Tag Archives: Crohn’s disease

How Storytelling Fosters Compassion for Kids with Chronic Illness - About IBD Podcast Episode 181

How Storytelling Fosters Compassion for Kids with Chronic Illness – About IBD Podcast Episode 181

A children’s book leads to this conversation, which bridges the worlds of chronic illness, creativity, and connection. I talk with MB (Britt) Mooney, author of “The Mouse Who Couldn’t Eat Cheese,” a children’s book inspired by a young woman named Alex who lived with severe Crohn’s disease. MB, a science fiction and fantasy author, stepped outside his usual genre to create a story that helps kids and families understand invisible illnesses and the power of friendship. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes insight on MB’s creative process, the lessons learned from working with Alex’s family, and the message he hopes every reader takes away—whether they live with inflammatory bowel disease or not.



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Mental Health and IBD: Expert Advice and Strategies

Mental Health and IBD: Expert Advice and Strategies

Living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex journey that extends beyond physical symptoms. IBD affects us as whole people, not just digestive systems.

On The Mind-Body Connection in IBS and IBD Featuring Ali Navidi, PsyD – About IBD Podcast Episode 178, Dr. Ali Navidi, a gastropsychologist and co-founder of GI Psychology, discusses the often-overlooked mental health challenges that come with an IBD diagnosis. Patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals will all come away with a deeper understanding of the gut-brain connection and practical strategies for holistic care.

This blog post covers some of the themes and expert advice from the episode, offering in-depth guidance and actionable tips for managing the mental health aspects of IBD.

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The Mind-Body Connection in IBS and IBD Featuring Ali Navidi, PsyD – About IBD Podcast Episode 178

Amber interviews Dr. Ali Navidi, a gastropsychologist specializing in mental health for people with gastrointestinal disorders. They discuss the importance of addressing mental health alongside conditions like IBD and IBS, highlighting the stigma surrounding these issues. Dr. Navidi explains cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and clinical hypnosis, emphasizing their effectiveness in managing symptoms. He also shares insights on the challenges of accessing mental health care and introduces a new therapeutic group program for IBD patients developed in collaboration with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, aimed at making treatment more accessible and affordable.

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Better Health With Breathwork for IBD Featuring Elizabeth Coldrick of Wildly Brave Wellness - About IBD Podcast Episode 177

Better Health With Breathwork for IBD Featuring Elizabeth Coldrick of Wildly Brave Wellness – About IBD Podcast Episode 177

Elizabeth Coldrick, a nutritional therapist and breathwork facilitator living with IBD and a permanent ostomy shares her experiences living in Bali, the challenges and benefits of managing IBD abroad, and the importance of nutrition and breathwork for mental and physical health. She explains how breathwork can reduce stress and inflammation, offers a simple breathing exercise, and discusses her new nutrition e-book for people with ostomies. The episode highlights self-care, community, and practical strategies for living well with IBD.

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Getting Outdoors With IBD Featuring Jonathan Stewart of EverGreen Adventures - About IBD Podcast Episode 176

Getting Outdoors With IBD Featuring Jonathan Stewart of EverGreen Adventures – About IBD Podcast Episode 176

Jonathan Stewart, co-founder of Evergreen Adventures, a nonprofit focused on connecting the chronic illness community with outdoor activities, shares his journey with type 1 diabetes, ulcerative colitis, and sarcoidosis. Jonathan emphasizes the importance of staying active despite health challenges, describes the need for planning outdoor adventures, and encourages everyone to find joy in nature, no matter the circumstances.

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Coping With the Emotional Impacts of IBD

Coping With the Emotional Impacts of IBD

After being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, Victoria felt isolated and overwhelmed. She turned to social media to connect with the IBD community.

That led her to work with others in the IBD community to create #GetYourBellyOut. Their goal was to make some noise and get attention for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis outside of the GI community.

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Episode 175 GetYourBellyOut: Picturing Hope for IBD

#GetYourBellyOut: Picturing Hope for IBD — About IBD Podcast Episode 175

Victoria, from the patient-led, charitable organization GetYourBellyOut, shares her journey with ulcerative colitis. She describes the unique role of patient advocacy and the importance of community support, as well as the innovative projects that GetYourBellyOut is undertaking to bridge the gap between patients and healthcare providers.

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About IBD Episode 174 - How Tech is Changing Gastroenterology Featuring Neil D. Parikh, MD

How Tech is Changing Gastroenterology, Featuring Neil D. Parikh, MD

About IBD Episode 174

Amber and gastroenterologist Dr Neil Parikh discuss technology’s impact on IBD management. Dr Parikh emphasizes the importance of patient diaries and open communication between patients and providers. They also address concerns about data privacy, integrating holistic approaches in patient care, and the potential of wearable technology in gastroenterology.

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Diet Does Matter: Tips on Eating With IBD

Diet Does Matter: Tips on Eating With IBD

We can say, without any doubts, that diet does matter in IBD.

On About IBD Episode 173, I talk with Stacey Collins, a dietitian specializing in nutrition for people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), jpouch, and ostomy. Stacey herself has a jpouch after a long journey with managing ulcerative colitis.

In this companion blog post for the podcast episode, I break down the key insights and advice about diet and IBD from our conversation.

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Reclaiming Joy in Eating with IBD Featuring Stacey Collins, MA, RDN/LDN

Reclaiming Joy in Eating With IBD – About IBD Podcast Episode 173

People with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (forms of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD) were told for many decades that diet didn’t affect the disease. Even today, some patients are still told this, even though there is now significant evidence that diet absolutely matters in IBD. Stacey Collins, MA, RDN/LDN describes how her journey with ulcerative colitis led to j-pouch surgery. Her philosophy as a registered dietitian is one of “nutrition by addition” rather than by dietary restriction. Stacey also focuses on the emotional aspects of eating with IBD, including the understandable fear and anxiety around food.

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