IBS AND ANXIETY?!

[Emmy-89]

Hey everyone! I'm getting concerned as I'm a professional musician and have a show tonight, anyway my stomach has decided to flip out on me and I'm feeling very gassy, nauseous and a bit shaky! I do suffer from anxiety also. Does anyone else think this is anxiety triggering this attack? The trouble is that I ate something last night that had me dashing to the loo and since then I've been worried about not being well today! I'm wondering if I'm getting sick or if it's my IBS and anxiety! What do you guys think? I'd really appreciate any responses! Thanks for reading!

[alwayshope111]

You're anxious about your show, most people would feel this way, and given that you have anxiety and IBS, this would heighten that anxiety a bit and make it more difficult to cope with. Your anxiety will feed your IBS, then the IBS feeds the anixety... it's that annoying cycle again. You also had something to eat that didn't have a great effect on your digestive system, so you have that on your mind too. Given that it was last night you ate that food, your system will have calmed down from that by now and I imagine you applied some sort of relief.

It sounds like all of this has snowballed. For your anxiety, think about the last time you went on stage and it went well, because that's probably what will happen again. Think about a time you had IBS symptoms and you got through it anyway. Remember that you'll be on stage for only so long, and that it will be a manageable amount of time. A professional like yourself will be focused on giving your best performance, so you will have quite the distraction.

I know a deep breathing technique that turns off the stress response and tells the brain that you are safe and calm. You press the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth just behind your two front teeth. Whilst keeping your tongue there throughout, you breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds, hold it for 7 seconds, then breathe out through your mouth with a slight whooshing sound for 8 seconds. Repeat that a few times, and when you breathe in, make sure you're breathing into your stomach so that it rises and then goes flat when you breathe out.

Don't try any new supplements/meds tonight, but if you already take any that you find soothing, take them. I find herbs very soothing to smell, mainly sage and lavender, they put me into a clearer head space.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll do fine, you'll feel fulfilled after and can treat yourself and have a rest.

[2stroke]

SOUNDS LIKE----STRESS------I normally get acid if i'm stressed,and PEPTAC LIQUID gets rid of it.

CALM DOWN MADAM,CALM DOWN.

[janetmtt]

a dose of nux vom homeopathic remedy usually sorts my tum out and settles it down

[Kezrey]

I would say the two things are very likely to be linked. I have Ibs and have been trying to figure out my trigger foods for years. The only thing I can really see a pattern with is when I’m stressed or anxious! I find exercise and mindfulness to be a good help.

[Hidden]

Hi Emmy,

It could be very beneficial for you to have some hypnotherapy.

And you might find this article useful: sickofibs.com/ibs-symptoms/...

Alison

[jaxsn]

I would take immodium now also for peace of mind and again before the show. Good luck sure you will be fine.

[pajohns]

How did it go? Were you able to calm your nerves?