Gut Feelings

The topic for this session is "Finding Your Balance with Food, Festive Treats & Alcohol".

The festive period can be joyful, but it can also bring real challenges for people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Rich or unfamiliar foods, larger meals, alcohol, colder weather, stress, and changes to routine can all influence gut symptoms. Many people with IBD notice differences in digestion, energy levels, or bathroom habits during this time of year, whether due to diet, social pressures, or simply the busyness of the season.

This friendly peer support session creates space to talk openly about these experiences.

Together, we’ll explore:

• How festive food & drink may affect digestion, bowel habits, or abdominal comfort
• The pressure of social expectations around alcohol and indulgence
• Finding a balance between enjoying celebrations and caring for your gut
• Tips for planning ahead, pacing yourself, and reducing stress
• What others have found helpful or unhelpful during the winter break

You’ll hear real experiences from people who understand what you’re going through, pick up practical ideas, and feel supported heading into the festive period. This session isn’t about restriction or “perfect eating”, it’s about sharing honest stories, understanding your own triggers and boundaries, and making space for what matters most to you this winter.

About Gut Feelings

Online Meet-ups are led by you, for you! They provide an opportunity for you to engage with other people living with your condition and participate in conversations about your health. Meet-ups help you to inspire others, or be inspired, to self-manage health and look after your wellbeing. This is not a recorded event.

"The Community Meetups give people a chance to chat with others in the same situation as themselves, and to speak openly without embarrassment in a safe space." - David

These community events are for people at all stages of the journey with their condition, so please keep this in mind when sharing your experience and advice. You must also join within the first 15 minutes to be able to take part in this event.

Please read the Code of Conduct Guidelines prior to joining the meet-ups:

❌ Participants should not:

- give medical advice or provide any diagnosis to other participants

- record the event on their own devices

- share the event link with others who haven’t signed up

- provide personal contact information to other participants during the meet-ups

✅ Participants are encouraged to

- remember that people are participating because they want to help people, or to be helped by people, to be inspired to engage with their health

- be helpful, constructive, patient, kind and not get drawn into any conflicts even if you strongly disagree with others’ opinions

- choose a call location and setting that is in a private area where there are no inappropriate images or noise in the background. We want you all to feel safe and in a confidential environment

- turn your cameras on, where possible, to fully participate in the meet-ups and as a courtesy to others trying to relate by sharing personal experiences

Disclaimer

Meet-ups are not a place to receive individual psychological support as there are not trained specialists present. The session leaders will not be able to provide mental health support and therefore if needed we recommend you consult your GP or other Healthcare professional to discuss these challenges.

If you feel you are at risk of hurting yourself or are experiencing suicidal thoughts please call a suicide helpline such as SAMARITANS (116 123), your GP, 111 or 999 in a crisis emergency (if you're based in the UK, otherwise please dial your local country's emergency line). If you hear someone express that they are at risk of hurting themselves please report this to the Ampersand Host by messaging them privately in the Zoom chat. We will advise the individual to access the above helplines or their locally relevant support.

About Ampersand

We are a social-impact focused company, meaning we aim to create a positive difference in people's lives. Through personalised digital therapies, we provide support to individuals so that they can self-manage their long-term conditions and improve their overall wellbeing.

About My IBD Care

My IBD Care is a free app providing engaging & effective learning and communication tools, to help you consistently and confidently manage your Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis.