my day knowing that everything will be ok.