Living with Crohn’s can feel like an uphill battle at times, and you may feel sadness, grief, and worry, among other difficult emotions. It’s long been suggested that people with Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), experience emotional distress, particularly depression and anxiety, at higher rates than people without IBD.
In fact, one research review that included more than 30,000 participants found that overall, about 32 percent of those with IBD had anxiety symptoms and roughly 25 percent experienced symptoms of depression; in those with active disease, the prevalence rose to nearly 58 percent for anxiety, and about 39 percent for depression. It’s believed that there are both biological factors for such emotional disturbances — genetics, inflammation, an imbalance in gut bacteria (dysbiosis), and steroid use, among others — as well as negative emotional responses stemming from living with chronic symptoms, the effect Crohn’s has on your quality of life, and its impact on your ability to function socially.
Obviously, struggling with anxiety and depression can make it more difficult to manage your disease and go about daily life, and having poor mental health is associated with worse disease outcomes. For those reasons, it makes sense that the authors of the research review suggest that routinely screening and treating people with IBD for these mental health issues may improve IBD outcomes as well.
These practical strategies can help you cope with the emotional toll of living with Crohn’s disease:
1. Remember That You’re Not Alone
2. Learn About Your Illness
Knowing the facts about your disease, including possible complications and how to manage flares and treat symptoms, can help you feel more in control of your illness. “The more knowledge you have about your disease, the more it can reduce your stress,” says Jacquelyn Spencer, the manager of educational resources at the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
Research supports this idea, too. One review notes that seeking out information about IBD has been connected to positive effects on people’s abilities to cope, adjust, and self-manage their illnesses.
3. Don’t Stop Your Treatment
“Many people stop taking their meds when they feel well,” Spencer notes. “That’s when you can experience a relapse.”
But feeling bad emotionally can also lead you to be less on top of how you manage Crohn’s. This might look like focusing less on getting adequate nutrition, skipping the yoga routine that usually helps keep your stress in check, or forgetting to take medications. Having poor mental health has been connected to increased risk of flares, hospitalization, surgery, severe disease, and other complications.
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