Creating a sense of belonging living with Hepatitis

Being diagnosed with Hepatitis is life changing and takes courage to “keep going”. Hepatitis is a Chronic Illness, and being diagnosed is just the beginning. It can feel isolating, as well as mentally draining. Questions will be running through your head. Questions like “What does this mean for the rest of my life?” “How could hepatitis be transmitted to others?” “How do I manage it?” and the list of questions keeps going. I strongly believe that these questions should be answered by your gastroenterologist who specialises in liver disease, however you may decide to do some research for yourself, and, or, join a support group, connect with others via social media who have the same disease.

Creating your own belonging

Connecting with others helps to create a sense of belonging that helps accepting yourself, your illness and everything that comes along with living with chronic illness.

A sense of belonging is a human need that impacts your emotional and physical wellbeing. A strong sense of belonging adds value to your life. Finding belonging can be with friends, family, and some with social media communities. Belonging doesn’t have to be a large number or group, it can just be one or two people.

Having a sense of belonging improves your motivation, health and happiness.

Your mind and body are connected. Happy mind, happy body.

Belonging requires you to go out of your comfort zone and find people. One way to work on your sense of belonging, is to look for ways you are similar to others, rather than focusing on ways you are different. Another way to build your own sense of belonging is to work on acceptance of others (no judgement) and loving yourself. Know that you are accepted. Being validated for who you are builds you up. If you are validated for who you are, you become more confident within yourself.

Delve into your curiosity about yourself and others

Try to become self aware about your values and feelings. To become self aware, you can process with those you are close to, even write a letter to yourself explaining your feelings and values. Take action by getting out of your comfort zone and find others who relate with you based on what you discover about your feelings and values..

Be kind to yourself — you’re ok

Don’t be over critical about yourself . Focus on what you CAN do and try to ignore negative thoughts of yourself such as ‘no one will like me’. Remember no one is perfect! Practice self affirmations daily like “I have chronic illness but it can’t stop me from finding my belonging with others who are in similar circumstances.’ Think about how you can use your experience for good, by sharing your story to help others who have started the process of being diagnosed with Chronic Illness.

I contracted Hepatitis during the first year of my life in a Romanian orphanage, to read more about my journey purchase my autobiography My Beautiful Trauma