Over the years, many have said that high-stress events lead up to their initial UC diagnosis, or a flare. Certainly prolonged stress on the body has a number of direct affects (hormonal and other chemical changes in our bodies) and indirect affects (we sleep worse, eat things we shouldn't, etc.) on us. It could be one of the many things that collectively cause a cascade into a flare.
It cannot hurt to try and reduce stressors and how you cope to stress in your life.
1.) If certain people and events cause you stress than try to mitigate or avoid them. We may choose to live more simply, work a job that's less stressful (no 60-hour a week jobs with endless stress and no reward), even move to a less stressful
location (into the country away from the chaos of inter-city living).
2.) It's easy to say but harder to do, let things slide and laugh them off rather then stew and let them bother you. How we react to stress can play a big factor on us.
Find healthy outlets to de-stress. Go for a jog or do yoga in the park, go for a walk, dive into hobbies like reading/music and anything you enjoy. Consider mindfulness, meditation, and anything that relaxes you. There's no easy-button, it takes practice and dedication. A few things you can try at home:
Tips for coping with stress and anxieties:
www.stress-relief-exercises.comwww.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/34334/breathing-lessonswww.healthyplace.comThree Minute Mindfulness Meditation Video
/www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDflnqo0TQs/www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2_UfFIszkYSome of us do get counseling, see a therapist, and take anti-anxiety medications when things are just beyond what we can handle ourselves.