When to Seek Help
When emotional responses become too much and start to interfere with daily functioning, it’s important to seek help. A person can employ strategies individually to cope with psychological responses to IBD, involve family and friends, or work with their family doctor or a mental health professional.
Your IBD specialist or general practitioner can refer you to a mental health professional such as a counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist. You may find that medication or psychological therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy work well for you.
Treating psychological symptoms can improve quality of life and decrease the risk of relapse in IBD patients. But, psychological treatments cannot replace traditional anti-inflammatory treatments used to manage IBD.
Watch the video below to hear more from an expert clinical psychologist, Dr. Sara Ahola Kohut, about the impact of IBD on mental health and well-being, and the importance of access to mental health services: