In light of Stress Awareness Day which falls on November 3rd, we thought it fitting to cover the impact stress has on those living with IBD. Those suffering from Crohn’s Disease, in particular, are known to suffer from high levels of stress. This is often down to the unpredictability of flare-ups, and the impact it has on their daily lives.
If you are looking to help a loved one deal with the stress of Crohn’s Disease, below we reveal some of the best things you can do.
Provide support and encouragement
Living with Crohn’s Disease can be extremely challenging. Due to a lack of public understanding of the condition, many Crohn’s Disease sufferers can feel alone and unsupported. This can increase stress, greatly reducing quality of life.
Simply being there and offering non-judgemental support will mean the world to your loved one. However, it’s also important to make sure they have other support too. Having a wide support system can help make living with Crohn’s Disease a lot more bearable.
At times, you may need to provide encouragement too. There will be days when depression or anxiety kick in. A little gentle encouragement and support can help minimise any negative effects on a sufferer’s mental health.
Help them to get enough gentle exercise
Exercise is one of the best ways to banish stress. However, for those living with Crohn’s, sometimes exercise can prove to be a little too much. While they may not be able to do as much, gentle exercise is highly recommended to help combat the signs of stress.
It could just be going for a short walk together. Getting out into the fresh air can do wonders for the mind and body. After a brief walk, those stress levels should be a little more manageable.
Understand they may have trouble with social gatherings
One of the biggest challenges for those living with Crohn’s Disease is maintaining a social life. As flare-ups can be difficult to predict, it can make socialising a lot more stressful than it should be. This in turn can lead to cancelled plans and avoiding making plans with friends altogether.
There will be times they need to cancel plans. Or they may need plans to change in order to be more comfortable. Understanding the difficulties that they face can help you to be more understanding. If they do have difficulty going out, why not arrange more nights in instead?
Encourage them to seek help
Living with Crohn’s Disease can be both mentally and physically draining. Many people living with IBD tend to experience many challenges to their mental health. Encouraging them to seek professional help is one of the best ways to support them.
You can also look into the different treatments available. There are lots of effective ways to manage Crohn’s Disease. By managing the condition, it will automatically help to reduce stress levels.
Book a consultation with Mr Woodward today.
