What's the cause??
#37630 - 01/15/04 09:38 AM
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Lana_Marie
Reged: 01/31/03
Posts: 1968
Loc: Saskatchewan. Canada
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Lately I have been thinking about all the things we all have in common:
For example, there is alot of us who suffer from disorders and depression. A few of us have disfunctional familes. Others have parents who are divorced. Others are just plain people pleasers who are never really satisfied with their life decisions because they seem to revolve around everyone but themselves.
And so I wonder...could this be the root of our IBS issues. It's seems that hardly anyone on this board can say...."Yep I have a healthy relationship with my parents" or "I have never been depressed"
I am not trying to make anyone feel bad about themselves...my gosh...my family puts the FUN is Disfunctional so I am the last one to talk.
But do you think there is a link between all of this and our gut issues. Besides it being a trigger...I mean the actually root of the problem.
Just my thought! 
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Lana_Marie
Proud Mommy to Bentley Taylor
Born May 12, 2004 9lbs, 3oz
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That's actually a very good point. I think stress in general has a lot to do with it. I personally also suffer from depression and I think that has a lot to do with it.
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Bingo.
#37641 - 01/15/04 09:59 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Oh yeah. I've thought about this too, for a long time, and in fact mentioned it to Heather about a year ago. Some family issues are still chewing up my stomach today, and the fact that I let it "chew me up" just makes it even worse, because then I get angry with myself. I'm in a catch-22 situation.
You're definitely on to something here, pretty lady, and -- for me -- the answer is to stop allowing past problems or issues to affect us today, to let them go and move on with our lives. Thus, my New Year's resolution: think positively.
I refuse to let my PAST family still have power over me NOW.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I agree totally. I know for a fact all these years of overwhelming anxiety and drama in my life has finally taken it's toll on me. I lived for so many years addicted to the drama and every one elses problems became more of my own. They say that IBS is 90% mental and 10% physical and I am not sure if I agree with the numbers but I do know that my way of thinking, depression, anxiety plays a huge roll in how I feel physically.
Jenn
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That's an interesting thought. I grew up in a verbally and physically abusive household. I joined the Army at 18 to pretty much run away from home. I got into a relationship that resulted in an unplanned pregnancy. The father was also physically abusive. I got out of the Army (was stationed in GA) and moved with him to Oregon (the abuse didn't start until after we moved). I gave my daughter up for adoption, 9 weeks later her father left and I was alone in Oregon (that's where we'd moved to). This all happened from the time I was born until 1999.
Fast forward to 2002 - my boyfriend and I get engaged. One of the happiest times of my life, no stress there, right? BAM - the IBS symptoms start. I can't figure out for the life of me why, if stress triggers this, why wasn't I sick years ago? It still baffles me that it took GOOD stress to get this IBS ball going. GRRRRRRR.....
Sorry for the long story 
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My former doctor told me I was depressed, therefore causing my IBS. Only thing is I didn't feel depressed as much as anxious.
About 10 years ago is when I decided to not let my dysfunctional family run my life. I felt better - not as many stomach aches until my car accident 7 years ago. I was lucky to walk away from it, but I got pregnant with my third child 7 months later and have never felt the same.
Make a long story short, yes, trauma can cause IBS to become worse. I'm not convinced my IBS is mostly Psych., since I do deal with GERD's, which can cause more problems without meds. I do believe there is a physcial problem causing IBS, but there hasn't been enough research to pinpoint the problem. There are doctors out there who don't believe IBS is a real problem.
If you can learn how to manage your stress better and make the choice to not allow past or current events to run your life, instead you take of your life, IBS will be easier to deal with.
I hope this makes since. 
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Funny this should come up, I've been thinking about this too! My belly has been feeling better, not perfect but better, for about a month now. I have also reduced my miralax and increased my acacia. But since my belly hasn't been the center of my life, I feel SO much happier overall! I have some great things coming up-going on an 11 day caribbean cruise the last 2 weeks in February and going to stop my birth control pills when we get back to try and get pregnant!
So, Is by belly feeling better becuase I'm happy about the future? Or am I actually able to be happy because my belly isn't killing me everyday?? I too, grew up in a very dysfunctional family, married right out of highschool to get away than my first husband was murdered. I've always had self esteem problems and problems "fitting-in". My IBS started when I was 15 so this is a very interesting point!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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I think mine may be contributed to the fact that I was verbally and mentally abused. A person is always beaten down and made to have no validating feelings.
Slowly as I grew up I became more outgoing (when my mom wasn't around) but that's about when my tummy trouble started.
I know it is said there are no physical symptoms and nothing really pin points to our problem.
I just thought it was ironic how much we all have in common aside from IBS and wondered if that was a link. 
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Lana_Marie
Proud Mommy to Bentley Taylor
Born May 12, 2004 9lbs, 3oz
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If it doesn't cause it (and I think in most cases it does) then it sure as heck can exacerbate it!!!!
Why is it that it hit's women more, up to 80% more, than men?
Why does it hit YOUNG women in their 20's and 30's more than any other age group?
It certainly doesn't take a brain scientist to answer THESE questions, and others.
But in cases where the (sudden) onset has been to older folks, like myself it usually has been because of something physiological, not psychological. Since that's the case with me, and I certainly don't have anything to complain about in my past or present life (no dysfunction of any kind, except that I AM a pleaser) that could present itself as a cause of my IBS, my 10 years prior to the onset didn't help the immune system any. Being one who was solely responsible for the care of 2 loved ones during long term life threatening illnesses, in turn took its toll on me, in ways I never imagined would surface down the road until now.
For me, I don't believe for one minute my past is the root cause of my IBS, and in fact, I think my own psychological and emotional STABILITY and STRENGTH just might be the one medicine that enables me to take hold of this condition and shake it loose until it no longer has this kind of control on my life.
But then, that's just me and my own 2 cent's worth…
Kandee
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I have to agree. My first symptoms started during tough times with my family, rocky spots in my marriage, and becoming more in-charge at work. All stress seems to set me off, I am a pleaser (I prefer the term "Peace-maker," because the peace-makers are blessed, according to the Beatitudes), and I suffer from depression. I consider myself to be pretty layed-back, but I think that covers up the inner turmoil I feel when every one isn't getting along. Besides my main food triggers of lettuce, coffee, and fat, I am triggered by hubby's mood swings, sis's gushing over her baby (I suffer from infertility), and mom's guilt trips, not to mention hearing co-workers talking about me behind my back and them dumping their work on my desk and feigning ignorance.
If we all went away to live in a cave together, would our tummies feel better? 
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