***SPECIAL EDITION***Crohn’s &Colitis Awareness Week • December 1–7

This week, December 1–7, is Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week —
a time set aside to honor and support the millions of people living with these
chronic illnesses every single day.

For many, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (often just called
“colitis”) are invisible. You can’t see the pain. You can’t see the
exhaustion. You usually don’t see the dozens of decisions someone makes
each day just to function.

But their bodies are fighting a battle in the background all the time.

So… what are Crohn’s and colitis?

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are both types of
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). They happen when the immune
system mistakenly attacks parts of the digestive tract, causing ongoing
inflammation, ulcers, and a lot of life-disrupting symptoms.

• Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive tract
  from mouth to anus, but most often hits the small intestine and the
  beginning of the large intestine. Inflammation can go through the full
  thickness of the bowel wall, causing “patches” of damage.
• Ulcerative colitis mainly affects the colon (large intestine)
  and rectum. It usually starts in the rectum and can spread in a continuous
  line up the colon, causing ulcers and bleeding on the inner lining.

These conditions are chronic and currently have no cure, but
there are treatments that can reduce inflammation, help control symptoms,
and give people stretches of remission where life feels a little more
“normal.”

What life with IBD can look like

Everyone’s experience is different, but common symptoms can include:

• Severe belly pain and cramping
• Frequent diarrhea (sometimes 10+ times a day)
• Blood or mucus in the stool
• Nausea and loss of appetite
• Urgent, can’t-wait trips to the bathroom
• Extreme fatigue that sleep doesn’t fix
• Weight loss, anemia, and nutrient deficiencies
• Joint pain, skin issues, eye inflammation, and other “extra” symptoms

Some people also face serious complications like bowel obstruction,
abscesses, fistulas, dehydration, or increased risk of colon cancer over
time.

And yet… many people with IBD are still working, parenting, serving at
church, showing up on Zoom calls, and doing their best to live a “normal”
life. From the outside, it can look like they’re fine. Inside, they might be
counting down minutes until they can find a restroom, curl up with a
heating pad, or just lie still and breathe through the pain.

The invisible load: what you don’t see

Living with Crohn’s or colitis isn’t just about bathroom runs. It’s about:

• Planning every outing around bathroom access.
• Quietly tracking every bite of food: “Will this trigger a
  flare? Will I regret this later?”
• Decision fatigue from constant medical choices: meds, side
  effects, procedures, labs, scopes
• Unpredictable flares that show up without warning and derail
  carefully made plans
• Grief and loss over the life they thought they’d have vs.
  the one they actually live
• Shame from symptoms we don’t talk about publicly (bathroom
  issues, accidents, weight changes)

Many people also wrestle with anxiety or depression alongside their IBD.
It’s hard to live in a body that can “betray” you at any moment, especially
when others expect you to push through as if nothing is happening.

Hurtful things people hear (even from well-meaning friends)

People with Crohn’s or colitis often hear things like:

• “But you look good! Are you sure it’s that bad?”
• “You’re in the bathroom again?”
• “I get stomach issues too… have you tried just not eating gluten?”
• “You canceled last time too. Are you ever up for anything?”

Most of these comments come from not understanding, not from cruelty. But
they can leave someone feeling doubted, dismissed, or like a burden.

Kinder things we can say instead

Words can either deepen someone’s shame or help lift their load a little. Try:

• “Thank you for trusting me with this. I know it’s not easy to talk about.”
• “If you need to rest, leave early, or cancel, it’s okay. Your health matters.”
• “Hey, is this restaurant going to work for you? If not, we can pick somewhere else.”
• “Is there anything I can do today that would actually make this easier for you?”

Small changes in how we speak can make a big difference in how safe someone feels.

Practical ways to support someone with Crohn’s or colitis

If you have a friend, family member, or church member living with IBD, here are some simple, tangible ways to care:

1. Believe them the first time.

If they say they’re in pain, exhausted, or dealing with a flare, believe them — even if they “look fine.” Chronic illness doesn’t always come with visible clues.

2. Be flexible with plans.

Last-minute cancellations aren’t flakiness; they’re survival. Keep invitations open, but remove guilt from the yes/no.

3. Think about access.

• Choose places with easy bathroom access.
• Offer an aisle seat or end of the row.
• If you’re hosting, let them know where the bathroom is and that it’s okay to slip out.

4. Offer practical help.

• Drop off a safe meal (after asking about foods that don’t send them into a flare).
• Help with errands or rides to appointments.
• Sit with them during an infusion or after a procedure if they want company.

5. Protect their dignity.

If they have an accident, need to leave suddenly, or seem embarrassed, respond with calm, kindness, and privacy. No jokes, no eye-rolling, no gossip.

For the person living with Crohn’s or colitis

If you’re reading this and you live with Crohn’s disease or colitis, this is for you:

• You are not “too sensitive” or “too high maintenance.” You’re navigating a genuine, complex medical condition.
• You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to say no. You are allowed to prioritize your health.
• Needing accommodations doesn’t make you weak; it makes you wise.

You are more than your diagnosis. You are not just the “sick one,” the “bathroom one,” or the “always tired one.” You’re a whole person, deeply loved and worth showing up for.

If you’re a person of faith, you may wrestle with questions like “Why hasn’t God healed me?” or “Am I doing something wrong?” Those questions are heavy, and they deserve gentle, honest spaces — not quick, easy answers. Please know that needing ongoing medical care does not mean you lack faith. God is present in the long, quiet, everyday courage it takes to live with a chronic illness.

How we can “shine the light” this week

During Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week, let’s:

• Learn a little more about IBD
• Share posts that tell the truth about what Crohn’s and colitis are really like
• Check in on friends who live with these conditions
• Make our churches, workplaces, and communities a little more bathroom-friendly, flexible, and kind

If you live with Crohn’s or colitis and feel comfortable sharing, you’re welcome to use the comments to tell us:

• How this illness affects your daily life
• One thing you wish people better understood
• One way others have supported you well

Let’s be a place where invisible illness is seen, and where people feel less alone. 🐸💜