l have had lBS for about 6 years and really struggle anxiety and especially around ‘health’. Does anyone else experience this as any research into managing or talking about IBS never really mentions about any mental health problems that could crop.
Thank you in advance to anyone who is kind enough to share their thoughts and experiences.
Our brains & stomachs are linked it’s a known fact. You’ve only got to worry, get stressed or get excited & you know how you feel. So it makes sense that when we worry or get over anxious it is going to upset our whole system. I too suffer with health anxiety & soon as I feel unwell with anything I think I have something sinister, which has a knock on effect with my stomach. My GP prescribed a low dose tranquilliser.
Best wishes for a merry Christmas & a happy healthy new year.
Anxiety is so hard. My anxiety isn't mainly about my health issues, so this may not be helpful for you, but here's what I can say.
It seems to me like we can easily get into a bad feedback loop where anxious thoughts trigger anxious feelings which feed into IBS which can result in abdominal tension and excess gas, which cause pressure in the gut which is associated with anxiety, which leaves us physically feeling like there's something worrying us, which makes our brain start scurrying around trying to think of worrisome things in an attempt to find the disaster looming over us so we can avert it. Round and round between the physical and the mental, feeding back and getting worse.
I've found mindfulness helpful with anxiety, and I've found picking a reassuring phrase and repeating it over and over in my mind when trying to fend off anxious thoughts helpful. The latter is not a magic fix, it doesn't always work and it's been more effective in the longer term than when I started trying this, because the phrase I chose gradually became more associated with success and calmness in my mind. I've also found it helpful sometimes to just give in when I was feeling paranoid and just do whatever stupid thing I needed to do in order to feel safe. In a way it seems to feed the paranoia by letting it win, teaching my brain it was right to worry, but sometimes it's better just not to fight a battle, and caving in early on before it builds up into a huge deal seems to feed the anxiety less than letting it fester first. When I'm feeling more energetic and resilient I can push back more.
You should take a look at Nerva, a 6-week program that helps with IBS anxiety. I've subscribed to it for a few years (good initial offer, so I keep the subscription going) and go back to it whenever I do feel anxiety is getting to me more than usual.
I also have a histamine problem, so Nerva doesn't take care of all my issues, but it does help a lot.
Hi YES I can relate to your anxiety issues regarding IBS issues. Each time I have a flare up I am convinced there is something sinister wrong with me. My mind goes into overdrive and it does affect your body so badly. Also it makes me afraid to seek medical advice in case they find something seriously wrong . It’s just awful
I feel just like you. It's hard to remind yourself, it's happened before and it was alright.
Hi there.
I posted this in response to another poster on here some time ago.
Maybe you can relate to some of it… but I’m not sure how helpful you will find it.
I should probably add that I feel like the most dreadful coward for not being able to handle my symptoms or confront my fears; I’ve tried a lot of things over the years, but at the end of the day you cannot change who or what you are - I’m trying, but it really isn’t easy.
Anyway, happy Christmas to you. I hope you manage to enjoy the festive season with your friends and family.
“Firstly I’m sorry to hear about your problem… it’s a very difficult and frustrating condition to live with as I’m sure you know… and not everyone will experience either the same symptoms or even those symptoms to a similar severity (and even whether those symptoms will affect their lives to the same extent!)
My open personal experience, having suffered with anxiety and IBS for many years - and I do stress that this just my own experiences and beliefs - is that there is a definite link between having a “bad IBS day” - which can take many forms, but if I’m feeling particularly bloated and haven’t been to the toilet for a “number 2” for a day or so, is that this will often mean that I don’t go for a wee very much that day either. I tend to find that if I’m weeing regularly throughout the day then this often corresponds with me having a “good IBS day”, where I’m going to the loo regularly etc. - I can vary between hardly urinating much one day to pissing like a proverbial race horse the next!
I put this down almost entirely to how tense / anxious I am. I have developed a very bad habit over many years of holding myself tense (to stop the unpleasant/embarrassing symptoms… farting/shitting/wetting myself in public etc) and this directly affects how bad my IBS will be that day.
I’d be interested to know how many other people can relate to this, because I do believe that if none of us had to conform to societal norms - ie. not being bothered about making bad smells, urinating and defecating whenever and wherever we liked… most people wouldn’t have IBS. That’s just my opinion, and I’m sure plenty of people on here will disagree with me, but having been a sufferer and an interested observer of other people’s struggles over the years - it’s the only conclusion that really makes any sense.
I’m not sure if that’s of any help to you, but hopefully a better answer than just “yes!”
Best of luck with managing your symptoms, anyway - and I hope that this has been a useful response to your question.”
No, I agree. Of course we have anxiety over the causes of our problems, but the biggest worries are about people as a whole refusing to accept or understand our needs. Like friends finding us nuisances due to needing to be near toilets, etc.. Once a doctors' surgery refused to let me use their toilet. I had to say that I'd go right there as I couldn't wait. Friends, family, no better. Expecting you to understand their problems but not the least bit interested in yours. Think of all the so-called comedians to whom toilet-related problems are just a joke. Not-to-be-taken-seriously. Any other disorder would raise a complaint.
I’d like to pick up / expand on this point a bit further at some point if people find it interesting or worthwhile?
Anyway, it looks like there’s been some very nice reponses to the initial question.
I’m sorry if your friends and family aren’t supportive - that must make things an awful lot worse.
Fortunately my family and close friends have been supportive - those I am able to be honest with - but I still find it hard to be completely honest even with them about the severity of my issues because I just feel so embarrassed and humiliated by it all.
I’m 50 now, but very much wish that I knew what I know now, (about the nature of my illness and anxiety) when was I younger (sorry, Rod!)
That’shocking about the doctors surgery, though… you’d think they’d have known better!
I was diagnosed with anxiety before I got IBS (seemingly from a bad gut infection), but it’s not surprising that this is a vicious circle as worry about IBS can make it worse. However, some of this is the natural “flight or fight” response which happens to everyone, just exaggerated by an underlying bowel dysfunction. I sometimes think that, if the exacerbation of symptoms is put in that context, it might ease the anxiety and break the cycle.
Thank you so so much for taking the time to comment on my post. I haven’t really thought about the ‘fight or flight’ response in that way until now and it makes total sense. Thank you. Best wishes for the new year.
I know this feeling all too well and it seems to get worse as I get older.I do mindfulness meditation and they do help a bit.
It's not always easy to do with our condition but I do find a good walk in nature does help. Walking alone or with a dog does calm me down the best I've ever found. Luckily I visit a park dog walking they have a cafe with toilets a real godsend for me !
Take care, wishing you a happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.
Thank you so so much for taking the time to comment on my post. I have recently taken up meditation amongst other things including walking in nature as well as doing things that I enjoy.
Hope you enjoyed a lovely Christmas Day, best wishes for the New Year and take care too. x
That's great and you're welcome. Thank you for your good wishes.
All the best for 2024 x
Hi there is extensive which demonstrates a link between neurotoxin released in aanxiety and the bowel. As someone has already mentioned it is a link between the 2. My ibs started when I was off sick with stress. Anti depressants such as mirtazapine and sertraline can help or propanolol. Hypnotherapy has some evidence too
Hi there, I take amitriptyline for anxiety/IBS and have just been prescribed propranolol. A bit nervous to take it so was buoyed up when I saw your message! Thanks
Hi. Thank you so so much for sharing your story about IBS and anxiety. I sincerely hope the medication helps you to manage your symptoms. So far, and after nearly six years of having been diagnosed with IBS and anxiety I have managed to steer clear of any medication but many l have been sailing to close to the storm!
Take care and best wishes for the New Year!
Thanks!! You too 🙏
I take 20mgs propanolol 3 times a day and it helps
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my post. After 6 years of IBS l have so far steered clear of medication but there may be a time in the future that I have to seek medical help. I have sailed too close to the storm to often. Best wishes to you and for the year ahead.
Hi. Yes I suffer from anxiety and particularly health anxiety. I recently had bad flare ups and two separate doctors both agreed my anxiety (relating to a long journey) was certainly the cause.
IBS is notably anyway linked to stress and anxiety.
I've had all the tests and nothing found too.
I suppose as well I don't know many calm or laid back people with IBs either!!
All the best to you and happy Christmas
Paul
Hi Paul,
Happy Christmas. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my post and sharing your own experiences of IBS.
I must say that there is something comforting in knowing that another bloke out there in the world shares similar experiences to what l do. It sounds terribly sexist but that is not my intention.
Thank you again.
Regards Chris
Think there's plenty of us chaps suffering with it. Cheers chris
Daily.. And the IBS anxiety snowball can grow rapidly.
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my post. Best wishes to you and for the New Year!
Hi, I suffer from ibs and anxiety. Every time I get ibs I worry that I won't be able to cope with it this time then it makes it worse. Today had Christmas dinner then worried it was going to make me feel bad, but it's no different from a Sunday dinner. Can't stop panicking about it. I wish with all my heart I could relax about it.
Hi. First of l want to thank you so so much for taking the time to comment on my post on Christmas Day. I feel very humbled and blessed to have had so many wonderful people like yourself who have given up their time to share their own experiences.
It upsets me to hear that you are struggling as well and experience panic attacks like I do. You are not alone with your struggles and, if you haven’t tried some breathing techniques to help you get over panic and put in a place of calm.
I have only just joined this group in the last day or so. Over the coming weeks I plan to share some of my own experiences and what I have done that has helped me. I will also be there for people who would like to chat/message how they are feeling and what can be done that may help them.
Take care and best wishes for the New Year x
I don't know what comes first, the chicken or the egg with IBS and anxiety. I didn't normally get anxiety as such before I got IBS. Then I feel that what caused some anxiety in me was that I never ever knew what to expect from my body any more. It felt like something assaulting me which I couldn't see coming or control, and even when I had good times and symptoms lessened or even disappeared sometimes, my mind was conscious that it could come and hit me any moment.
I live with it better now I think, and have better strategies to manage it now. Both a level of acceptance, plus some slight control re: my diet, and one or two things I take sometimes to help if things get bad for a day or so, and an attitude of doing my best to soldier on have helped. (though I think my IBS is milder than some people's, and not everybody can do those things, I know.)
But still it just never going away completely and always "waiting in the wings" gets to me sometimes.
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I too have anxiety but also depression. So far I haven't found a solution to my IBSC and it's really bad at the moment. I think there is research in general around the brain and gut connection but I can't point you to anything specific. I have had IBSC for virtually my whole life and it is just head wrecking. I wish you luck.
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