Research shows that people with IBD are twice as likely to have anxiety or depression as the general population.
Without treatment, anxiety can cause complications in Crohn’s disease.
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How Is Anxiety Related to Crohn’s Disease?
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Research shows that abnormal anxiety levels occur in up to 40% of people with IBD.
When it happens, anxiety can contribute to the onset of symptoms and impact the course of the disease.
People with Crohn’s disease may experience anxiety as a result of worrying about unpredictable symptoms.
Experiencing a return of symptoms or more active symptoms is called a flare-up.
These episodes affect everyone differently and can last from a few days to several months.
Having anxiety is linked with worse outcomes for people with Crohn’s disease.
This is because poor mental health can make it harder to manage your Crohn’s.
Anxiety and other mental health conditions can also interfere with the brain-gut connection of people with Crohn’s disease.
Through this connection, mental health disorders that affect your brain can also impact your digestive health.
This chronic stress can make you more sensitive to pain signals from your gut and increase your discomfort.
Is Anxiety a Risk Factor for Crohn’s?
Separate risk factors can increase your chances of getting either one of these diseases.
Anxiety can occur as one of several related anxiety disorders.
Crohn’s usually affects your small intestine and the beginning of your large intestine.
The symptoms that you experience during a flare-up can change over time.
Symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal pain, fecal urgency, excess gas, andbloody stoolswere more commonly reported.
Who Is More Likely to Experience Both?
These treatments include medications and psychological treatments.
Anxiety is linked with more severe symptoms and worse disease outcomes.
Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of anxiety with Crohn’s disease.
They can adjust your treatment plan and advise ways to improve your mental health.
Leaving anxiety untreated raises your chances of being hospitalized and possibly needing surgery.
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