Bezzy IBD is an online community with peer support, advice, and feel-good stories for people living with inflammatory bowel disease.
As humans, we’re wired for connection. Belonging to a community makes us feel safe and supported.
Living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can feel physically and emotionally isolating. It can be hard to do things you loved before your diagnosis and feel like no one understands what it’s like.
But you’re not alone.
What we’re all about
Bezzy IBD is a free online community created just for people living with Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. Here you can read articles, chat (anonymously or not), and share your experiences.
We designed Bezzy as a space where:
- You feel seen, valued, and understood.
- Your story matters.
- Shared vulnerability is the name of the game.
So happy to find a community that knows what I am experiencing. It’s been so hard for me to explain to my family and I don’t think even then they believe my symptoms are so bad or even understand.
— Ch4ndl3r7, Bezzy member
What you can expect here
Membership is free, and you get full access to the community, including:
- Forums: From treatments to relationships to daily living, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis can change everything. Each forum is a chat room dedicated to a specific topic, from basic introductions to symptom management to community announcements. Whatever you’re feeling on any given day, there’s a forum where you can connect and share directly with other members.
- Stories: You can check out stories and experiences of people living with IBD under the “Discover” section of the drop-down menu. You’ll also find informational articles written by professional health writers and approved by our medical review team before publication.
- Messaging: If you’re a Bezzy IBD app user, you can connect with other members one-on-one through private messaging. (P.S., If you’re not, you can download the app for iOS or Android.)
- Live chats: Need to vent? Get advice? Share what’s on your mind? Connect with other Bezzy members during hour-long live chats scheduled Monday through Thursday every week. All live chats are text-based (not on camera!) and led by Alexa Federico, our amazing community guide.
- Safety: We take thoughtful steps to build safety, security, and privacy into our platform, so you feel safe sharing your personal stories and experiences.
I have had Crohn’s for 30+ years and am a retired dietitian. These articles are some of the most concise, accurate, and helpful articles I’ve read about Crohn’s. I appreciate that the articles are medically reviewed. Thank you.
— anonymous Bezzy IBD member
So why do we call it Bezzy?
“Bezzy” is the British English word for a person’s best or closest friend (aka “bestie”).
Inspired by the power of friendship, Bezzy IBD is a safe space for shared experiences and authentic conversations.
You can also connect with the Bezzy community on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
We hope you’ll join us.
Originally written January 03, 2022
Fact checked on January 03, 2022
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