Many people with Crohn’s or Colitis experience fatigue. Fatigue is ongoing tiredness, lack of energy or exhaustion that doesn’t improve even after rest or sleep. It’s a real symptom that can be very hard to live with.

Fatigue can impact your life in every way, such as your performance in school or at work, your relationships, your ability to do everyday tasks and your social life. Because of this, many people with Crohn’s or Colitis say fatigue is the most difficult symptom to deal with.

It's important to remember that both Crohn's and Colitis are invisible illnesses. So whilst you may not be able to see the physical symptoms, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on. Listen to what they’re going through and validate their feelings. It’s important to show that you believe them when they talk about their symptoms, and that they are not a burden to you.

One of the hardest things to cope with when living with Crohn's or Colitis is the unpredictability. It touches every part of your life, from socialising, to work, studying and relationships.

Because of the unpredictability of symptoms, people may be more likely to cancel or rearrange plans. It's important to recognise how frustrating this can be for the person living with the condition. So, if you ever feel frustrated about plans being changed, try to understand their situation. You could even consider planning more relaxing ways to spend time together when usual activities may be too much of a strain? Or suggest catching up online if they don’t feel up to meeting in-person.

A diagnosis of Crohn's or Colitis is life changing. When your gut doesn’t work properly, the effects can be devastating. It can impact every part of your life - from digestion and joints to your energy levels and mental health.

Sometimes people might prefer just to carry on as normal and not talk about their illness. But at other times they may appreciate someone to open up to. Take the time to really understand what they’re going through. You don’t need to have all the answers, sometimes listening is enough.

There may be times when symptoms are better and other times when they’re worse, known as flare-ups. Having a flare-up can be a difficult time and have a big impact on a person's life. During a flare-up, someone may feel weak, tired or be in a lot of pain and discomfort. Offering to do things like cooking and cleaning could be a great help so they can focus on their recovery.

If you have Crohn’s or Colitis, what you eat may affect your symptoms. But it is different for everybody.  However, the more you know about Crohn’s and Colitis, the more support you’ll be able to give. Ask your loved one if certain foods trigger their symptoms. It's important to have this conversation with them as everyone is different. Foods that may help one person may do nothing or even make symptoms worse in another.