Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition, which means it is not always easy to live with. Many people experience good days and bad days. Sometimes the bad days may require a hospital stay or some recuperative time at home.
What’s more, there are a lot of things to remember when you’re managing Crohn’s disease. You have to keep up with your daily medication schedule, visit the gastroenterologist regularly and do what you can to lower the possibility of a flare-up. Sometimes you may find yourself feeling anxious about the chances of a flare-up. That alone can cause you a lot of undue stress.
Crohn's disease is not caused by stress; however, emotional stress can influence the course of the disease. The stress that people with Crohn's disease sometimes feel is often due to painful, embarrassing symptoms and the worry that accompanies trying to manage them.
Managing stress starts with identifying and learning ways to handle emotions brought on by the reality of living with Crohn’s disease.
Time to sit down, relax and talk
It is normal to feel angry, afraid, guilty, or depressed about your condition. But dealing with those feelings constructively can help you better manage the stress you are feeling about Crohn’s disease. Share you feelings with people in whom you trust and then manage expectations with friends and family. Keep the following in mind:
You are not alone. Crohn’s disease affects men and women across all ages and professions. There are ways to manage the often unpredictable symptoms and lead an active, successful life.
Allow yourself the right to feel unhealthy. Anticipating how well you may feel tomorrow — or on a special occasion two months from now — can be stressful. But there are ways to manage this anxiety. By accepting the reality of that unpredictability, you can help regain some control over how your Crohn's disease takes its course.
Seek support in others. Communicate with family and friends so they understand what you need from them. Accepting that some physical limitations may exist from time to time and seeking understanding from loved ones may help you prepare for the times when you may not be able to go where you wish or do what you had planned.
Educate yourself. Fear arises from the unknown. If you've been recently diagnosed, explore the resources on this site. Sometimes experience is the best teacher. Regardless of how long you have had Crohn’s disease, joining a support group can be valuable in helping you understand and relate to your own feelings about your disease.
