The Curse of the Overachiever

Hi, I’m Sophia, and I am a lifelong overachiever. From honors classes in grade school to earning college credit in high school, I was always chasing my next goal. So it should not have surprised me that my immune system opted to live the same kind of lifestyle: that of an overachiever.

College Graduation

The Struggle to Explain My Situation

I was raised to believe that overachieving was the key to success. However, after frequent trips to the bathroom, multiple doctor’s appointments, and an autoimmune disease diagnosis, I quickly learned that is not the case when it comes to the functioning of one’s immune system. 

After my diagnosis, I felt obligated to become an expert in my disease and treatment, but I had no desire to give my disease any more time than it had already stolen from me. However, after befriending doctors, nurses, and IBD community members, I had a newfound appreciation for learning all about my IBD. People around me were also invested in my experience and treatment, but such a complex medical issue can be difficult to explain to others. After all, how do I explain that I am taking medicine to suppress my immune system when we live in a world filled with ads for supplements that boost the immune system?

My Go-To Metaphor

After multiple doctor interviews and nearly a decade of lived experience, when I explain my disease and treatment to others it goes something like this:

“I have Inflammatory Bowel Disease, an autoimmune disease that manifests mostly in inflammation and ulcers in my gut, which is as painful as it sounds. What this means is my immune system overachieves, so in addition to attacking the bad stuff in my body, it also attacks the good stuff. So I’m on a biologic called Entyvio, a medicine that works to calm down my immune system in my gut, taking it from, like, an anxious, overachieving A student to a C student—because Cs get degrees!”

Let me be clear: I’m not a doctor. I am sure there are several more technical ways to explain my disease and treatment for a more accurate depiction of what is going on beneath my smiling surface. However, the vast majority of people I explain my experience to are also not doctors. And this metaphor? Sure, it may not be perfect, but it works. 

Here’s the thing:

• My disease is not my fault, but it is certainly on-brand for a former straight-A honors student.

• While diet can affect my symptoms, it’s not the root of my problem–my immune system is–and this metaphor helps people grasp that concept.

• I stand by the fact that I am on medicine for life (or until we find a cure!), and this metaphor helps others understand the severity of my situation and why I’ve opted for medicinal treatment.

You Control Your Narrative

Controlling my narrative has lead to some fun photo ops!

When it comes to sharing information about your disease with others, how much or how little you share is entirely up to you. By controlling your narrative, you take back some of the power your immune system took from you in the first place. You may find that this metaphor works really well for you, and if that’s the case I encourage you to use it! You may have a cool hobby that lends itself to a different way of explaining your stinky situation, and if that’s the case I’d love to hear what you use!