Coping with Crohn’s and Colitis

Book excerpt: 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.