Thank you, everyone, for your encouraging responses. It is nice to know I am not the only one who has experienced this feeling.

@frouke You are quite right. It is a joy to be able to take my own experience and assist others on their journey.

@susanf8 I have usually had excellent practitioners, perhaps because of their willingness to admit they practice at the intersection of the Art and Science of medicine! Years at research and teaching hospitals have acquainted me with an endless stream of inquisitive students and professors at every level, including the endearing but occasionally worrying personnel at my rural, local hospital to whom I am usually explaining conditions, practices, and medications while waiting for transfer.

@colleenyoung Please cross-post as you find appropriate. And yes, I have found only online support groups. It seems COVID finished any face to face meetings of any kind in my area.

Regarding my larger story, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis at 18, in my first semester of college. Other diagnoses would follow, although we suspect they were always there. As to mental health, I was born with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and realized in my early 20s that constant anxiety and panic attacks were not everyone’s daily lot and finally sought treatment. I’ve remained close to mental health since then, and picked up closer therapy four years ago once everything started falling apart with the AIH/PSC and UC/Stoma. I sought inpatient treatment for severe anxiety/depression after a brutal infection/sepsis and three-month hospitalization. The staff and program was wonderful (as was the stoma nurse at that facility). Today I continue therapy and work to raise the visibility of mental health and less-visible medical challenges/disabilities. I’m also an ordained Anglican priest, and mental health in the clergy is an old taboo. Just showing up to our local mental health center in a collar used to cause a bit of a stir.

Again, thank you everyone for your encouraging responses.