• Living with a disease can be hard. Symptoms can get worse when stress is present.
  • Self-care can help you manage your condition.
  • “Staying on your treatment plan is part of a self-care routine for Crohn’s.”

The physical symptoms of IBD include abdominal pain, fatigue, and weight loss.

This chronic inflammatory condition can affect your mental health. Your mind and gut are connected.

Crohn’s symptoms can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. And when you’re stressed, anxious, or depressed, your symptoms are more likely to flare up, according to 2019 research.

You can take steps to manage how you feel. Many of the habits that help the body and mind are also known as the wellness habits.

Diet and exercise can help keep your stress levels in check, along with relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation.

stats on anxiety and depression in people with IBD

Self-care is how you manage your condition and deal with challenges. Taking medications as well as following healthy lifestyle habits are included.

“Learning about Crohn’s disease is a good start to self-care. You can learn how your symptoms affect your daily life by paying attention to them.”

You can make changes to slow the disease with this knowledge. Modifications help reduce the effect of the condition on your health.

Your self-care routine might include some of the following.

  • You can set a timer to take your medication.
  • When you are in a bad mood, you should cut out dairy foods.
  • The bathroom visits are planned during the day.
  • You can schedule exercise into your routine.
  • You should go to bed early to make sure you get enough sleep.
  • practicing meditation
Crohn's disease self-care routine ideas

“It is possible to better manage Crohn’s disease by caring for yourself.”

Research from 2016 found that people who practice good self-care have fewer Crohn’s symptoms. They don’t need to go to the hospital or change their treatment plan as often as those who don’t use self-care strategies.

A 2019 review of 9 studies looked at the different self-care techniques used by children and teens with Crohn’s disease. The researchers found that young people tried a variety of strategies to manage their condition, from diet changes to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

“The authors of the study noted that previous studies had shown that strategies like nutrition and psychological well-being could help with self-management of Crohn’s disease.”

“There weren’t enough studies on self-care techniques to tell which strategies worked best.”

Some techniques work better for some people than others. You might have to try a few approaches to find the one that works best for you.

Here are a few self-care tips to help you manage the disease.

Spot the symptoms

Tracking your symptoms helps you see patterns. You will learn which activities make you sick and when a flare is about to hit. You can use this information to have more productive conversations with your doctor.

“Common symptoms of Crohn’s include:”

  • There is a lot of diarrhea.
  • stools were bloody
  • There is belly pain.
  • There is gas.
  • fatigue

Tweak your diet

Science hasn’t proven the benefits of one specific diet for Crohn’s disease. Some IBD eating plans remove all grains. Others go heavy on meat and non-grain plant-based foods like fruit and legumes.

“Some foods can cause CHRONIC’s symptoms. Trigger foods include:”

  • The fruits have the skin on them.
  • cruciferous vegetables like broccoli.
  • dairy products
  • There are sugar Alcohol.s in sugar-free gum and sweets.
  • High fat, spicy foods.
  • Alcohol.
  • Coffee beverages.

A symptom diary can help you keep track of your symptoms. You can find a diet that offers the right balance of vitamins and minerals by experimenting with different foods.

Take your medication

“Inflammation is controlled by medication. They can cure Crohn’s disease and keep it there. If you don’t take your medication, you could be at risk of having more severe symptoms and a higher risk of relapsing.”

In a 2016 study of 500 people with IBD, one-third of those who didn’t stick to their treatment plan had a relapse. Forgetfulness was one of the main reasons they gave for skipping doses. Setting an alarm on your phone can help you remember.

Even if you feel better, it is important to keep taking your medication. If you have side effects that bother you, ask your doctor for advice.

Relax

Living with a chronic health condition can be hard. Mindfulness practices help calm your mind. These may include:

  • meditation
  • yoga
  • Deep breathing exercises.

These practices help with depression, anxiety, and quality of life. They could have direct effects on your disease, too. A small 2020 study found that a mindfulness program reduced a marker of inflammation in the blood of people with IBD.

Get active

Exercise may be the last thing you do during a flare. Light exercise such as walking or riding your bike can help reduce stress and inflammation once you feel better.

“Staying fit is good for your health. A small study found that people with Crohn’s disease who were more physically active had less severe symptoms.”

Ask your doctor what program is safest for you. Stay hydrated when you work out.

See friends

It helps to know that someone is behind you when you have a chronic condition. Friends, family, or your partner can provide support. Let people you trust know when you need them to help.

Studies have linked higher social support with a better sense of well-being and a higher quality of life in people with Crohn’s disease.

If you need more support than the people around you can offer, join a support group or talk to a therapist.

“Along with medication and surgery, self-care is an important part of managing Crohn’s disease. Staying on your treatment plan, eating a healthy diet, and getting support can help make this condition less difficult to manage.”