IBD and mental illness

I don’t think there’s much of an association between IBD and mental illness, with the possible exception of PTSD for people whose IBD and/or surgical experiences are particularly traumatic. Mental illness is quite common, but often not discussed openly. Environments like this one (and IBD support groups in particular) tend to foster unusually open discussion of usually-taboo subjects. Perhaps it’s just people actually talking about a pretty normal degree of mental illness?

IBD and mental illness are definitely tied together. The mental illness affects the digestive tract greatly. If you are not happy or suffering from mental illness, it can definitely have a huge impact on the digestive system. Here are some cool articles:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4073018/

https://www.health.harvard.edu...gut-brain-connection

https://www.crohnscolitisfound...h/depression-anxiety

https://www.webmd.com/ibd-croh...ession-crohns-linked

Let me know if you would like more

Thanks Lauren, I  will look at the sites.I am totally convinced about the  correlation, I  personally deal with this and have witnessed it in others.

@Joe King posted:

Thanks Lauren, I  will look at the sites.I am totally convinced about the  correlation, I  personally deal with this and have witnessed it in others.

You are welcome Joe King. A lot of people do not believe in it for some reason but I am glad that some people do

Here is another cool one too https://www.healthline.com/hea...onin-effects#outlook

Let me know what you think when you check all of those out

I believe that a healthy microbiome in the gut contributes to wellness in all areas especially mental wellness.  There is definitely a link between seratonin and gut health.  I suffered horribly from depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder.  My colo-rectal surgeon felt that the issues with my gut contributed to my mental illness and not the other way around.  Now that my colon is gone my mental health is 95% well.

Any illness effects mental well being. Those studies cited above probably exist for other illnesses as well. When you get a stage 3 cancer diagnosis I can assure you that your mental well being will not be rosy and it will not all look like rainbows and unicorns out there. I don't think there is anything unique or special about those who suffer from IBD as opposed to other chronic or potentially terminal illnesses who are dealing with the same kinds of mental health issues. It seems to me to trivialize the suffering of others to create these kinds of categorical distinctions and associations on one disease only. Anxiety from IBD and anxiety from having cancer isn't any different. In fact having dealt on some level with both illnesses, there was a lot more uncertainty and anxiety with my cancer diagnosis. I designed and executed a complete bucket list before I ever croaked from cancer and I never developed a bucket list before having surgery for IBD, although my colon dissolved in my surgeon's hands when removed. The cancer treatment had a lot more uncertainty.

@Jaypea posted:

I believe that a healthy microbiome in the gut contributes to wellness in all areas especially mental wellness.  There is definitely a link between seratonin and gut health.  I suffered horribly from depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder.  My colo-rectal surgeon felt that the issues with my gut contributed to my mental illness and not the other way around.  Now that my colon is gone my mental health is 95% well.

I 100% agree! What eating disorder do you have if you do not mind me asking???

The gut helps with the production of neurotransmitters in the brain which affects mental illnesses like depression and PTSD of which I have suffered from. Antidepressants boost neurotransmitters and I think my need increased after my colon was removed.

@TE Marie posted:

The gut helps with the production of neurotransmitters in the brain which affects mental illnesses like depression and PTSD of which I have suffered from. Antidepressants boost neurotransmitters and I think my need increased after my colon was removed.

Definitely agreed!!! Especially since there was serotonin in the colon, since that is removed, i can definitely see that affecting our mental health.

There is absolutely no question that removal of my colon greatly improved my mental health in every respect, so my colon must have been a transplant from aliens. I wonder who did that to me?

It absolutely correlates. Its one of the hardest things for me to accept. I remember waking up after my J-pouch surgery, when they took my colon, and I felt completely different. I couldn't really access the "joy" I used to feel. I'm on meds for depression and anxiety and they do help. I've also seen a therapist who specializes in PTSD due to chronic illness & pain for the past 13 years and I've learned coping mechanisms. But gut health and mental health are intrinsically linked due to how much serotonin is made in the "guts". I think there should be much more awareness around this subject. I am proud that I realized that I needed help and I actively seek it out. I wish more of us were aware of the direct link as it may reduce the stigma they feel.

Serotonin in the gut does not pass into the brain. Mental illness is very disturbing, and it’s understandable to search for explanations. Chronic illness is also very disturbing, and has plenty of effects on mental health. Mental illness doesn’t have to be justified to be real, and most of the tenuous explanations don’t really assist in managing it effectively.

Scott- simply put, Bingo on your last post. The human instinct is to try and justify mental illness. My paternal Grandmother was a manic depressive who had shock therapy. Back in the 1950s that was how they treated it. Even as a 9 or 10 year old I knew something wasn't right with her head because she would go from a cheery mood to unconsolable crying in the bat of an eyelash and for no apparent reason. She did not have IBD. The family loved her and came up with all kinds of justifications for her mental illness and the subsequent cancer that killed her at age 64. Most of the theories on her mental illness were preposterous and not science based, but it didn't matter because we all loved her as she was. Sadly, in the months before she died at age 64 of pancreatic cancer, she repeatedly told me, then her 12 year old grandson whom was entrusted to her care as de facto daycare provider on weekends, that "God was going to take her away." She said this repeatedly to me in the months before she was diagnosed and well before she even had any symptoms. To this day I don't know if that was the mental illness talking to me or whether she actually knew something. Despite her issues, she was the best Grandma a 12 year old kid could have.

@Scott F posted:

tenuous explanations don’t really assist in managing it effectively.

That's the question I have- how does advancing an explanation, tenuous or otherwise, advance or assist the treatment? I see lots of posts about causal relationships between mental illness and IBD but no posts on how any of that guides or assists treatment, in any way.  

@tammykathleen posted:

It absolutely correlates. Its one of the hardest things for me to accept. I remember waking up after my J-pouch surgery, when they took my colon, and I felt completely different. I couldn't really access the "joy" I used to feel. I'm on meds for depression and anxiety and they do help. I've also seen a therapist who specializes in PTSD due to chronic illness & pain for the past 13 years and I've learned coping mechanisms. But gut health and mental health are intrinsically linked due to how much serotonin is made in the "guts". I think there should be much more awareness around this subject. I am proud that I realized that I needed help and I actively seek it out. I wish more of us were aware of the direct link as it may reduce the stigma they feel.

No matter what we say and no matter what proof we post, there is always going to be people that do not agree or say things against it as you can see. I am just happy that there are people on here that believe in the evidence and have positive things to say about the topic. I am happy there is a audience for it. Thank-you for your answer, it helped a great deal