{"id":4494,"date":"2025-10-21T15:29:40","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T15:29:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/blog\/learning-to-accept-my-stoma-by-nikki\/"},"modified":"2025-10-21T15:29:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T15:29:40","slug":"learning-to-accept-my-stoma-by-nikki","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/blog\/learning-to-accept-my-stoma-by-nikki\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning to accept my stoma | by Nikki"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/span>
\n

Learning to accept my stoma | by Nikki<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n
\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Have I fully accepted my stoma? If I\u2019m totally honest\u2026 nope.\u00a0Am I hopeful that one day I will? Absolutely.<\/h4>\n\n\n
\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m a lot closer to acceptance now than I was in those early days. What I have behind me is two years of learning, trying and hoping for that feeling of being ok with it all. And while I\u2019m not quite there yet, I\u2019ve learned a few things along the way that might help someone else and maybe help remind me that I\u2019m getting there too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things that have helped (and still do):<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Therapy<\/strong>
Talking things through with a professional has been a huge part of this for me. It\u2019s not just about the physical change, it\u2019s about processing the grief, the frustration and finding ways to rebuild your relationship with your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doing the things you loved before<\/strong>
It\u2019s easy to let your stoma take over your identity, but you are still you, I\u2019m still me. Whether it\u2019s going out for coffee, running, a Netflix marathon, or walking your dog, those parts of you still exist and you\u2019re still able to be that person with a stoma.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talking to friends and family<\/strong>
Sometimes it\u2019s awkward, sometimes emotional, but letting people in helps lift that black cloud feeling. Having understanding and supportive is a crucial part of learning to accept.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having a good cry on the bad days<\/strong>
Acceptance isn\u2019t linear. Some days you\u2019ll feel strong and confident and others you\u2019ll feel angry or sad, I know I do, and I think it\u2019s completely normal. We are healing, one day at a time.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giving yourself a wardrobe revamp<\/strong>
You can absolutely wear what you wore before, but maybe you want a revamp, you certainly deserve a treat. Finding clothes that make you feel you again can be a small but much needed confidence boost.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acceptance isn\u2019t a moment, it\u2019s not like a flick of a light switch. I would say more like a dimmer switch, some days it\u2019s brighter, others it\u2019s dimmed right down.\u00a0Some days I feel proud of how far I\u2019ve come. Other days, I still struggle.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think acceptance is more about learning to live alongside your grief, trauma or whatever else with a little more kindness, the same kindness you would give to someone else in your situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Love, Nikki
@jonesvscrohns<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n