By Robert Stein, M.D.

Living with a chronic disease such as Crohn's is not easy. Many patients experience good days between bouts of bad days that may be severe enough to require a hospital stay. Keeping up with daily medication schedule frequent doctor's appointments, and the possibility of a flare-up can also be overwhelming, causing undue stress.

Crohn's disease is not caused by stress; however, emotional stress can influence the course of the disease. It is much more likely that the distress that people with Crohn's sometimes feel is a reaction to painful, embarrassing symptoms. Managing stress starts with identifying and learning ways to handle emotions brought on by the reality of living with a chronic disease like Crohn's.

Reducing Stress Levels

It is normal to feel angry, afraid, guilty, or depressed about your condition. One way to deal with those feelings is to share them with others, and manage expectations with friends and family. Keep the following in mind:

• You are not alone - IBD affects men and women across all ages and professions. There are ways to manage the often unpredictable symptoms of IBD and lead an active, successful life.
• Allow yourself the right to feel unhealthy -Anticipating how well you may feel tomorrow — or on a special occasion two months from now — can be stressful. But there are ways to manage this anxiety. By accepting the reality of that unpredictability, you can help regain some control over how your Crohn's disease or IBD takes its course.
• Seek support in others - Communicate with family and friends so they understand what you need from them. Accepting that some physical limitations may exist from time to time and seeking that understanding from loved ones may help you prepare for the times when you may not be able to go where you wish or do what you had planned.
• Educate yourself - Fear arises from the unknown. Sometimes experience is the best teacher; regardless of how long you have had IBD, joining a support group can be valuable in helping you understand and relate to your own feelings about your disease.