Life Reimagined
Beyond the Diagnosis
Living with Health Transitions
What happens when you get a diagnosis that changes how you need to live your life day to day?
Whether it's coeliac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or any other autoimmune condition or allergy requiring significant lifestyle changes, the journey extends far beyond medical management, it impacts the fabric of daily life.
Being diagnosed with an autoimmune illness or an allergy can feel overwhelming. Research published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology indicates that 39% of patients with Coeliac Disease experience depression, and up to 37% struggle with clinical anxiety, particularly in the first year following diagnosis.
An emotional response is natural, you and your family are navigating not just physical symptoms but a profound life change. Many patients experience stages similar to grief: denial about dietary restrictions, anger at the unfairness of the diagnosis, bargaining "maybe just one bite won't hurt", depression as the permanence sets in, and eventually, acceptance of your new normal.
Understanding that this transition involves mourning your previous lifestyle is a crucial first step toward adaptation and reclaiming control.
This isn't about what to eat or which supplements to take. It's about navigating the profound psychological transition that comes with life-altering diagnoses:
How do you process the grief of losing your "normal" life?
What happens when your teenager refuses to accept their new reality?
How do family dynamics shift when meal planning becomes medical necessity?
Where do you find strength when everything familiar must change?
How to cope when previously simple activities now need military precision planning
As one client shares: "Working with Kirsti during my daughter's coeliac diagnosis and our family's transition to gluten-free living was an absolute lifeline. Beyond just the practical advice about food substitutions and cross-contamination, she helped us process the emotional rollercoaster we hadn't expected. Those first six months were challenging, especially with a teenager who felt her social life was over. Kirsti understood that this wasn't just about changing our diet; it was about reimagining our family lifestyle while supporting our daughter through her grief about the changes. Thanks to Kirsti's guidance, what started as a crisis has become our new normal, and our daughter is now confidently managing her health with a positive outlook."
Working with a transition coach can give you valuable external perspective to help you create a structured adaptation plan, identify small victories along your journey, and avoid common adjustment pitfalls.
Worried about a health transition, and need some coaching support to guide you through?
Book a complimentary 30-minute consultation to discuss how we work together to set you up for long-term success.
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Grieving food freedom can trigger unexpected emotions as you face dietary restrictions that impact social gatherings and spontaneous choices, creating a sense of loss beyond just favourite meals.
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Assuming medical treatment alone is sufficient often leaves people unprepared for the psychological and lifestyle adjustments necessary for true wellness.
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Failing to adapt social routines to accommodate your health needs can lead to isolation or unnecessary risk-taking that compromises your recovery. Learning new boundaries and self advocacy will be vital skills to master.
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Overcompensating or hiding symptoms from friends and family prevents authentic connections and proper support, ultimately making management more difficult. Others need to be on your transition journey with you and may experience different losses
Common Health Transition Challenges
Setting Yourself up for Success
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Personal Wellness Strategy requires honest assessment of what behaviours to eliminate, adopt, or maintain, recognising that what worked before diagnosis may need significant adjustment now.
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Personal Boundaries & Values become essential guideposts when making decisions about dining out, travel, or social events, helping you prioritise health without unnecessary sacrifice.
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Identity Recalibration focuses on how you integrate your condition into your self-perception while preventing it from defining you completely.
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Supportive Networks extend beyond medical professionals to include understanding friends, family members, and support groups who can provide both practical assistance and emotional validation.
Why is this important to me?
In 2021 both my children, then 10 and 12 were diagnosed with Coeliac disease. This was totally out of the blue as both were not presenting with any obvious symptoms.
Immediately it had a huge impact on our lives, and everything changed. The losses for my kids and our family of freedom, spontaneity, confidence and trust were deep. Relationships changed, everything day to day needed changing.
There is no support from National Health Services beyond the annual checks and the initial diagnosis and dietitian appointments. No one talked to us about how to accept the changes, how to work through the losses, how to know how to talk to your teens growing up with something so big that is forever.
As a coach I wanted to use this qualification alongside my own experience to help support others going through similar life changing diagnosis.
