“Everyone has to find out for themselves what is good for them and what they enjoy.”: Sport with IBD: Why it also strengthens the psyche

Anyone who suffers from chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) knows this: Symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss not only affect physical well-being, but often also psychological well-being: many sufferers describe feelings of powerlessness, fear and helplessness. Most people are deeply unsettled by not knowing what is happening to them. Of course, this also applies to patients with IBD. They do not feel “in control”, develop feelings of shame and often withdraw.

Today’s Mental Health Day (October 10) is intended to inform those affected and their families about psychological stress and show ways of training one’s mental strength and mastering psychological challenges. Even those affected by IBD are not helplessly at the mercy of their fate and can improve their well-being. Getting help and speaking openly with good friends helps to develop inner stability and strengthen one’s own psyche.

Mental benefits thanks to a regular sports program

Regular endurance sports not only benefit physical well-being and the immune system, but also and especially the psyche. According to a Canadian study of IBD patients, all subjects felt less stressed after a three-month exercise program. They were more relaxed and their body mass index had also improved significantly.¹ It was only enough to walk 3.5 kilometers three days a week for the participants to feel much fitter. And very important: The physical activity had no negative effects whatsoever on the course of the disease.¹

Walking to go shopping or taking the stairs more often instead of the elevator – everyone knows tips like this for integrating more exercise into everyday life, and many also take them to heart in order to at least stay a little fitter. However, very few people know that even high-performance sports are possible with IBD. On the website leben-mit-ced.de triathlete Sebastian reports how sport has helped him to fight his way back to life after the first flare-up, to deal better with the disease and to keep a positive attitude: “I focused on the progress I was making day by day have,” he says. He also has good advice for other sufferers: It is important to listen to your body and to take your own performance limits into account when training. His tip: “In the beginning, it helps to set small goals and approach them slowly. Everyone has to find out for themselves what is good for them and what they enjoy.” Because having fun is an important motor for a good exercise program – joie de vivre then comes all by itself.

The way to more zest for life in everyday life is often long for people with IBD and requires a lot of patience. It is crucial that you speak openly with your doctor about your symptoms, wishes and goals. Together you can find a treatment that suits you and that can give you a better quality of life. In recent years, thanks to many years of research, various new treatment options have emerged. Talk to your doctor* about it.

You can find more information on preparing for the doctor’s consultation and helpful tips on the subject of mental health here

With the friendly support of AbbVie Germany GmbH & Co. KG

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Sources:

¹ Loudon CP, Corroll V, Butcher J, Rawsthorne P, Bernstein CN. The effects of physical exercise on patients with Crohn’s disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 1999;94(3):697-703. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.1999.00939.x