Anxiety and IBS

[Rainelee]

Hi all,

I’ve suffered from IBS for about 6 years but only diagnosed just over a year ago. My main symptom is abdominal pain along with bloating, gurgling, mild constipation/diarrhea, nausea and fatigue. My main trigger is stress/anxiety. I’ve had mild anxiety for most of life but since having IBS it has gotten a lot worse and there seems to be a vicious cycle of anxiety making symptoms worse and my symptoms making my anxiety worse and around it goes. It’s getting to the point where I avoid going out in fear of my anxiety bringing on a flare up. I have seen a psychologist and found it to be not very helpful. Does anyone else experience this and how do you manage it?

Thanks in advance.

[Kilgh]

Experiencing it right now! Bypassed psychologists because they don't understand the medical aspect. So have engaged a Psychiatrist who has me on a drug to reduce nerve communication. Which has a dual action of calming anxiety and the gut. Early days. Hoping it works.

[Rainelee in reply to Kilgh]

Do you know what it’s called?

[Kilgh in reply to Rainelee]

Pregabalin. That's the name for it in my country.

[Rainelee in reply to Kilgh]

Thanks

[Kilgh in reply to Rainelee]

Makes sense it should work...I'm also doing Tai Chi every day and the IBS 100 hynotherapy course. Gotta work at it to beat it. No easy fix except to decide to fix it.

[asbayford]

I have the exact same thing so I feel for You! I dread making any plans because I don't know how my stomach will act so cancel all the time!

My GP put me on an antidepressants called Mirtazipine. It slows everything down in the tum but at the same time lifts your mood after a couple of week!

Worth a look at what it does? 😊

Wishing you all the best and a full recovery! X

[Bits1961]

Yes I can relate to the stress factor, in fact now every celebration Christmas,Birthday,Wedding.. anything and it starts, I try telling myself that it's just anxiety but really the only answer is to think,,, well the celebration won't last and when it's over my IBS will settle.In the meantime Buscopan helps me and the comfort of a hot water bottle on my tummy whilst trying to relax.Good Luck, hope I've helped in some way

[Hope-full]

Hopeful 🤗 I have suffered anxiety issues on & off the majority of my life. Now at the age of 62yrs I have gathered coping methods along my journey. Probably the most helpful one being not to focus on the distressing thought. Divert your attention onto something else that is either enjoyable to you or important. Sounds easy, I know, saying things like that. It’s doing at the time. Well nothing comes easy to us. We have to practice it, be prepared to give it time & very important not give up because we find it extra difficult or don’t feel like bothering. In time diversion from anxious thought does get easier most of the time.

I have also learnt quite a lot about mindfulness. It’s an art that two I’ve learnt over time with much practicing too. Now I’m able to generally be a calm & relaxed person. This helps prevent me getting into what would previously would have become a very anxious situation. It dose really help me enjoy my life much more in general.

There are many types of ways we can learn about today that help us relax & feel better more in control of lives. Things like yoga, relaxation & also simple taking up something new you can really enjoy. May be just reading or learning something new like seeing or a language also art & music. Lots & lots to do. It must be enjoyable to you & make you take time out to do for yourself a lone.

All these excampled help you become more relaxed, give you something in your life you enjoy & look forward too. I believe too our self image is important. Feeling content with ourselves. Not always taking the brunt for things we know isn’t true. Not looking in the mirror & feeling depressed. Rather think perhaps I could put a tiny amount of makeup on today or do my hair slightly different. We have to except ourselves the way we are & how we look. If not just imagine how much stress we’re sadly inflicting upon our poor struggling self. Then there’s the normal uncontrollable stress in life we can’t control. Money, families, jobs, loosing jobs & life in general just to name a few. These are difficult. However, having the strggerties learned will help.

Last one I want to mention is attitude. How difficult this is too to manage. Being a positive person for some can be almost to difficult But becoming more motivated & poitive for myself has been a definite bonus. My name ‘ Hopeful’ came from changing my way of thinking. Never giving up & always keeping that hope in my heart. Really this got me through many dark times. It too took lots of practice & courage.

You may be wondering what all this has to do with your anxiety. All I know is each example has lead to myself being practically anxiety free or controlled. Perhaps something will speak to you. I do hope so. Anxiety is such an unpleasant & even life controlling illness. Many seem to suffer it. It’s so sad & makes some very poorly.

Anyway I do hope this might help in some small way. Very very very best to you. May you learn in your own way,ways to improve your condition very soon. Hopeful 😊

[Flick22]

I'm having a flare up at the moment and totally fed up. My symptoms are very similar to yours Rainelee. I'm 60 and thinking back have probably had this for most of my life but didn't realise what it was until a couple of years ago. I get flare ups before holidays, weddings, etc etc. I don't really get constipated - it's diarrhea with me, gurgling and also discomfort sometimes on my left hand side. I find the whole thing totally draining. I take Buscopan, Mebeverine (Colofac) and Oil of Peppermint to try and calm things down. I'm typing this with a hot water on my tum which like others I find soothing. Can anyone recommend some any relaxation exercises that they find helps? I don't really fancy taking anti depressants.