The Mind-Body Connection in IBS and IBD Featuring Ali Navidi, PsyD
Release Date: 07/07/2025
Is Your Eye Pain Actually an IBD Flare?
About IBD
Did you know that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) isn't only a digestive condition? It can also attack your vision. Your host, Amber J Tresca, breaks down some of the most common eye-related extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs) of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Learn how to identify the warning signs of episcleritis, uveitis, and scleritis, and find out when you need to see an ophthalmologist right away to protect your eyesight. Episode transcript and more information at: Key Chapters & Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction: Protecting your vision with IBD 02:07 - What are...
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How to Fuel Athletic Performance In Chronic Illness Featuring T.L. Wright (The IBD Athlete)
About IBD
T.L. Wright, known as The IBD Athlete and author of The SCD Athlete Cookbook, tells Amber about her frustrating decades-long journey to a Crohn's disease diagnosis. She explains the health reasons behind her pivot from triathlons and Ironman races to competitive bodybuilding. You'll leave this episode with a better understanding of how to fuel for your sport or workout while managing an immune-mediated condition. Episode transcript and more information at: The SCD Athlete Cookbook: and Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to the IBD Athlete 02:39 - A Lifetime of Unexplained Symptoms 04:18 - The...
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Epidemiology, Big Data, and Biologics in Pregnancy
About IBD
Episode transcript and more information at: What does a pregnant woman do when they need a biologic medication, but pregnancy isn't included in drug trials? Dr. Sonia Grandi and Dr. Christina Longo talk to Amber Tresca about the BIONIC study, a groundbreaking project using decades of real-world data to understand how biologics affect a pregnant woman and her baby. The BIONIC study is designed to empower patients to make confident, evidence-based decisions about their own health and their children's future. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to Dr. Sonia Grandi and Dr. Christina Longo. ...
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The Insidious Reasons Why IBD Destroys Sleep
About IBD
Everyone needs sleep, but so many of us struggle to get enough. People living with IBD know that a good night’s sleep can feel like a distant dream, whether it’s pain, urgent bathroom trips, or racing thoughts keeping you up. But why exactly does IBD disrupt our sleep even during remission? And what is your sleep telling you about the risks of a flare-up? Episode transcript and more information at: Chapters: 00:04 Introduction and Host Background 01:32 IBD and Sleep: The Problem 03:00 Why Sleep Matters for IBD 04:14 Defining Sleep Disturbance in IBD 05:23 Inflammation’s Role in Sleep...
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How to Harness AI for Good Featuring Michael Tresca
About IBD
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being utilized in healthcare for many purposes. Patients are wondering how they can safely and effectively use AI tools to educate themselves and to manage their health. Amber and guest Michael Tresca discuss what AI is, how it works, and why skepticism and source verification are essential. They highlight practical, lower-risk ways patients might use AI, such as organizing personal health data, drafting appointment questions, and explaining medical terms. The emphasis is on ongoing education, privacy concerns, responsible use, and the importance of "trust but...
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How You Can Improve Intimacy When Living With IBD Featuring Dr Stacy Friedman
About IBD
The bedroom can be a place of anxiety for people of all genders living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). How can you boost your confidence and deepen your connection with your partner while living with IBD? Dr. Stacy Friedman is a clinical sexologist and intimacy coach living with ulcerative colitis. She explains how IBD affects intimacy, body image, dating, and relationships. Dr. Stacy shares her personal experiences and professional advice, with a focus on communication, trust, and how to know if a partner will be supportive. In this episode, we talk about why intimacy is more than sex...
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How to Protect Yourself in the Age of AI
About IBD
Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay. How can we approach AI with both curiosity and caution, especially as it becomes more integrated into daily life? If we’re not aware of it and looking for it, AI could become inserted into spaces where we aren’t comfortable with it. Amber talks with her son Brenden, a computer science student, about recognizing AI-generated content, the importance of media literacy, and the ethical challenges technology brings. This conversation offers some practical uses for AI, such as learning new skills or automating mundane tasks, while pointing out that...
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How to Bring an Intention to Your 2026
About IBD
We explore the idea of setting intentions instead of resolutions in the new year, which are more adaptable for people living with IBD. Amber shares clips from guests who explain their intentions, such as prosper, discipline, generosity, consistency, and the importance of taking breaks. Each guest highlights how intentions guide actions and mindset, emphasizing personal growth, resilience, and kindness, despite unpredictability. Episode transcript and more information at: Chapters: 00:05 — Introduction to Intentions Clip Show 01:14 — Why Intentions Over Resolutions 02:31 — Lisa: Prosper...
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Amber's Year in Books 2025
About IBD
Looking for your next great read? Host of About IBD, Amber Tresca, gives her year-end roundup of books, with brief summaries and her reflections on each. The selections cover a mix of genres, from speculative fiction and psychological thrillers to memoir and dark fantasy, often touching on themes of trauma, community, self-acceptance, and chronic illness. Amber shares how the stories resonated with her experience as a GenX mom living with a chronic illness, offering both recommendations and caveats. She also discusses practical tips for accessing books affordably through libraries and apps,...
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How To Build Resilience and Manage Life With IBD Featuring Kinsey Beagley
About IBD
Episode transcript and more information at: Kinsey Beagley, a pediatric medical assistant diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 15, shares about her experiences with IBD, including struggling with symptoms, multiple medication failures, and eventually having J-pouch surgery. Kinsey shares how reframing difficult experiences and adopting a positive mindset—her mantra is “I can do hard things”—has helped her cope. Chapters 00:04 Introduction and Guest Introduction 02:05 Kinsey’s Diagnosis Story 04:42 Initial Treatments and Medication Journey 06:06 Decision for Surgery 07:09 Emotional...
info_outline- Mental health challenges associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Stigma surrounding mental health in gastrointestinal disorders
- The connection between mental and physical health in digestive disorders
- Disorders of gut-brain interaction and their implications
- Importance of seeking support and building a network for mental health
- Role of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating GI disorders
- Use of clinical hypnosis for managing pain and anxiety
- Access to specialized mental health care for patients with GI disorders
- Development of therapeutic groups for IBD patients
- Need for specialized training for mental health professionals in GI disorders
- Web: https://www.gipsychology.com/
- Facebook: @GIPsychology
- Instagram: @gipsychusa
- IBD Psychotherapy Group: https://www.gipsychology.com/ibdgroup/
- PsyPact: https://psypact.gov/
- Dr. Navidi’s discussion with Dr. Mark Mattar (Medstar Georgetown) and Kate Wheeling of The Atlantic about the impact of Clinical Hypnosis on IBS: https://www.gipsychology.com/2023/11/30/gi-psychology-and-the-atlantic-discuss-clinical-hypnosis-for-ibs/
- Dr. Navidi’s interview with Elizabeth Chang of the Washington Post to talk Clinical Hypnosis and IBS: https://www.gipsychology.com/2022/10/04/gi-psychology-director-dr-ali-navidi-talks-to-the-washington-post/
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- Web: Cooney Studio
- YouTube: @MacCooneyComposer
- Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.