STRESS and Crohns
Tue, November 09, 2010 1:16 PM
I've really noticed a link between my stress levels, and how I'm feeling Crohns-wise lately. The problem is I just seem to get myself into a cycle... I stress out (right now I'm trying to buy my first home, but not having a ton of luck so far) then my flare ups start, then I stress more and my flares get worse. It's almost a "what came first the chicken or the egg" situation sometimes. While I never really go off the deep end or anything, I am finding it hard to manage my Crohn's and stress together. Nothing normal works to decrease my stress level lately, but it isn't increasing either. In fact, I'd totally deal with the stress at the level it is right now, EXCEPT for the fact that it seems to be interfering with my Crohn's so much, I just want it to go away so I can get rid of this flare up and keep it away.
I've only ever had 2 flare ups that were bad enough that I saw a doctor for them... the first being in the hospital when I was diagnosed, and this second one landing me in the hospital again (talk about another source of stress... hospital bills!). In between I've noticed that I have what might just be considered small flare ups... or maybe not even considered flare ups at all... but they go away with me just eating things that are easy to digest, and when I'm relatively stress free. It seems that I'm more prone to these little occurances right before my menstrual period.
Anybody else experience this or have any advice?
Joined Nov 7, 2010
Sat, January 01, 2011 1:49 PM
Reply posted for ksblue.
I feel like I made it through Christmas but the day before New Years I either started with a flare up or a bug. It's Saturday and I'm still feeling lousy. I feel in the middle of chaos (Christmas, working full time, dealing with sick children, money) I do okay then when the dust settles I have a flare up. I have crohn's, ulcerative colitis, and just recently diagnosed with ibs. Happy New Year!
ngc
ngc249Joined Dec 19, 2008
Fri, December 10, 2010 5:26 PM
Reply posted for ksblue.
I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis this past Aug. Im on Asacol, 6-MP, and just coming off my second course of Prednisone. Im finally feeling back to normal after 3 mos recovering from a very bad flare.
My diagnosis came right after having a very bad case of shingles. I feel stress is a factor in the disease, contibuting to inflammation and the immune system response. The stress I felt I needed to address was the stress from uncontrolled pain when I had shingles, lack of sleep (from shingles and having to move my bowels throughout the night), stress from my body being sick for 6 mos, worry about how the disease would affect my lifestyle, and worry from having to deal with a chronic disease. With my Drs consent (she was reluctant at first), I sought out a therapist to help me with the stress. I underwent about 6 sessions using a process called EMDR to help me deal with stressful/disturbing events such as worrying about the disease and feeling Im on my own to deal with it. The EMDR sessions definitely helped me better accept the disease and feel that I was not alone. Im now much more calm and accepting of what I have.
I also got back into meditating to help deal with stress and to calm my mind. I try and meditate for 45 mins each day. Meditation helps me and I can feel my gut calm down after Im done.
I also just got done reading a book by Henry Dreher called "The Immune Power Personality" The book deal with personality traits and how they can affect the immune system. I also just started reading "Full Catastrophe Living" by Jon Kabat-Zinn. This book is about using mindfulness to help deal with stress, pain, and illness. I would highly recommend both books.
Hope this helps.
Joined Dec 10, 2010