Check out our new Mental Wellbeing information

Topics addressed include:

How Crohn's and Colitis can affect your emotional wellbeing, as Adam found when he was diagnosed aged 12;

Stress, both internal and external, that may impact your symptoms and lead to further concerns such as missing work or being too ill to attend school, like Holly;

How to identify anxiety and what may be causing these feelings, such as the judgement experienced by Tom;

Low mood and depression, which are most common when experiencing a flare, like Adam;

The disordered eating that can come with having a bowel that doesn't work and lead to a difficult relationship with food, like Amy's;

Treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which Ally has recently begun;

These issues can be difficult to discuss, and struggling with your mental health can make it hard to get the help you need but we're here to give information about treatment, suggest tips to improve your mental wellbeing and explain the link between mental and physical health so you can start to understand both your body and mind.

Opening up can be step one.

If you feel you need support with your mental wellbeing you may wish to contact Mind. Please remember, the Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123 if you need to talk, and attend your nearest Accident and Emergency if you feel at risk of harm to yourself.

Crohn's & Colitis Support is a service that offers emotional support where you can talk to us openly and honestly about living with your condition or how you are affected by someone else with the condition. All our volunteers have personal experience of Crohn's or Colitis. They're trained to listen and support you. To book your appointment today call our Helpline team: 10am-3pm Monday to Friday on 0300 222 5700.