IBS , Phobias and Anxiety

[Loulabelle1709]

Since yesterday but stomach has not been happy with me (ate something I should not of apparently) and its not been right since. It decided to kick off whilst out today whilst doing something that calms me. By causing IBS D it then brought on an anxiety / panic attack due to triggering my phobia of illness. All day I have been on edge afraid to eat etc incase I am unwell or cause my IBS to flare up majorly again.

I suppose I am writing this in the hope of not being alone as at present I find myself wondering “ why am I like this?”

[bburzycki]

Not alone - I deal with this daily and have for over 20 years. Daily pain, daily concerns of not being able to complete a day without issues. Limiting activities, etc.

I have found two things work for me in dealing with the daily problems.

1) It is what it is2) Learn to try to know that what others think is not important and own the issues.

Being sure of where you are at, and that you are not alone and that others out there will understand is important. There will always be those that do not but what many of us here have is an illness that is not fully understood. I have become fully open with my issues with my employer, with my friends and with anyone that give a crap enough to know me and what I deal with. I would rather be normal like others that do not have these issues, but in the end I would not be who I am without having had to deal with what I have been handed.

PS: Exercise, eating better, losing weight, taking care of yourself, etc all help with stress and anxiety. You need to turn off the constant worry about symptoms to help your symptoms. It is all easy to say and all hard to do, but worth the effort.

[BlackIsleGirl]

You're not alone. In fact for half a second I wondered if you were inside my head! Try to do some stuff to reduce your stress levels and maybe eat something that you know doesn't trigger your off. If I'm bad I quite often make soup with chicken stock, ginger, carrot and rice. I find that helps sooth things. IBS is a b*tch and I'm sure we all know how horrible a flare up is. Hope things settle soon.

[Oxygen_guy]

All I can say is that there's 1000s of us with IBS and it effects us in different ways. Some of us just C some D or even both of this horrible condition. As for you it sounds to me that you need to do a food diary that helps you keep track of what you can and can't eat without having problems.I suffer with anxiety as well besides the IBS and I know how frustrating it can be. At times I keep telling myself to call my GP and ask for medication to help with the anxiety but I just try and carry on. But if you feel you need something to help you either with the IBS or anxiety you should do it. There's medication for treatment of IBS you just need to speak to your GP and see what they say. But you are not alone.

[Suecoo66]

Don't worry you are not alone. Often we don't know what exactly has caused a flare up and you are not to blame. Food can take up to 72hrs to digest so it isn't always the last thing you ate. Most of us have that fear of another flare too and often avoid things that we think may trigger them

[Sparrow58]

Sorry to hear that you had a flare up. I also think ' why me ' I have emitophobia a fear of others being or saying they feel sick so worry constantly while out. But when I have had a flare up of IBS _ D and I have dealt with it or gone to the doctors where someone could be sick and I get through it. I praise myself and give myself a well done. I know it's hard but sometimes you need to find the positives. Hope you feel better soon

[Sweepy13]

You are certainly not alone I often think why am I like this why do I have to put on a good front look like I’m chilled and laughing but inside I’m melting … I have managed the whole lockdown ups and downs with no major flare up, but since September I have been back on the IBS rollercoaster, if that’s not enough thought I’d take a ride on the ghost train of anxiety!! Started googling symptoms 🙈 and that was it health fears … took a trip to the GP blood test normal FIT test normal he wasn’t worried but put me on citalopram to see if that helps so a month in side effects disappear and I’m just feeling that bit calmer but still have left side spasm and trapped wind under my rib

This group is great to stop you going crazy so take care and I hope you settle soon

[Frasina]

Anxiety/panic attacks are very unpleasant - I had some mild anxiety attacks from last September to November as I had just found out I had colitis (as well as IBS) and could not get my head around it. What got me through the anxiety was distracting myself and learning some breathing and relaxation techniques (there are lots on youtube)..You can also self refer or ask your GP about anxiety counselling; not sure what the waiting times are but worth a try. I think anxiety and IBS D (which I have too) go hand in hand but perhaps because you have mentioned this linking to your phobia of illness it could be worth seeing if you can get therapy to help.

[Matrix]

Your not alone sweetie ,I’m going through the very same thing although I don’t suffer with anxiety ,I’m too chilled for that .I sympathise with it must be awful to be so anxious and I hope that eases soon ,had IBS yesterday up in night all morning today tried a bit of lunch bad mistake and I have had nothing to eat since..

Try not to get hung up on anxiety because it makes IBS worse ,easy for me to say I know .Hope you feel better soon.xx