Ibs and mental health...

[pajohns]

Just struggling at the mo with anxiety and stress. My ibs is most definitely stress related. I have two young children and the other night one was up all night teething. I got virtually no sleep and my ibs symptoms got worse. This confirmed what I thought was a trigger for me, stress anxiety and sleep deprivation.

So long and the short is what do I do about it? If you have a trigger food then you can just not eat that food but I can't control when my kids aren't well so what is the answer?

Does anyone relate to this and have any good techniques they use to help? I've tried breathing exercises but although that calms me somewhat it doesn't help the ibs symptoms.

Trying to get myself out of a vicious cycle of ibs due to stress and anxiety, stress and anxiety due to ibs.

Any tips appreciated. Tia

[cherylpv]

Hi pajohns,

I can definitely relate. I think it is common for us to hold stress in our gut area. I have gotten better at recognising it since I got IBS. I am currently trying to just decrease my stress levels as much as possible, I like guided meditations, and a lot of naps. But I am not working right now and just the thought of going back to work stresses me out. If I am strict with my diet, no gluten or dairy, taking digestive enzymes and high B vitamins I definitely feel better. B vitamins help us deal with stress. But, it is so hard for me to be strict. This sucks

[pajohns in reply to cherylpv]

I'm so sorry you feel this way. I feel much happier when I go to work as I enjoy my job atm the ibs is starting to interfere with that which is another added stress.

What digestive enzymes do you take and as for vit b do you just get some from health food shop? What type?

It's all a bit of a mind field for me as my diagnosis is pretty recent.

Thanks

[Nicki1984]

Hi there I started to struggle with stress and anxiety when my daughter was born then my mum passed away - 3 years of chronic stress and anxiety then I started developing IBS symptoms and then came the vicious cycle. It's been nearly 2 years now and a lot of progress made but it's very trial and error for each individual. I found counselling great in helping me get on top of everything and helped me to be stronger in dealing with the hear and now. Self help books and meditation also great. As for the IBS I understand now how chronic stress can upset your digestive health and imbalance your good bacteria and digestive enzymes causing food intolerances and inability to break down your food. Stress can also cause candida overgrowth (a yeast infection) which causes IBS symptoms. I would suggest keeping a food diary and visiting your doctor although gps don't know much about IBS and I have personally not found them very helpful. Have a look at the low FODMAP diet- I found gluten and dairy the main problems. I also now know I have candida overgrowth which feeds off sugars and yeast - a whole new diet to look at in the new year! Start taking a good probiotic, digestive enzymes, peppermint oil, multivitamin etc x

[pajohns in reply to Nicki1984]

What digestive enzymes do you take? Is this a health food shop thing or should I ask my dr?

I'm keeping a diary now of symptoms, food and things that happen plus my mood. Hopefully I can get to see a counsellor and I'll have some 'data' to talk about.

Thanks for your reply.

[Nicki1984 in reply to pajohns]

You could get some in holland and barratt but also lots of health supplement shops online. Check the ingredients make sure they are free from gluten, wheat, yeast, sugar, dairy etc. I have started using Udo's Choice as they seem the most natural I got these on Amazon x