And this was the beginning of my education in the mind/body connection, but it was also the beginning of my getting my life back. Over the next couple of years I continued to take my Asacol prescription (and still do) but also began to dapple in Reiki, meditation, rhythmic breathing, yoga, acupuncture, and learning to listen to my body. Of these, the only one I don't do regularly is acupuncture. I found it to be helpful in relieving some of the physical stress I build up in my neck and shoulders but it never has really helped with my GI issues (however, some people with IBD and IBS swear by it - it's all subjective to the individual person, I think).

Read part II of this series to find out what methods Elizabeth tried and how they helped (or didn't help) her ulcerative colitis symptoms.