“My mental health deserves the same care and respect as my physical health”: Izzie’s mental health story

Living with a life-limiting chronic condition not only places my body under great stress, but it also plays a major part in impacting my mental health. The constant pain, lung infections, medications, hospital appointments and admissions take their toll on my daily life and can leave me depressed, anxious and alone.

But learning to prioritise my mental health when I also suffer from a serious physical illness has been a massive challenge. CF has taken centre stage since I was diagnosed at six years old, so it was almost inevitable that my mental health would be pushed to the side, but that shouldn’t have been the case.

Mental illness and CF

I have been dealing with several mental illnesses since I was seven, including anxiety and PTSD. My mental and physical illnesses are very closely linked, and they impact each other daily. Life with CF is tough; it leaves me bedbound for weeks at a time, unable to eat, and often needing assistance to walk to the toilet.

But spending significant amounts of time in bed doing ‘nothing’ causes my anxiety to worsen, and I end up feeling guilty for resting because society often tells us that we need to be productive in order to be valuable.

Unsurprisingly this added stress makes me feel worse and exacerbates my CF and pain. It's exhausting and debilitating and can feel like a never-ending cycle.

Outside perceptions

But it’s not just my internal struggles that can make life hard. Outside perceptions can also be challenging, especially when my physical health is taken more seriously than my mental health.

People are fine with me resting in bed when I have chest pain or when I’m in agony with my pancreatitis, but when I am feeling low or anxious, they will tell me to try and stop feeling like that. It frustrates me because no one ever tells me to stop having CF-related pain. My mental health deserves the same care and respect as my physical health. 

Dropping the shame

In 2019, after years of prioritising my physical health, I decided to reach out and get help. I began weekly therapy with the clinical psychologist in my CF team and started taking medication. I no longer feel any shame in talking about my mental health. Shame is a huge barrier to getting ‘better’, and I am done feeling this way. 

I have also found a lot of comfort in different online communities. Through Twitter and TikTok, I have connected with people who have been through similar experiences, and it has made me feel less alone. 

Now when I take the time to rest in bed, I try to remember how important it is to help my CF flare-ups; it will ensure that I don’t push myself to extreme levels when I don’t have the capacity or strength to do so. Resting is the most productive thing I could be doing during those times.

At the same time, I make sure to get some form of fresh air (even just opening a window) every day, no matter how much pain I am in because I know it helps me feel positive and calms me down. 

These small steps can make a huge difference, and it’s clear that taking care of my mental health will give me the strength and energy needed to refocus and take better care of my physical health. I know this is something I will have to juggle for the rest of my life, and while it can seem long and gruelling, I am proud of how far I’ve come.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition which causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system. It affects more than 10,900 people in the UK. One in 25 of us carries the faulty gene that causes it, usually without knowing.

Since 1964, we've supported people with cystic fibrosis to live longer, healthier lives -and we won’t stop until everyone can live without limits imposed by CF.

If you’re struggling with any aspect of cystic fibrosis, we’re here to help. Contact our Helpline for support, a listening ear or just someone to talk to.

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