Is there research that supports stress can trigger flares?

Does anyone know if there is any research out there that supports stress causing UC flares?

Definitely plays a part, but remember your now flare can correlate with your rectal med dosage and regimen.

Usually, during high stress and crisis.....we have increased adrenaline to carry us through. The calm after the storm is when we notice an issue. Keep in mind, we many times don't recognise changes in symptoms as early inflammation until they fit our perceived criteria of a flare.

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Everyone is different but in my case, its 100% true stress will trigger it. I have lived with UC since I was 23 and only had 6 flare-ups each one lasting 1-2 years. I can tell you the dates of each one for the reason something drastic and traumatic happened in my life that day. It would usually take 2-3 days for the bleeding to start and it went downhill from there. I was in remission for 9 years last May when my mother got diagnosed with cancer May 26 and by May 29 I was pouring blood it was so bad for months that I ended up having a proctocolectomy done. So yes stress can cause a flare-up.

Prolonged, long-term stress can have a number of affects on the body (hormonal and other things) and we often are bad about eating and sleeping well and it's plausible that some combination of those things could make us more likely to flare. A single bad day will not.

I'd try to limit stressors when it is possible to do so (distance yourself from high-drama people, choose work and lifestyles that are low stress). However, stress is a part of life and we all must face it to varying degrees at varying times. Stress doesn't always cause flares. If you're worried about the affect of long term stress on you, then do your best to eat and sleep well, and temporarily increase your meds as a reasonable precaution (like increase oral mesalamine from a maintenance dose of 2.4grams a day to 4.8, and reintroduce nightly canasa suppository or rowasa enema).

You can control how stress affects you personally, and work on letting it bounce off you rather than stick and stew over stressful events. Laugh it off rather then let it bother you, as some things are not worth upsetting mr./ms. colon and risking a flare.

Stress, anxiety etc are related to illness. Peace, happiness etc are related to wellness. It's just how things go. It's good to feel good!