UC & stress

My condition always gets worse if my levels of stress get high.
My worse flares came on stress situations.

If some of you experience the same situation, what do you do to lower your stress levels? pills? exercice? yoga?!

There will always be stress in our lives, and the trick is to try and either lessen the rection to the stress, lessen stressful situations, or go move up onto a mountain where there are no people. Now, that in itself would cause me great distress..lol.

Seriously...I can totally relate, and with UC, knowing how to use meds effectively is key. Maintenance rectal meds...very important if tapered to that point, and during the most distressing times, sometimes at the very first hint of wonky butt syndrome...increase them.

Stress levels are so subjective....I'll always be "stressed", but I realise the things I can change myself an how I react. Not that I'll change much, but knowing how to deal with flares or how to intervene as early as possible has been most effective.

q

I have 2 wonderful GP's who have told me that stress definitely plays a part in U/C flare ups even up to 6 months later!!!
I was told that I should take up meditation/yoga as part of a lifestyle plan and especially during a flare, do deep breathing as well. It does help!

I don't find that stress contributes to my flares, but then I do much to release my stress:

Breathing exercises - to reduce stress, take long exhalations.

Daily meditation

Healing self-hypnosis MP3s - I listen to these when going to sleep at night. The body heals itself at night. I truly believe that one of the reasons I look so young for my age is that I listen to healing self-hypnosis MP3s when going to sleep.

Exercise - yoga, dance, ...

Taking a long, hot bath

Getting plenty of sleep

Anti-depressants - Lexapro in my case

Changing my thinking - I do positive thinking exercises, and I've read about Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Take supplements and vitamins - the body is under stress if it is lacking something