Wellbeing

Caring for more than your gut.

Living with IBD can affect much more than your physical health. We’re creating a new area of IBDmate bringing together expert information, real experiences, reflection and practical support for your emotional wellbeing.

Coming late 2026

See what we’re creating

Shaped by lived experience

125 people with IBD, parents and carers helped shape this project. Here’s what they told us matters most.

92%Anxiety about flares, symptoms and toilet access
77%Stress around managing IBD
69%Low mood and depression

People told us they wanted real experiences, better understanding, practical ways to cope and support with difficult conversations.

What we’re creating

A new area of IBDmate focused on your emotional wellbeing, including:

Understanding emotional wellbeing

Explore how anxiety, low mood, stress and body image can be part of living with IBD, and what can help.

Real patient stories

Honest stories from people living with IBD, parents and carers about the emotional side of the condition.

Reflect and connect

Guided questions and tools to help you explore your experiences privately or start conversations with others.

Practical support

Tips, techniques and resources to help you manage challenges in everyday life.

Follow our progress

Follow the stories, conversations and updates shaping the wellbeing project.

St Marks filming 15/09/26

Sooooo that turned out to be our longest non-stop filming session yet - 9 hours with no breaks, phew! But what a lot of amazing footage we gathered from our willing (mostly willing?!) volunteers. First we met Dr Diya Kapila, a clinical research fellow and gastroenterology registrar. She shared her experiences of working in clinic, and her research looking at predicting bowel cancer risks in patients with IBD. Next was Dr Yaa Danso, also a clinical research fellow and gastroenterology registrar. Her research focuses on exploring other factors that may play a part in fatigue in people living with IBD, and potential treatments to help improve it. Then we had someone very familiar and much loved in front of the camera, IBD nurse consultant Lisa Younge. Lisa has been one of our chief supporters since the beginning of IBDmate, and although she isn't at her most comfortable being filmed, she always ends up doing a fantastic job. Fourth was another long and fruitful session with clinical psychologist Dr Alex Duff, patiently answering our endless questions! Next we filmed with consultant clinical psychologist Dr Sonya Frearson, who shared some really useful information about coming to terms with diagnosis, and discussed the value of acceptance and commitment therapy. Finally, we filmed with two people at once, advanced specialist IBD dietitian Gabriela Poufou and specialist IBD dietitian Simhika Bhudia. We were astounded by the depth of their knowledge about the psychology of food, and disordered eating behaviours in IBD, and are looking forward to filming with them again in the future! As we drive home, we are reflecting on how many people give so much in order to make sure IBDmate goes on to help as many people living with IBD as possible. Big thank yous to all ?

Filming in London

Whilst we’re not here to see a concert or watch the football, we are nonetheless excited! Tomorrow, we have a busy filming day with the amazing IBD team at St Mark’s Hospital, capturing more content for our mental health project. We have seven team members lined up to share their insights, including psychologists, registrars/research fellows, an IBD nurse and two dietitians - and four of them will be in front of our cameras for the first time! As always, we’re speechless with gratitude (metaphorically speechless - interviewing would be a challenge otherwise!) that so many busy people are willing to give their time and support to our project. We certainly couldn’t do it without them. Find out who’s in front of the camera tomorrow!

Linzi - Quote (MH general)

We are constantly reminded why we are doing what we do, and the importance of sharing the words of people living with IBD. Linzi reflected on the emotional weight of living with IBD, and not always being able to rely on feeling well.

Sophie - Quote (MH general)

As we begin the mammoth task of editing the many hours of footage we have gathered over the past weeks and months, we are constantly reminded why we are doing what we do, and the importance of sharing the words of people living with IBD. Sophie commented on how, while she has learned to appreciate the times she is well, the unpredictability of IBD means that she is never completely free of the worry that she might have a flare up. How does the unpredictability of IBD affect you?

Eve's story

This is Eve. Eve lives near St Ives with her husband, 6 cats and 3 ducks! She is passionate about research, and works in the Cambridge Biomedical Campus running clinical trials. She celebrates the 'joy of the mundane' (her words!) with her 'old lady hobbies' (also her words!) which include crochet and outings for coffee and cake! She also has Crohn's disease. We already know Eve. She has just joined us in our other role as Expert by Experience volunteers with the paediatric IBD team at Addenbrooke's Hospital, supporting young IBD patients and their families (more about that soon). It was a pleasure to join Eve and listen to her retell her story. We can't deny, it's a complex one. Eve was diagnosed aged 12, and due to aggressive perianal disease, went on to have multiple surgeries. She talked about how living with IBD from a young age has shaped her life and career, and her gratitude for the opportunities that have come about as a result, despite the challenges she has faced. She also discussed the value of the support and guidance from her mum throughout her teenage years, and how she has learned to be clear with employers about what she is capable of when her energy is low. Thank you Eve, your positivity and drive to help others is super inspiring!

Reflecting on MH project

Supporting every IBD story - and every story is so different! After an incredible few weeks of filming for our mental health project, today we've been reflecting on all the people we have met and the experiences they have shared with us. We have learned so much about so many things. What stands out to us the most (it's a cliché, but bear with us!) is how completely different every IBD story is, how each story comes with a completely different tangle of surrounding circumstances, and how even similar challenges can be interpreted, experienced, or felt entirely differently. But there were common themes that ran through each of the stories we captured. The strength and resilience that people find, even during the most difficult times, and the ability to look back at those times to acknowledge the positives and emotional growth that happened as a result. And the desire to share those experiences to support others and lessen the loneliness that so often comes with living with a chronic disease. To the amazing people who have taken the time to share their stories - thank you ?

Mansi's story

This is Mansi. Mansi lives in Leicester with her partner James and his family (she and James first met in year 7!). She has just graduated from Warwick University with a Law degree, and starts a new job with the council next week. Mansi is a dedicated foodie, and loves to cook and bake - there were freshly baked cookies for us when we arrived! She is a big Marvel fan and is equally passionate about Formula 1, recently back from a weekend at Silverstone. She also has Crohn's disease. Mansi was diagnosed at only 9 years old, and when she was 14 she first shared her story for IBDmate for kids. It was great to see her again and hear how things have been going for her since then. She talked about the lasting effects of a traumatic few months at diagnosis, and the loneliness she experienced as an immunosuppressed teen shielding during the COVID pandemic. She also reflected on how much she benefited from speaking with other young people living with IBD, doctors and nurses that she met at charity events, and how different her experience of university was compared to her time at primary and high school. ? Thank you Mansi, your energy and enthusiasm to help others is remarkable!

Ben L's story

This is Ben. Ben is 23 years old and is about to start the final year of his Psychology degree at Lincoln University, where he also met his girlfriend four years ago. He is a massive Formula 1 fan (and has an impressive F1 lego collection - we've seen it!), and enjoys listening to music. He now loves to travel and has had 7 holidays in the past 2 years! He also has ulcerative colitis. We have to admit, we love Ben. We got to know him and his wonderful family seven years ago when he was first diagnosed, and have been part of his journey since then. He first shared his experiences for IBDmate for kids back in 2021, but lots has happened since then, and we were keen to capture his updated story. Ben really struggled with toilet anxiety, and the widely-experienced but under-discussed symptom, tenesmus - he told us about the huge impact this had on his day to day life, and his education. After years of worsening health, Ben had subtotal colectomy surgery two years ago, and he shared what life has been like since, living with a stoma. He also reflected on the importance of the support he has had throughout his journey, how he got through the darkest times, and how his experiences have driven his future career plans. ? Ben, thank you for sharing your experiences to help support others...for the second time!

Created with the IBD community

This section is being developed with people living with IBD, psychologists, IBD nurses and other healthcare professionals to ensure the information is practical, evidence-based and relevant.

People living with IBD

Your experiences and insights shape this project.

Healthcare professionals

Working with psychologists, IBD nurses and specialists.

Lived experience + evidence

Combining real experiences with trusted information.