Working through the trauma of a chronic illness like IBD

One of the hardest things about being diagnosed with a chronic illness like IBD is that there is no cure. Not only can it take doctors sometime to reach a diagnosis, but it can also take time to find a treatment that puts (and keeps) the disease in remission.

What is trauma?

Trauma occurs when a person’s ability to cope is affected, often due to a disturbing or distressing event. When people think of Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), and trauma in general, they often think of fighting in a war, losing your house to a bushfire or being involved in a serious accident.

The reality is that trauma doesn’t have to be from one big, life-changing event. It can actually occur when you experience prolonged stress, such as with ongoing medial issues, or when a sense of one’s reality and security is shaken, as with a serious health diagnosis. The event(s) that cause trauma are less important that the response itself in diagnosing and treating trauma.

What symptoms does it cause?

Trauma can show up in many ways, including:

• Physical symptoms such as:
  • Insomnia and nightmares
  • Fatigue
  • Changes in appetite
  • Dizziness and headaches
• Emotional symptoms such as:
  • Anger and mood swings
  • Feeling sad and hopeless
  • Anxiety and panic
  • Reliving the diagnosis or flares
  • Excessive rumination, as the brain tries to understand the potential “threat”
• Behavioural symptoms such as:
  • Social withdrawal
  • Avoidance of certain places, activities or triggers

Can trauma affect my IBD?

It’s well known that the gut and brain are closely linked, constantly communicating via the Vagus nerve. When the body is put into flight or fight mode, which can happen in the case of stress and trauma, it prioritises survival over less important tasks such as digestion. The stress hormones slow down the upper GI function while simultaneously stimulating lower GI function.

That was fine back in our caveman days, when it was important that we ran away from the sabre-tooth tiger. Once we were safe, digestion went back to normal, and we were on our way.

However, in modern times, this same response can be triggered by a busy day at work, a fight with our partner, getting stuck in traffic, or the shop being out of our favourite type of chocolate. Each time we encounter this stressful event, the stress hormones are released, affecting digestion. If that happens multiple times a day, over a long period, the normal functioning of the gut is affected.

Add into that stress a chronic illness diagnosis, ongoing symptoms, flares, dietary changes, appointments, infusions, surgery… it’s easy to see how the disease itself can also create stress. Creating a cycle of symptoms causing stress and stress causing symptoms. This can also contribute to an “IBS overlay” to IBD.

How can I address the trauma?

It’s easy to think that your life is just a little more difficult than most, due to your illness, and that’s what’s affecting you. But it’s important to understand that you may in fact be suffering from trauma related to your illness, whether you were diagnosed recently or decades ago.

Speak to your gastroenterologist if you think you may be struggling with chronic illness related trauma. The psychologists at IBD SA can help you work through what happened, and develop coping skills.

Contributed by Cathy Martin