This practical guide provides patients who have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) strategies for coping with IBD. It teaches a number of skills that can make coping with Crohn’s or colitis easier. Chapters provide an overview of Crohn’s and colitis as well as the interplay between stress and the gut, before offering strategies on relaxation training, physical activity, managing stress and avoidance, diet and nutrition, and medical treatment options. The book also emphasizes the importance of the doctor-patient relationship and helps patients learn how to think about medical management (including the possibility of surgery) to minimize anxiety from catastrophic thoughts and balance potential risks and benefits appropriately. Dr. Hunt challenges readers to engage in specific behavioral experiments to reduce shame and stigma and highlights practical applications with case illustrations and clinical vignettes. This book can be used as a standalone self-help book or in conjunction with practitioners during in-person therapy.

Offers the causes, symptoms, and treatment for this disease

A wellness plan for those with inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis—with expert guidance on creating a gut-healthy diet, finding the right treatments for you, and much more Approximately 1.5 million people in the United States alone are afflicted with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a category of illnesses that includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and that number is steadily growing. Although there is not yet a cure for Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, patients can help reduce their symptoms and improve their overall wellbeing by following a comprehensive wellness plan such as those outlined in Living with Crohn’s & Colitis. Living with Crohn’s & Colitis offers patient-focused, expert guidance on everything from the latest medical treatments, how to cope with a diagnosis, and tips for balancing diet with a busy lifestyle so you can form a personalized wellness plan. Also included: • Easy to understand information on the role of inflammation and the immune system on gut health • Traditional and alternative treatment options for a broad, full-body approach to wellness • A three-month wellness plan adjustable to each individual’s health needs • Over 25 delicious recipes designed for those with IBD Learning to live with the myriad aspects of Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis treatment, including dietary restrictions and medications, can seem overwhelming. Written by a naturopathic doctor and a Crohn’s patient, Living with Crohn’s & Colitis is a thoughtful, balanced resource to help you on your journey to wellness.

Drawn from questions asked by their patients with inflammatory bowel disease--IBD is the collective term for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Drs. Warner and Barto (gastroenterologists with the Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Massachusetts) answer questions about concerns ranging from treatment options and diet to IBD in pregnancy and children. The guide includes patients' perspectives about coping with IBD, resources, and a glossary.

Whether you’re a newly diagnosed patient, or a friend or relative of someone suffering with Crohns Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, this book offers help. Completely revised and updated, 100 Questions & Answers About Crohns Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: A Lahey Clinic Guide, Second Edition provides authoritative, practical answers to common questions about this condition to help patients and families achieve a greater understanding of all aspects of dealing with Crohns Disease including treatment options, sources of support, and much more. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone coping with the physical and emotional turmoil of this disease.

Gut Feelings: Social and Emotional Struggles with Crohn’s & Colitis is a groundbreaking book that examines the inner shame and isolation that many patients experience while coping with the ups and downs of Crohn’s and Colitis. It is based on more than 100 interviews with patients, parents, siblings and romantic partners. Gut Feelings describes the ways patients and their loved ones navigate Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), perhaps the most taboo chronic illness to talk about, because it involves the body’s waste disposal system. Gut Feelings dives into the realities of living with IBD. The author, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 16, rode the same roller coaster with the illness as many of her interviewees and so has a first-hand perspective. If you have IBD, or live with someone who does, after reading Gut Feelings, you will feel less alone with your internal emotions, more connected, and more willing to be open about your IBD. You will come away with renewed strength to contend with the feelings that naturally arise while coping with this arduous illness.