Do you ever wonder.....
#317141 - 10/22/07 08:37 AM
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Nugget
Reged: 02/10/03
Posts: 2167
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Do you ever wonder if it is possible to return to that part of our lives when we DIDN'T have IBS? Those days when we didn't have a worry in the world and lived a carefree life. Those days when we played all day, slept good at night, and woke the next moring to do it all over again. Those days when we loved going places and eating foods without any concern about what the consiquences would be. Those days for me are my early childhood. I wish I could get those carefree feelings back and not have a care in the world. I believe most of my IBS is caused by stress and worry. Concerns that don't bother anyone else. I wish I could have a day without worrying about anything. Why do I worry so much when the same things don't bother other people. How do they do it?
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Hey Nugget. I've become a 24 hour wonderer. For me, those days were as recent as June/July 07. I believe that I do have IBS but a lot of my stomach issues are derived from my anxiety that was once a whisper and is now it's own entity. Sigh. I look at everything differently now. My friends who often go out to dinner and drinks, folks in reality shows so far from home, people on the subway who aren't worrying about getting stuck/trapped, etc.--all things that I used to do and things that I would never look at and wonder about! 'Course, you and I can't judge our insides by someone else's outsides 'cause we don't know what their malfunctions are, but you know what I mean...
Wendy<---wondering right now!
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Wendy IBS A thru Z 
Taking it one day at a time...
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Yes, Wendee...I know exactly what you mean. Those people who seem to not be worrying about anything might be in the same boat we are and they are good at covering it up in public just like we can. I've had people tell me when they find out that I'm a constant worrier that they would have never guessed it. They are surprised. This weekend I'm going with my husband to set up his hunting camp in the mountains. It will be a three day two night stay. I should be excited and thrilled to go on such an adventure. But, all I can do right now is wonder about all the "what ifs". I wish I could just get all the worrys out of my mind and focus on the fun that we will be having. I'm so glad I can talk to you and you understand. thanks {{{hugs}}}
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At least when you're camping the entire world is your bathroom 
I just ordered the Hypnotherapy CDs (finally!) to help me with my IBS anxiety and worrying. I am counting on them helping me view my life in a more positive way, rather than dwelling on all the bad things that could potentially happen to me. It's funny, I know my anxiety is so irrational and I am such a smart cookie when it comes to being sensible, but I can't overcome it. You're definitely not alone on this!
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Quote:
It's funny, I know my anxiety is so irrational and I am such a smart cookie when it comes to being sensible, but I can't overcome it. You're definitely not alone on this!
OMG, me too! What was once a mere whisper has now become something out of a friggin' megaphone and I can't shake it off! My therapist said that I'm making my world smaller by limiting myself to things I used to do and that these are bad negative habits that must be broken.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I put the mental in ornamental! 
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Wendy IBS A thru Z
Taking it one day at a time...
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thanks Amanda! {{{hugs}}} that's so true about the entire world being the bathroom when camping. I'm into photography right now so it will be a great opportunity for me to get some spectacular photos of the wild horses in that area. The thing I'm struggling with right now is not being able to forget things that people have said recently and in the past that has hurt my feelings or made me feel unappreciated. It's a long story and I won't go into it here, but it's so hard for me right now. I've been extremely emotional and depressed about it the past few days.
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I agree Wendee!
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It's daunting isn't it? I just started a new job and I the only reason I doubt myself is because of my IBS and my unrelenting fear that it is going to hinder me from fully performing to my very best. I just got the hypno tapes so I hope they help somewhat. I need to find a therapist, too, to help my deal with my overall anxiety.
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Amanda -
My anxiety/agoraphobia is very VERY common and so I'm going for CBT (Cognitive Behavorial Therapy). Sometimes just going to the other side of the floor where I work on makes me feel unsure. How crazy is this?! Now I always carry my bathroom keys with me (something I never did) in case I have to escape to the bathroom! If I go to someone's office or cubicle and I don't have my keys, I start to stress myself out!
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Wendy IBS A thru Z
Taking it one day at a time...
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Wendee...I'm the same way...only I feel stressed if I'm away from home and realize I forgot to put Imodium Chewables in my pocket. How crazy is that?
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Amanda...congrats on starting a new job. I've often thought that I'd like to work somewhere else, but then the first thought in my head is "would they be as understanding about my frequent trips to the restroom as my current employer?"
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How cool that you've also ordered the hypno CD:s! I just got mine today and will start listening tomorrow. Tonight I thought my fiancé and I would listen at the companion CD together and have a chat about it.
Good luck with the program!
Hugs,
Ulrika
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The thing that I feel helps the most is to find a person who understands your situation and who is really optimistic. I have a person like that fortunately. She does not have IBS but an inflammation in the nerves of the intestines that made her colon stop working. She had a loop ileostomy in August and she is really back to enjoying life! She has already been to Vienna and will go to Gran Canaria in a couple of weeks. I feel knowing this woman really helps me to look at my life and my future much more optimistically and start doing the stuff I want to do again.
/Ulrika
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Good luck to you, too! I am totally optimistic that they work given all the wonderful stories and feedback I've heard so far. I am going to listen to the companion CD with my parents tonight. I'm home visiting them.
We'll have to keep each other posted on our progress! Best of luck, again!
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CBT
#317533 - 10/26/07 09:42 PM
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My doctor advised me to seek CBT a long time ago and I think I will do it in the near future in addition to the hypno tapes.
Question for you though, have you been diagnosed with agoraphobia in addition to anxiety? I used to think I was agoraphobic because I feared leaving my house due to my IBS. My doctor told me that isn't agoraphobia because that is a phobia completely different from the anxiety produced by IBS about leaving one's home. Just curious as to whether you have both problems and how you tell one from the other.
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Re: CBT
#317542 - 10/27/07 07:01 AM
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I haven't been diagnosed with Agoraphobia but in reading my anxiety workbooks, to me, it looked that way. My therapist said the same as your Doc in that what I'm experiencing is anxiety due to the IBS and being too far from home.
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Wendy IBS A thru Z
Taking it one day at a time...
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On how to find a good CBT therapist?
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Arden Psychological Services
The link at the bottom of the page is where I need to call to make an appointment, the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy.
Hope this helps!
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Wendy IBS A thru Z
Taking it one day at a time...
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Thanks Wendee! I'll give them a call!
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Nugget, I so "get" and understand what you're expressing. Trust me, there were many times in the past when I would sit and wonder what life would be like without IBS. It's natural to contemplate these thoughts. However, wondering "what if" for too long can actually increase our anxiety and we lose our ability to live in the present. I want to share an insight that was published in "Oprah" magazine that may prove helpful to you and others here:
"Josepha Goldstein - Often we worry about things that don't materialize. But there are also times when we become lost in worry about real-life problems, either personal or global. Here we might use a reflection suggested by the Dalai Lama: "If you have some fear of pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it. If you cannot, then there is also no need to worry." As with all mental habits, the retraining of the mind takes patience and perseverance. But when we pay attention to how our minds are working, we can see how suffering(worry) is created, as well as the possibility of freedom from that suffering."
Here is another one of my favorite expressions that has relieved my anxiety "Thoughts become things, choose the good ones".
Our thoughts are powerful, but we are NOT our less than positive thoughts. You are something much more magnificent!
I encourage you to live in the "now" as much as possible so you don't miss what's here in the moment!
Meanwhile, know that I totally understand that changing things up takes great courage and patience. You can so do this!
Hugs,
Alicia
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Sometimes I go back to that part of my life in my dreams. I'm in PA, in the giant front yard of our little "blue house". I'm a kid and playing like there's no tomorrow. Boy, it really pisses me off when I wake up and realize I'm not there. 
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If you're not dead, you've still got time.
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