My guest is Stephanie Brenner of Chronic Illness Psychotherapy. Stephanie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has experience in working with clients with chronic illnesses. She has also taken on a variety of roles in GI space, including previously serving on both the advisory team for the Pediatric Crohn’s Guidebook and the recruitment committee for the Rome Foundation’s GastroPsych organization.

Stephanie lives with Crohn’s disease and a permanent ileostomy and is also a cancer survivor. I asked her to help us better understand PTSD and PTS as they relate to having a chronic illness like IBD. She defines PTSD and why it can happen with IBD, what some of the signs and symptoms might look like, and what patients can do to address their mental health.

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD145

Find Stephanie Brenner, LCSW, MSW at:

• Web: https://chronicillnesspsychotherapy.com/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnesspsych

Concepts discussed:

• An Overview of Rectovaginal Fistula: https://www.verywellhealth.com/rectovaginal-fistula-overview-4587356

• An Overview of Anal or Rectal Abscess: https://www.verywellhealth.com/perirectal-abscess-2328821

• Proctectomy Surgery for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: https://www.verywellhealth.com/proctectomy-surgery-for-inflammatory-bowel-disease-4122490

• Sacha McBain, PhD: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachamcbain/

• What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?: https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-ptsd-5084527

• The Psychology of the Sickbed: https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Sickbed-J-H-Berg/dp/B004NMY0RK

• Taft TH, Quinton S, Jedel S, Simons M, Mutlu EA, Hanauer SB. Posttraumatic Stress in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Prevalence and Relationships to Patient-Reported Outcomes. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2022;28(5):710-719. doi:10.1093/ibd/izab152

• What Is EMDR Therapy?: https://www.verywellhealth.com/emdr-therapy-5212839

• Understanding Diaphragmatic Breathing: https://www.verywellhealth.com/diaphragmatic-breathing-how-to-benefits-and-exercises-5219974

• All About Grounding: Techniques to Connect to Nature: https://www.verywellhealth.com/grounding-7494652

• Self-Report PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5): https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/assessment/documents/PCL5_Standard_form.pdf (other checklists https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/assessment/adult-sr/ptsd-checklist.asp#obtain)

• Rome Foundation: https://romegipsych.org/

• Samantha Irby: https://www.samanthairby.com/

• Tig Notoro: https://tignation.com/

• Hannah Gatsby: https://hannahgadsby.com.au/

• Cameron Esposito: https://www.instagram.com/cameronesposito/

Find Amber J Tresca at:

• AboutIBD.com: About IBD

• Verywell: Verywell Health

• Facebook: @aboutIBD

• Twitter: @aboutIBD

• Pinterest: @aboutibd

• Instagram: @about_IBD

Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at:

• Facebook: @maccooneycomposer

• Instagram: @maccooneycomposer

• Web: Cooney Studio

• LinkedIn: @macooney

• Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.

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