I so agree with you that anxiety over food can be a bigger IBS trigger than any one specific food. My GI does not deal with diet per se. Fiber and water yes, but unless someone tests specifically for celiac or whatever, he says there is no scientific evidence that diet is the culprit in IBS. And he says he is a scientist and goes with the scientific evidence. Before everybody jumps on this, I want to say, he is a great GI and I have been to several. He treats his patients with dignity and respect. He does not overbook so you are not faced with a waiting room full of patients. He first has you come into his office and sit down and discuss what is going on. Next he leads you to an exam room, gives you a gown and privacy to change. Then he returns with his nurse. After the exam, he has you come back to his office. Unfortunately, he is not taking new patients.
But back to the anxiety issue. I think fear, which leads to anxiety and then often depression, is the biggest crippler of all. I love what your therapist said, you are "a person with anxiety". So much better than saying you are an anxious person. You learn to deal with it and to function with the symptoms of anxiety or depression. It took me soooooo many years to learn this. And the more you function, the less the symptoms will bother you. I too believe that medications can help tremendously, but really work best if coupled with changes in behavior and thoughts.
I know how hard it is to go out there when you are doubled over in pain and worried of having a bowel accident. I have poorly functioning sphincters and have had some unpleasant "accidents." I've limited some of things I do - like leading tours at my botanic garden - because I can't just leave a group of kids and go trotting off to the bathroom, but I try to do as much as I can. I also have arthritis and fibro and don't always feel too well. But I feel a lot worse if I sit home. I then tend to dwell on every little symptom, every ache or pain I feel. I have learned that I can't always change what is going on but I can change my attitude toward it. Like you say, "the only thing to do is learn how to cope." I think that it is great that you have discovered this at your age. thanks for sharing your success with us. Hope I don't sound too preachy but I too think people on these boards get a bit reactive and critical at times when all we are trying to do is share our experiences and offer some support and hope.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Posts
Re:Anxiety
