Living with Crohn’s can feel like an uphill battle at times, and you may feel sadness, grief, and worry, among other difficult emotions. It’s long been suggested that people with Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), experience emotional distress, particularly depression and anxiety, at higher rates than people without IBD.
In fact, one research review that included more than 30,000 participants found that overall, about 32 percent of those with IBD had anxiety symptoms and roughly 25 percent experienced symptoms of depression; in those with active disease, the prevalence rose to nearly 58 percent for anxiety, and about 39 percent for depression. It’s believed that there are both biological factors for such emotional disturbances — genetics, inflammation, an imbalance in gut bacteria (dysbiosis), and steroid use, among others — as well as negative emotional responses stemming from living with chronic symptoms, the effect Crohn’s has on your quality of life, and its impact on your ability to function socially.
Obviously, struggling with anxiety and depression can make it more difficult to manage your disease and go about daily life, and having poor mental health is associated with worse disease outcomes. For those reasons, it makes sense that the authors of the research review suggest that routinely screening and treating people with IBD for these mental health issues may improve IBD outcomes as well.
These practical strategies can help you cope with the emotional toll of living with Crohn’s disease:
1. Remember That You’re Not Alone
According to estimates, 1.6 to 3.1 million people in the United States are living with IBD, mostly in the form of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.And as previously mentioned, many of them are also facing emotional difficulties. Living with a lifelong illness that doesn’t follow a predetermined course can feel destabilizing, but many people with Crohn’s find effective ways to cope.
2. Learn About Your Illness
Knowing the facts about your disease, including possible complications and how to manage flares and treat symptoms, can help you feel more in control of your illness. “The more knowledge you have about your disease, the more it can reduce your stress,” says Jacquelyn Spencer, the manager of educational resources at the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
Research supports this idea, too. One review notes that seeking out information about IBD has been connected to positive effects on people’s abilities to cope, adjust, and self-manage their illnesses.
3. Don’t Stop Your Treatment
“Many people stop taking their meds when they feel well,” Spencer notes. “That’s when you can experience a relapse.”
But feeling bad emotionally can also lead you to be less on top of how you manage Crohn’s. This might look like focusing less on getting adequate nutrition, skipping the yoga routine that usually helps keep your stress in check, or forgetting to take medications. Having poor mental health has been connected to increased risk of flares, hospitalization, surgery, severe disease, and other complications.
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4. Plan Ahead
Alleviate anxiety about unpredictable symptoms by being prepared. Take an emergency kit with you when you go out: A change of clothes, a slim pack of wet wipes, and other supplies can fit into a small bag. And planning ahead by scouting bathrooms when you travel somewhere new can also help you ease worry.
5. Expect Emotional Turbulence
“It’s not uncommon for people with Crohn’s to feel stress,” Spencer says. “There can be some depression and mood swings. In some cases, some of the meds can be the cause.”
The important thing is not to let your stress —and any related feelings of worry, distress, or sadness — get to the point where it seems like they’re negatively affecting your health. Practicing stress-management techniques like mindfulness meditation or deep breathing may help you find acceptance, and learn to sit with difficult emotions until they pass, lessening their impact on you.
Research backs up this idea as well. One review of studies that tested mindfulness-based techniques on people with IBD found that they improved stress and health-related quality of life in the short term, compared with people who didn’t use the techniques; stress was also improved in the long term.
6. Treat Depression and Anxiety
Being proactive can help you handle any depression symptoms, which can include:
Low mood
Weight loss or gain
Insomnia or sleeping too much
Moving or talking faster or slower than you typically do
Increased fatigue
Loss of interest or pleasure in things you usually enjoy
Feeling guilty or worthless
Finding it hard to concentrate or make decisions
Suicidal thoughts
Lifestyle changes such as exercise may help, but don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about professional counseling, such as psychotherapy, or antidepressant medication.
Similarly, it’s important to get a handle on anxiety for the sake of your health. Symptoms can include:
Feeling a lack of ease, panic, or danger
Difficulty sleeping
Cold, clammy, or tingling hands or feet
An inability to remain calm
Breathing issues
Increased heart rate
Dizziness
Dry mouth
Repetitive thoughts about the same concern
Inability to concentrate
Being fearful
As with depression, self-care methods like yoga, meditation, tai chi, and exercise can help with feelings of anxiety, as can therapy and, in some cases, medication.
7. Find a Crohn’s Support Group
“Many people tend to isolate themselves when they have Crohn’s disease,” Spencer says. “It’s better to share and to realize that it’s not uncommon to feel stress.”
While it’s important to be able to rely on your friends and family for emotional support, there are times when talking to other people living with the condition can be helpful. That’s why joining a Crohn’s support group, whether online or in-person, can be useful. In group settings, you can share information and get validation, and it can serve as a safe space to share your feelings.
“Online communities can be very important,” Spencer says. “It’s a place where people can post personal stories.”
8. Start a Journal
Take time — once a day, once a week, or whenever you have a spare moment — to write down your thoughts. “Letting out your feelings in a notebook or journal can be very helpful,” Spencer says. You can also use this journal to take note of how your emotions affect your Crohn’s symptoms.
While processing your emotions won’t control Crohn’s on its own, it can help you better cope with the effects of Crohn’s on your life.
The Takeaway
Difficult emotions and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety are believed to be more common among people with Crohn’s disease than in those without inflammatory bowel disease.
While you may experience difficult emotions related to the disease process itself, medications you take, or the experience of living with Crohn’s, there are coping tools that can help ease their impact.
Experts recommend following your Crohn’s treatment plan, planning ahead to reduce anxiety, seeking peer support, and treating mental health conditions to ensure the best outcome for both mental and physical health.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
Qian Y et al. Depression and Anxiety in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Mechanisms and Emerging Therapeutics Targeting the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis. Frontiers in Immunology. November 6, 2025.
Barberio B et al. Prevalence of Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology. May 2021.
Duan S et al. Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression Associated With Steroid Efficacy and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Frontiers in Psychiatry. July 20, 2023.
Jones K et al. Reactions, Reality, and Resilience in Adults with Crohn’s Disease: A Qualitative Study. Crohn’s & Colitis 360. January 16, 2025.
Naude C et al. The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. June 2023.
Sullivan EM. What Are the Warning Signs and Symptoms of Depression? Mass General Brigham. July 23, 2024.
Clegg AJ et al. Is Exercise Effective for Treating Depression? Cochrane. January 8, 2026.
Symptoms of Anxiety and How to Know When You Need Help. UC Davis Health. August 21, 2024.
Yuying Luo, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai West and Morningside in New York City. She aims to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered, and holistic care for her patients.
Her clinical and research focus includes patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia; patients with lower gastrointestinal motility (constipation) disorders and defecatory and anorectal disorders (such as dyssynergic defecation); and women’s gastrointestinal health.
She graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology and received her MD from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she was also chief resident. She completed her gastroenterology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital and was also chief fellow.
Katherine Lee is a writer and editor who specializes in health, science, and parenting content. She has written for Verywell, where she covered school-age parenting, and worked as an editor at Parenting and Working Mother magazines. She has written and edited numerous articles and essays on science, parenting, and children's health and development for What to Expect, the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, the American Psychological Association, and Newsweek, among others
