Tips for Dealing with Crohn's-Related Stress by Taking Control

Any chronic illness can cause stress, between leaving you feeling ill and the financial and work-related problems it can cause. Crohn's disease can cause more stress than most, because of the constant threat of diarrhea and the need to always be near a bathroom, and the embarrassment that Crohn's-related "accidents" can cause. Of course stress only makes the illness worse, and that can cause more serious problems, hospitalizations, and more financial woes.

It's hard to pinpoint one way I deal with the stress of Crohn's disease, since I take a multi-faceted approach. One way is communication, another way is learning about the illness, and finally, I use yoga, calming breathing, and meditation every day.

By communication, I mean talking to my doctors, my counselor, my pastor, and sometimes to friends and relatives. I journal almost daily, noting my thoughts about the day, about the illness, about what I've learned or who I've talked to, and about my hopes and plans. I can write about what has helped me, so that on bad days, I can look back and see that there were better days, and get ideas about how to better manage whatever seems to be rolling out of control.

I learn about my illness by studying; I research on the Internet and in medical journals to keep myself up-to-date on medical research about Crohn's disease and its causes and treatments. I ask doctors about the illness. I correspond with others who have Crohn's disease, and ask about their experiences and what has worked for them, and what they recommend to use, or to avoid. If there were a support group near me, I'd join it.

The daily practice of yoga and meditation, incorporating breathing exercises, helps to keep my body fit and my mind calmer. It's hard to worry about Crohn's when you're trying to balance in a difficult yoga pose, and meditation helps to clear the cobwebs from my mind. I'm quite certain that there is a solid connection between the mind and the body, and if I can get my mind into a positive mode, I'm sure I'll feel better, and improve the functioning of my immune system.

This is not to say that I never worry, or never feel stress. I worry at some point almost every day, and more when I'm having a flare. But my three point strategy helps me to feel that I have some control over my body, my life, and my course of healthcare, and some knowledge of what has happened and what can happen. When I have some control, or at least a feeling of control, along with plans and a feeling of preparedness, I feel better about both my Crohn's disease and my life.