How Much Control Do We Really Have Over Our Triggers?

By Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

3 min read

If you ask 10 people with inflammatory bowel disease what they think triggers a flare for them, the chances are that you will get multiple different responses.

When I say triggers a flare, I mean is a factor in going from remission to being in a flare. Not what might irritate or cause pain in the gut for a short period of time.

Identifying and avoiding IBD triggers

Personally, I think it's super important to figure out what your triggers are if you can so that you can do your best to avoid them. But IBD is so complicated, and everyone's disease affects them in different ways, so it really can just be a whole lot of trial and error!

Then, there's a human error to take into account! We may sometimes automatically link symptoms to an action because we feel the need to explain it. To find a reason. I get it, and I have done it countless times myself!

What can lead to an IBD flare?

There are studies happening right now that are looking at the external and internal factors which could lead to a flare, such as PREdiCCt in the UK. This study is looking at things such as diet, sleep, and stress, as well as DNA and gut micro-organisms.

I would love it if one day we could know for sure what triggers flares in people with Crohn's and colitis, but for the moment, it feels very much up in the air, and different for each individual.

Some things are easier to control than others. If there are a few foods or drinks that you believe caused you to flare, it will be easier to avoid those than if it’s whole food groups! A complete change in diet will obviously take much more time and effort to get your head around.

The impact of stress on flares

Stress is one of those I also hear a lot, but we often feel stressed because of factors that are out of our control. How do you control stress?! I feel stressed just thinking about it!

Seriously though, it's complicated! I am a pretty "stress" person. I have tried no end of mindfulness and meditation apps, coping strategies and self-help... I just ended up stressing about the fact that I didn’t seem to have any control!

Would an ability to deal with stress better have prevented a flare coming? Does that make my flares my fault? Personally, I am inclined to go with no.

Triggers and flares are hard to control

There is so much we still don’t know about inflammatory bowel disease, but so many genetic markers have been identified that appear to play a role in someone having IBD, and having those is certainly not my fault?

I am all about looking after myself as well as I can, but that has to be within my own limits. I try to exercise on a daily basis and I eat as healthy as is possible for me.

I try to balance my work and spare time so I don't tire myself out too much. I have made a conscious effort to listen to my body and my mind and to recognize what it needs for years, but I still just went from one flare to the next and spent very little time in remission.

Yes, I think identifying triggers is really important, but don’t scold yourself if you can’t control every aspect of your life. It's important to remember that doing our best IS good enough.

If we make a few lifestyle changes along the way which improve our overall health, then that’s great! But one thing I do know for sure is that right now, IBD is very unpredictable!

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The InflammatoryBowelDisease.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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Matt Nagin Moderator
Thanks for this great post. It is very important to keep track of triggers. I forget to do so sometimes so thanks for the reminder. Also, weirdly, in my case at least, my triggers change. Sometimes a food will bother me one day and not at all another. Still, managing things like stress is always helpful! Great tips!
1. Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford Moderator & Contributor
 There are definitely times where I am not on top of tracking what's going on with my health. Life just seems to get too busy sometimes, you know?! Totally normal I think - even if it something I would tell people should always take priority. Do as I say, not as I do haha. I agree that triggers can alter, so it feels very hit and miss sometimes. All we can do is our best <3 - Sahara (team member)
Vern Laine Moderator & Contributor
<inline-mention username="Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford" user-id="2276597"/> I used to keep track in a food journal for the first few years that I had Crohn's and quickly learned what food and drink to avoid. Having said that, it wasn't always accurate depending on how I was feeling that day (or week). Now, 30+ years on, I avoid food that I know will cause me grief and try very hard to avoid situations that will cause me stress, but we know that isn't easy nowadays. The main thing I think I learned after all this time is that my trigger food...... is food LOL
judystamper Member
Triggers for flares are such a conundrum. They can be very different for everyone. Foods you can tolerate someone else may not be able to tolerate. Stress is also something that is very individualistic. And how people handle stress is very individualistic. And sometimes a flare happens for identifiable reason. It just happens. One of the best ways (in my opinion) to prevent triggers is to follow the medication plan your doctor has prescribed. Many people do not want to take medication because of the possible side effects. However, not taking the medications that have been prescribed will surely cause side effects you do not want to have. So be sure you take your medications at the appropriate time. Taking the medications at the correct time is the best method to prevent triggers for flares. But even following the prescribed plan, you may still have flares. IBD is such a mysterious condition. Doctors know a lot about IBD, but they don't know everything. Change is always inevitable in our lives. When anyone develops some kind of autoimmune disease or some other kind of serious health condition, it is a BIG change in our lives. But it is what it is, and we need to learn to deal with it. We need to "pull up our big girl (or big boy) pants and go on with life. We will enjoy life much more when we accept that is our life, and we must deal with it. 
1. christine.laaksonen Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="judystamper" user-id="2248832"/> thanks so much for your comment and sharing your thoughts and views. It's such an important reminder that every person is different, and even their IBD can be different. Triggers for one person might be completely different for the next, and what helps one person get relief might not work at all for another. We appreciate you joining the conversation here! -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member)
2. Richard Faust Community Admin
 Hi <inline-mention username="judystamper" user-id="2248832"/>. You raise a great point about when weighing the impact of meds to not forget the impact of uncontrolled disease. We see a lot of people here who were diagnosed before modern treatments who paid a high price for not having effective treatments. My wife, Kelly, was diagnosed with a severe form of a different autoimmune conditions at age two, 45 years ago (in her case juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and she has used a wheelchair since childhood). A conversation we have had with her doctor on more than one occasion has been about the hope that children diagnosed today will have better outcomes. Wishing you best. Richard (Team Member)