Tolerance limits, self-understanding and stress resilience in the integrative recovery of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) was common among IBD patients attending outpatient clinics in Norway. Patients with IBD found it easier to communicate about CAM with the IBD nurses than with physicians. Dietary change was one important CAM treatment together with homeopathy and acupuncture. Because IBD has become a lifestyle and a global disease both in developed as in developing countries, there is a need to reconcile the most appropriate care and treatment for these patients. A hermeneutic approach was used to analyze interviews with patients living with IBD outside hospitals. 13 young adults between 18 to 45 years of age in calmer phases of IBD participated in the study. Three main themes emerged from the analysis of the interviews:

• understanding limits in embodied tolerance,

• restoring balance leads to a new equilibrium and

• creating resilience through integrative care.

Anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia and fatigue are known consequences of IBD and cause a lower degree of wellbeing for the patients. The digestive system is very important in establishing the interface between the body and the external world. Properly functioning digestion, psychosocial stress reduction and a better sleep quality are important to rebuild a balanced immune system. Stress resilience during a patient's recovery from IBD requires self-understanding, self-recognition and psychosocial support from health care professionals at hospital outpatient clinics.

Keywords:

Hermeneutics, inflammatory bowel disease, integrative recovery, stress resilience, tolerance limit.