Anxiety associated with IBS

[Rainbow_98]

Does anyone get panic attacks because of extreme stress caused by ibs persistent symptoms and inability to cope up with the day to day office or college? And if so then can you please share how you are handling this. I am seriously considering taking a break from office.

[ValDee88]

Absolutely! Not helped at all by the panicky rush to then diagnose via Google. Ive recently made myself dreadfully anxious by doing just that, whilst telling myself off all the time for doing it. I know its stupid and it makes me feel worse, so why am I doing it? Anyway, my immediate piece of advice is, don't be me, stay away from the internet and if you have a change in symptoms, gently persist with the GP. Ive now done that and am back on the treadmill of testing, but at least Im getting real figures/advice and not making myself worse with speculation. Good luck!

[Blue_Dahlia]

I do.I have had some bad panic attacks at work due to IBS. I requested a radar key and a specific disabled toilet nearby.Also limited what I ate during work times and avoided my trigger foods.However as my IBS is worse in the mornings I was often late and my new manager was not sympathetic.She started harassing and threatening to fire me which made my condition worse and I had to quit in the end. Sorry if thats not helpful but my advice is have a radar key and tell your manager about your IBS and any issues.Also make sure you take any medication with you and avoid your trigger foods.Good Luck.

[drax83 in reply to Blue_Dahlia]

Yes, well this is all familiar to me when I was working years ago. Having any anxiety /panic disorder which I have had for many years usually ends up with IBS as the gut is closely associated with stress. To employers IBS is a hidden problem, and many still don't understand GAD OR GPD. Eventually back in 1999 era, I was taken out of the work place, with termed as "work related stress disorder". I blamed overbearing managers and work places for making my stress woest, and 8n the end, I decided not to take any of their tactics, and instead got very aggressive and would tell them exactly what I felt about some of their actions. This led me into losing jobs, or I would just walk out if there was no attempt to resolve an issue. Being 9n Lorazapam for 40 years also made me sleepy dinner times, so I would have a nap at the factory dinner tables, that got me dismissed alone as being a danger to myself and others as I operated machinery. So my working life ended for me very early, with a pittance of benefit, but wife still worked. Eventually I retired officially in 2015 or 16,. Since then, and with getting PIP, we enjoy a reasonable living. But I can't begin to wonder how people now in a workplace that has changed completely to the one I worked through from the seventies to 1990 manage to keep it together. But I did enjoy my 23 years training and then running my own garage business. As self employed with no boss to answer to. Self employment can be a way to go, if you have issues like I did. Still hard work, managing accounts and suppliers, but satisfying to have customers returning. Best of luck managing the problem anyway👌😁

[Hollings in reply to Blue_Dahlia]

Yes I have panic attacks I have learned over the years don't fight them just let them pass over you and do diaphragm breathing and try to focus on that, it's not an easy thing to do. I work from home and am self employed I wouldn't be able to cope going out to work far too stressful. Good luck.

[Cornwallgirl]

Hi there. Yes I have ibs d and have had it for years. The anxiety it's caused me is huge. I was always worried that I'd have an accident and not be able to get to the loo. Recently I've followed the FODMAP diet and it's changed my life. I've gone from having incidents 2-4 times a week to nearly none at all. It's onions and all their relations, is leeks, garlic etc and onion powder which is in just about all processed foods. I am now getting help for my anxiety which is hard to unlearn. I hope you find a way to cope.

[Tess359]

Hi Rainbow, I have had IBC-C for 50years and suffered associated anxiety. The anxiety is worse when my gut is full of gas and the gas filled intestines push against my diaphragm, I get the sensation that I can't breathe properly. I was always told that my panic attacks were entirely due to psychological anxiety, but when you have a condition like IBS it causes biological stress on the body which leads to the secretion of stress hormones. My IBS is far from cured, but I have managed to eliminate the anxiety and reduce the severity of the symptoms by taking a broad spectrum probiotic and following a low FODMAP diet. The diet has improved things significantly. I still get flare ups, but they do not cause me as much psycholical anxiety because I am more in control and am aware of the pattern of symptoms. It's much more stressful when your body is going into meltdown and you have no control over it.

[MrAddy]

Hi Rainbow, so for me, I get Panic Attacks all the time without any reason. There must be a trigger but nobody has been able to find it. I find that there is a fundamental difference in how I perceive stress and pressure. The pressure I can normally deal with, whereas stress I fall apart. So my IBS is triggered by a Panic Attack, during Panic Attacks, I get IBS symptoms which increase my stress making my body Panic more. So very much a case of what came first, the Chicken or the Egg.

To deal with it I use avoidance. I am not cured by any means, but the less stress I am under the less likely I am to Panic. This is not to say I do not get attacks, whilst in this state, because I do, even at home with no stress in sight. But because I have no stressful situations on the horizon I can deal with them quickly and the IBS is faint.

If I am under stress, and I have to leave my comfort zone where it is more likely I will Panic, thus bring on IBS, I do the following. Because I know the Panic Attacks I get drives me to the toilet with very loose poo, I do not eat for at least 24 hours prior to Go Time. I plan my event to the last detail on Google Maps, know where toilets are, and escape roots too, and from, my car. As well as gaining knowledge to get home avoiding traffic, and people.

When I arrive home I tend to deflate and start the process of rebuilding. If you do not eat you get a large amount of wind, which you need to replace with food which in itself can be painful if trapped, and uncomfortable for a while.

I will also add that I never eat a lot. I tend to live with my tank just above starving. This is no way to live a life, and despite many attempts of trying to change, I have yet to find something that works for me.

Before the dreaded non-descriptive letters, IBS came about, stress and anxiety had always affected the gut. There is a clear connection between the nervous system and the gut. In my case, due to trauma as a child, the chemicals my brain reads have been confused so much so that any emotional state brings on life or death feelings without cause.

Hence I Panic, but not in my conciseness, none of this is actually happening, well not all the time. These are pure feelings my brain is wrongly interpreting without taking notice of my surroundings. Anyway, I have had many therapy attempts, including CBT, Shock therapies to no avail. Because this was not dealt with when I was a child, the theory is "its part of who you are now, and you need to manage it".

I explain this in detail because you need to move heaven and earth to find your path to manage it. Don't take my solution as the answer, or anyone else's for that matter. I did that and it could be argued only made me worse. I say this a lot but journal everything.

Find those triggers, situations, and avoid them. That could mean lifestyle, career, or location changes.

But once you find them, and learn to manage them, you can live the life you deserve and should have, rather than this shell of a life I currently live in. Because you do deserve better and make it clear to those supporting you that you do too.

I hope you find it, and I know how supportive this group is, so know your never alone

[Linedanceing]

I have this Everytime I go out the door but I have read that Reiki or aquapuncher (wrong spelling) is good to relieve alot of stress and can even help symptoms I haven't tried it myself but I am going to, I'll try anything if it helps

[Pte82]

Rainbow_98 your anxiety and IBS may benefit by following the vagus nerve from it's beginning in the brain stem and the connection it provides to the body and the brain. Critical for proper brain and vagus nerve function is adequate thiamine and magnesium to activate the thiamine. Study the pros and cons of various forms of thiamine such as benfotiamine, TTFD, Sulbutiamine, thiamine mononitrate and thiamine hydrochloride. Do a similar study on magnesium. Look into the other B vitamins too, they work better together. Always consult with your health care provider before using any supplement.

frontiersin.org/articles/10...

frontiersin.org/articles/10...

eonutrition.co.uk/post/when...

eonutrition.co.uk/post/thia...

[RedTeddy]

Hi Rainbow_98, panic attacks are truly awful as is constant anxiety. I would strongly recommend getting professional help for it. I suffered for months and thought I knew how to deal with it on my own but I came to the realisation I couldn't. I knew if I didn't get help I was probably going to sink further and end up with depression. I have been following a CBT programme online for a few months and I can honestly say it has really helped me. It doesn't cost anything and you an refer yourself online via the NHS, so no need to speak to your GP (which causes anxiety in inself!) It's easy for the stress levels to get out of control when you're in pain but CBT helped me control it, not 100% of the time, I still have blips but I know dealing with the anxiety will help reduce my pain. I was sceptical at first and found myself in tears a lot but I think this was more relief that what I was experiencing was normal. Give it a go I'm sure it will help you and eventually it will ease your pain too

😊

[Ld123]

Hi I started having panic attacks & tried changing my diet as I was having other symptoms with (ibs), I looked up about caffeine as I knew I was drinking far too much tea so I now only drink decaffeinated ( took a while to get use to at first it wasn't as nice )& more juice, it's been about 4 weeks now & I feel so much better & my diet is back to normal.

I can't say that's what definitely helped me or if it will help you but I'm glad I tried it

[chestnut7718]

IT's hard to conceal that one wears adult briefs and has no bowel control. I often smell after a bm and sometimes cannot change quickly. People notice that I've deficated. I can't hide odor even though wearing gary pants on top.

[Grateful71 in reply to chestnut7718]

Aw I know it's very unpleasant but can't really be helped. People notice way less than you think, you will just be very aware because you know what's happening. All you can do is keep yourself as fresh as you can and don't worry too much about the rest 💛💛

[chestnut7718 in reply to Grateful71]

I hate when people touch my butt to feel if it's full. I have not slept with anyone since my accident. I have not cummed either. I am flaccid - but most people like me are.

[chestnut7718]

I am able to keep a job!!

[jbradshaw1]

unfortunately, yes! The more anxiety, the worse it gets. The less anxiety, the better it is!

[Katerina1]

Hello, I can relate to your extreme stress/panic attacks re IBS. Worth keeping an eye on this site as various ideas for coping are mentioned. I combine just about all the ideas, particularly knowing the whereabouts of all toilets both en route anywhere wherever I am going to be. I try to avoid venues where there is only one toilet. Radar key is handy as well as 'Just Can't Wait' card. I keep a change of clothes with me, and a small deodoriser spray in my handbag which has been used a lot. On a bad or particularly anxious day I might wear incontinence pants. Have a bucket with camping type toilet insert and bedpan in my car. Used to eat very little and avoid alcohol or juices at work. Things like CBT suggested might help or talking to someone. You don't mention whether you have tried any medications or had any tests. Different approaches help different people and hopefully you will find a way to at least reduce your anxiety. Would you be able to speak to your employer or college perhaps.