How your thoughts influence your IBD

You are not only what you eat, but sometimes also what you think. 🧠 Negative thoughts can lead to mental discomfort in people with chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Sometimes they also encourage a new flare-up of the disease. 🤒In this article, we take a closer look at how your thoughts can affect your IBD.

Relaxation exercises can help to reduce mental stress.

Symptoms of chronic inflammatory bowel disease include increased urge to defecate, frequent diarrhea, pain, fatigue or rectal bleeding. They not only affect the Body of those affected, but can also have a negative impact on their Psyche have an impact. In addition to the physical symptoms, those affected can have a wide variety of worries about the disease, which they Mental stress can. Whether it's the fear of new flare-ups, the worry of not having a public toilet within reach or the fear of surgery, these are all worries that sufferers of chronic inflammatory bowel disease sometimes have. These worries can have a negative impact on the brain and lead to an increase in the release of inflammatory messenger substances, which can promote IBD flare-ups. A vicious circle.

In general, IBD patients have an increased risk of developing certain Mental illnessessuch as depression or anxiety disorders. One possible reason may be the sudden attacks of illness that are associated with the disease and are based on indefinite time can persist. Symptoms such as sudden, prolonged diarrhea, pain or rectal bleeding are not only physically unpleasant, but also last a long time in some cases of IBD. For fear of encountering an unpleasant flare-up situation social events sometimes avoided by those affected. This means that a gradual process the social isolation arise. Initially, smaller events are canceled, vacations are postponed and interpersonal appointments are avoided. Later, larger events are often not attended in order to avoid experiencing flare-ups. In the worst cases, IBD patients can withdraw completely.

The fear of a new flare-up is often accompanied by the Lack of understanding of the environment towards those affected. IBD patients can develop the feeling that they are a burden to those around them and blame themselves for bad phases. justify to have to. The resulting frustration and hopelessness of those affected in the face of non-understanding environments can lead to a reinforcement of the social isolation can lead to a negative outcome. In the worst case, this negative spiral of thoughts can lead to a renewed Trigger thrust. Conversely, this can have a negative effect on mental well-being. Body and mind are therefore partly interdependent reciprocal.

The interactions between the gut and the psyche in IBD sufferers can be neurological as well as immunological explain. 

One reason for the neurological The interaction between IBD and the psyche is the so-called Gut-brain axis. This connection between the gut and the brain works in both directions, the gut influences the brain, which in turn influences the gut. 

The immunological The interaction between chronic inflammatory bowel disease and the mental well-being of patients can be traced back to inflammatory messenger substancescytokines. These messenger substances are increasingly released in IBD. The substances have a negative effect on the brain and favor an imbalance in the patient's mental well-being. This is because the inflammatory messenger substances increase the inflammation levels. The inflammation levels in turn cause changes in certain regions of the brain that are responsible for the Regulation of moods and emotions are responsible. Specifically, the availability of certain neurotransmitters is disrupted. Serotonin, Dopamine and Noradrenaline are all neurotransmitters. They are responsible for various emotions, such as motivation, pleasure and drive. They are triggered by the high inflammation values production and availability is disrupted. As a result, the mental well-being of IBD patients deteriorates and depression can be encouraged.

The inflammatory processes that affect the mental state can in turn lead to new inflammations. Even with low inflammatory activity, this can lead to more severe symptoms. A vicious circle. 

Since psychological symptoms in IBD are not only a psychological, but also a immunological and neurological component, therapies that stabilize the intestinal flora or reduce inflammatory processes can have a positive effect not only on the body but also on the mind.

It is important to be aware of psychological complaints not to blame yourself but to recognize that these can be part of CED. Experienced psychotherapists can help through behavioral therapies, question negative thought patterns and find a better way of dealing with the illness. Stress can, for example, be treated with Mindfulness exercises can be counteracted. These can shift the focus to the Here and now and away from worries about the future. It is equally important, despite illness Social contacts to family and friends.  Self-help groups can provide comfort so that you don't feel alone with IBD. They offer the opportunity to create new coping strategies and suggestions for dealing with the disease in a positive way. 

In addition to professional treatment options, regular Movement in the form of walks and yoga exercises can help with mental complaints. They can release endorphins and reduce stress.  

Since IBD and the mental well-being of those affected can influence each other, it is important, Psychological complaints as part of the disease. Although shame, the lack of toilets in public spaces, the feeling of a lack of control over one's own body, pain, fatigue and fears of relapses are a Enormous psychological strain it is important not to isolate yourself, but to openly with the disease and to seek help from family, friends, self-help groups or experienced psychotherapists if necessary. Because a Stable mental well-being can not only have a positive influence on the course of the disease, but can also Quality of life of those affected.

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