Socialising with Crohns

I've said before how I now find it hard to socialise the way I did before my Crohns diagnosis. I can't go out clubbing both Friday and Saturday nights, or go to posh eateries and eat and drink what I want and  I'd be lying if I said this didn't upset me. I've always been someone who loves going out and letting loose. Having a drink and dancing till the early hours of the morning, but my body just can't handle that nowadays. Even going out with my family is different now... We always used to go out to parties together, or dinners out involving lots of fun and drinks but I can't really join in anymore.
I think some of my drunkest times have actually been with my parents! My dad's a DJ so we go out to bars to watch him a lot of the time or to parties he is working at. Everything is always centred around our weekends and where we are going out. I remember when the consultant told me I had Crohns and my first thought was that I wouldn't be able to go out having fun drinking anymore. As silly as it sounds, it was a big deal to me. I am a very social person and have always loved going out. I was afraid that my life was going to change completely. Would my friends still like me and think I was fun? Would my boyfriend still want to go out with me if I was just going to be boring and stay indoors? Would my family feel bad for wanting to go out but me needing to stay in? All these thoughts raced through my head and it upset me. Even now sometimes when I go out I can be there in body but not mind. It is almost like I am an outsider watching what's going on. Seeing my friends and family having fun and thinking they would be fine if I wasn't here. Because what actually am I bringing to their night? I'm not drinking so not on the same level as them. I'm not dancing and being silly because I'm exhausted and in pain. Why am I even here? These thoughts are my fears from first being diagnosed echoing in my head. I've been told and reassured that no one thinks they'd have a better time without me there,  but sometimes I can't help but think that.
In an attempt to make me feel more included (and to get my family healthier!) my mum tried to come up with things to do that weren't centred around food and drink. As a family we decided that whenever we have a free weekend, we're going to drive out somewhere, stay for the night and explore a new town! So on to Air BnB I went...

As a way to make things fun and interesting, we decided we would work our way through the alphabet - A to Z. So after much research and looking at the UK map, we decided on Aldeburgh for our first visit. My boyfriends family used to have a place in Southwold which he said is lovely, and Aldeburgh is just along the coast from there. All the photos on the internet look lovely, and we found a cute cottage to stay in. I've been looking up the 'Top ten things to do in Aldeburgh' and it's got me all excited! There's the cutest old fashioned cinema I'd love to visit, and a quaint little high street and lots of village pubs that I'm sure will do a good roast for Sunday. Also, the weather is meant to be 18 degrees and sun, so I am praying that this doesn't change!! Sunny beach walks will do me the world of good this weekend. I'm going to go with my boyfriend and parents, my sister can't come as she is off on holiday to Croatia which is a shame :( But I'll make sure she's around when we visit our 'B' location.

After a somewhat rubbish weekend and start to the week, I'm really trying to have a positive outlook. As much as I still feel poorly and in pain, I am trying to look on the bright side of things so it's great to have nice weekend plans to look forward to.  
So as I said before, my 'homework' was to write down how I felt on my good/bad days and I've decided to try and write at least 3 positives out of each day which I do really think will make me feel more positive and encouraged. Today I got the train with my sister this morning, the sun has been shining and I've booked to go away this weekend. See, that wasn't too hard now was it!

XOXO Crohnie Girl