Isn’t it the worst when our health keeps us from doing the things we’d like to do? Or worse, the things we need to do. Doctors can often help sort the problem, or at least offer some relief to restore our normal day to day activity, but to do this, they need to know what the problem is. Unfortunately, some symptoms might feel too embarrassing to discuss, which makes getting proper medical care difficult. This is often the case with sufferers of IBS. True story: respondents from a 2015 survey reported bowel movements are more uncomfortable to discuss with others than STDs! As my best friend struggles with an IBS diagnosis, I became well familiar with the challenges of communicating about IBS. With this awareness, I was happy to work with the Picture My IBS initiative when they asked me to share this sponsored post with all of you.
What is the Picture My IBS initiative?
- It’s an initiative to help those with IBS express their feelings about how the diagnosis impacts their lives by creating original artwork and participating in a contest. As long as it meets the guidelines, any form of art works: painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, etc.
- Created by The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) in collaboration with Allergan and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, the aim of Picture My IBS is to help those with IBS more comfortably talk to their doctors and others about their diagnosis. The hope is to make others with IBS feel less alone.
- The hope is that this artwork will help grow public awareness of IBS and the many ways it affects people’s lives.
What is the contest part of the Picture My IBS initiative and who can participate?
- A panel of judges will evaluate the submitted artwork and the Grand Prize Winner will receive a trip for two to a luxury hotel and spa in New York City, and five Honorable Mention Winners will receive a $100 American Express gift card. All winning art will also be featured on the Picture My IBS website.
- The contest is open to anyone who has IBS or who has a loved one with IBS.
- To enter, visit PictureMyIBS.org today for details!
Sharing Picture My IBS initiative voice
Though my personal experience with my friend who has IBS, I learned that IBS can cause not only physical pain, but emotional pain as well. Not only does my friend feel there the stigma and embarrassment related to talking about symptoms, the diagnosis feels very isolating. While the ability to manage symptoms has improved, when we were in college, the symptoms regularly led to a need to miss, arrive late to, or run out in the middle of class or work commitments. Since discussing the diagnosis was so uncomfortable, it felt as if my friend was going through something completely alone that no one else understood. Similarly, leaving the house to spend time with other friends or college students wasn’t always a reasonable option. Missing out on social functions and staying home alone can be so lonely!
I’m no artist by any stretch, friends, but I did my best to capture these feelings of isolation in the drawing below (please be gracious when checking it out!).
Now that you have the whole scoop on what the Picture My IBS initiative is, why it is important, and how to enter the contest, go create your own art to submit. You might just win a cool prize, but at the very least you will be boosting public awareness and helping those with IBS feel more comfortable discussing their symptoms–a win!
This is a sponsored post written on behalf of the Picture My IBS initiative.
*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE FIFTY UNITED STATES, D.C., AGE 18 OR OVER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. THE SPONSORS OF THE CONTEST ARE ALLERGAN USA, INC. WITH AN OFFICE AT HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER; PLAZA V, SUITE 1900; JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302; IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. WITH AN OFFICE AT 301 BINNEY STREET, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02142; AND THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF GASTROENTEROLOGY. APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE OF ALL PRIZES IS $6,500. ODDS OF WINNING DEPEND ON NUMBER AND QUALITY OF ENTRIES RECEIVED. ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 1, 2016 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2017. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS APPLY. PLEASE SEE COMPLETE CONTEST TERMS AND CONDITIONS AT PICTUREMYIBS.ORG.
Third image credit: depositphotos.com, image ID:39732103, copyright:atholpady
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Janine Huldie says
Thank you so much for brining awareness to this cause as know someone who also suffers from it and helps when there is information and openness about this to help break the stigma that may go along with it.
Meredith says
Thanks for reading and supporting, Janine! You’re the best! xo