mental health

[Allsoyellow80]

I just was wondering how many of you are on antidepressants? There is an obvious connection between gut health and mental clarity I suppose I am so advanced in the disease that I have to take citalopram low dosage though to manage. So frustrating…

[Mimbabe]

hi I take 150mg amitriptyline at night but to be honest I was before being diagnosed with Chrons I also have other problems

[MrPositive]

Hi I don't, but I do suffer from anxiety attacks. Stress is a real trigger for me and think is what has brought my colitis back after 10 years (My dad is currently very ill in hospital and has been for 6 weeks, had other family illnesses, overworked, have had to cancel a holiday) Just a massive build up really. When learning to cope with my anxiety I was offered medication and therapy - but really wanted to try the therapy first.

I was on a local scheme with IAPT in 2020 during the lockdowns and they were incredible, (My dad again was critical in hospital at the time) one to one sessions and being able to cover everything with a stranger was a massive lift for me. I still have really tough days where everything seems to go wrong & I get overwhelmed but learning about anxiety and depression itself has helped me a lot. Even some books I've read (though will admit sometimes just a page or two) have had little things that I have turned to or remembered when the going gets tough.

I seriously think gut health and mental health are more strongly linked than a lot of people will admit. When I have anxiety I normally get acid reflux, this time it happened to be colitis flaring up again after 10 years. First time I was going through a job change, quit smoking & was coping with a family bereavement. Too many times they come in pairs to be a co-oincidence.