Sex and Relationships

Sex and Relationships

My Mother Drove Home What Kind of Parent I Want to Be

In the midst of an MS flare, I made a decision that made me feel like a burden. My mother’s response showed me how to be a better mother to my own kids.

Sex and Relationships

Why — and How — to Talk About Your Invisible IBD Symptoms with Those You Love

Family and friends may struggle to support you unless they have the full picture of everything you're going through with inflammatory bowel disease.

Sex and Relationships

Can Chronic Pain Relief Be Playful? The Unexpected Benefits of Sexual Activity

Living with chronic pain may hamper sexual desire. But it just might offer the pain relief you've been searching for.

Sex and Relationships

When the Fairy Tale Ends: Divorce with a Chronic Illness

Divorce is difficult under the best of circumstances. Having a chronic illness complicates matters further. Be sure to consider all the legal, financial, social, and other implications before you proceed.

Sex and Relationships

How to Create and Keep Boundaries When You Have a Chronic Illness

IBD and other chronic illnesses can take a toll on how we value ourselves. But prioritizing our own needs is important for maintaining our physical and mental health.

Sex and Relationships

How to be Supportive When Your Partner Has a Chronic Condition

When your partner lives with a chronic condition it can be hard to know the best ways to support them. Here's how I would want a partner to support me in my daily life with chronic illness.

Sex and Relationships

6 Ways to Use the Spoon Theory to Improve Communication in Your Relationship

Communication is key to any healthy relationship. The spoon theory, a popular metaphor in the chronic condition community, is a tool that can help strengthen your bond.

Sex and Relationships

How I Found Intimacy, Sex, and Romance While Living with IBD

I learned to overcome the embarrassment I felt at having gas, diarrhea, and other unsexy symptoms of IBD. Here's how.

Sex and Relationships

7 Tips for Talking with Friends and Family About Your Chronic Illness

Letting your loved ones know about your symptoms, triggers, and boundaries can help them better support you — and help you feel less alone. Writer and activist Nia G. explains how she approaches those conversations with her friends and family.

Sex and Relationships

8 Things I Learned During My First Year of Being a Parent with Chronic Illness

Being able to have kids was my first surprise. I've faced a lot of other challenges and surprises in the first year of my son's life. Here's what I learned and my advice.

Sex and Relationships

Finding Love with Crohn’s Disease: A Letter to My Younger Self

As a teenager, I worried I'd never have a relationship like the ones in the movies. As an adult, I have something better.

Sex and Relationships

5 Benefits of Disclosing Your Diagnosis While Dating

There is so much power, beauty, and potential that exists in revealing your health condition to a new dating partner.

Sex and Relationships

8 Ways to Enjoy Holiday Parties with IBD

With a little preparation, you can joyfully celebrate the holidays in a way that works for you and your IBD.

Sex and Relationships

How to Communicate When Loved Ones Aren’t Accepting of Your Chronic Illness

Having a chronic illness can be a challenging experience, and it can feel even more challenging without the full support of those closest to you.

Sex and Relationships

How IBD Has Shaped My Approach to Parenting

My toddler may not understand what an autoimmune disorder is yet, but she is still learning valuable lessons in empathy and compassion.

Sex and Relationships

6 Tips for Maintaining Your Social Life with IBD

Socializing with IBD can be challenging. However, with just a little preparation, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience that is good for your body and soul.

Sex and Relationships

Think You Can’t Have Good Sex After a Chronic Illness Diagnosis? Think Again

Your sex life shouldn't be halted because of bad advice, embarrassed doctors, or a lack of knowledge.

Sex and Relationships

10 Tips for Surviving the First Year of Motherhood with IBD

Like most aspects of life with inflammatory bowel disease, the first year of motherhood can be challenging and exhausting. Here are some tips for surviving that tricky first year postpartum.

Sex and Relationships

How Online Support Groups Can Help During an IBD Flare-Up

How Online Support Groups Can Help During an IBD Flare-Up

Sex and Relationships

Love and Disability: How to Tell Your Date About Your Chronic Illness

Knowing your person is out there doesn’t make disclosing your health history any easier, but these tips can help.

Sex and Relationships

An Open Letter to Moms with IBD: You’ve Got This

These are some reassuring words of love I wish I had heard during my pregnancy.