I'd like to join chinagirl and Belinda to say that not all of us are depressed and dysfunctional! Too bad there is not a more happy common thread between IBS sufferers - as if having IBS isn't bad enough!
I have a great relationship with my family and I am generally happy. I am DEFINITELY not a people-pleaser. I am still trying to nail down what exactly causes my IBS and if in fact I do have IBS. It seems to be caused by things that aren't supposed to be triggers (sometimes even Heather's recipes bring on attacks) and sometimes I can eat things like pizza and I'm fine. Stress more often causes minor irritation than full-blown attacks. Who knows, maybe this whole IBS thing is somehow related to the fact that I was lactose intolerate, which I seemed to have grown out of by college.
But anyway, sorry to hear sad stories from so many. Hopefully we can all keep making progress towards feeling better both mentally/emotionally and physically!