My generation is obsessed with wellness – that can be dangerous | Ione Gamble

People have become transfixed with the idea that being well is the most impressive thing you can do - and as someone who is permanently unwell I will always be considered lesser

I have spent a huge part of my 20s learning to accept that I will never be healthy, after being diagnosed with an incurable illness - Crohn's disease - two weeks after my 19th birthday. And although being healthy" has never been a priority for me (I've never stepped foot in a gym and find it impossible to eat 10 portions of fruit and veg a day) my ambivalence towards wellness" grew as I dealt with being permanently unwell. It has also made me an anomaly among my peers.

From my bed, unable to move, I watched my generation become obsessed with being their best selves. We have become utterly transfixed with the idea that wellness is the key to a successful life; that our relationships, careers, friendships and mental health will all suffer unless we pursue being well" above all else.