A-Z Holiday Survival Guide for IBS Sufferers

Does the thought of the holiday season, filled with festive parties and gatherings, fill you with excitement? Or does it leave you with a sense of impending flare up doom and anxiety? Whether you're excited to celebrate the holidays and the New Year or not, we've got many suggestions of how to get through and maybe even enjoy the festivities.

Holiday stress

Holidays are stressful, even for those who aren't suffering from chronic conditions. Self-care is always important and it's easy to forget when you're caught up in the holiday shopping and party craze. Suggestions on how to manage holiday stress:

• Taming Holiday Stress
• Holiday Stress? Ways to Say Bye-Bye to IBS Symptoms
• Holiday Blues

Holiday celebrations - when you aren't feeling so festive

Have a holiday party with friends, family or co-workers? Having a flare up when you have a party or important celebration is only par for the course. It can be tough just figuring out what to wear, let alone how you'll manage symptoms. Not to mention the barrage of uncomfortable questions that will be directed at you if you aren't eating or drinking. If you have no choice but to soldier on through, here are some ways to make the holiday gathering a little easier:

• How to Manage IBS During Holiday Gatherings
• How to Make the Holidays Easier with IBS?
• IBS and the Holidays: Everyone's Favorite Couple!
• Holiday Party Hacks
• Socializing with IBS

Family and friends

Holidays can also mean spending lots of quality time with family and friends. Unfortunately, many don't understand the struggle of living with and managing an invisible illness like IBS. A few tips to help your family and friends to understand:

• Tips on Getting Your Family To Understand
• Talking About IBS Isn't Always Easy

Holidays = gifts!

Buying gifts for loved ones can be tricky in the best of circumstances. But when you're dealing with flare-ups almost every day, the only thing you want from Santa is relief from your symptoms. Since there isn't a cure for IBS, we have gift ideas that will bring a smile to your face and might also make you feel good!

• IBS Holiday Gift Guide

Food, food, and more food!

The holiday season isn't just about being merry and spending time with family and friends. Its spending time with loved ones while being surrounded by lots of delicious food - food that many IBS sufferers can't really enjoy without being sick for days after. But not to worry! There are holiday-specific recipes that aren't only delicious, they can be enjoyed without being concerned about dealing with a flare up!

• Holiday Gluten & Dairy-Free Dessert - Pavlova
• Gluten and Dairy-Free Holiday Muffins

Other low FODMAP and IBS-friendly recipes can be found here.

Finally, even though the holidays can be a difficult time for IBS sufferers, everyone can use some fun and laughter to lighten the mood:

• The 12 Days of (an IBS) Christmas

Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year!