Ibs and anxiety

Hurt&Hopeful · Jan 13, 2019

Hey there, and welcome! Yes, I have had IBS symptoms for a few years, and anxiety definitely makes it worse. I have been doing some reading about gut health and anxiety/depression, and it's pretty fascinating stuff. I always assumed that anxiety made the bowel problems worse, but it turns out it goes both ways - did you know that most of your Seratonin is actually produced in your gut, and not in your brain? Scientists actually call the gut the "second brain." So it's like a vicious cycle - when the gut balance is off, the rest of your body is off and your brain doesn't get the good stuff it needs (like Seratonin), which makes anxiety and depression worse. I ended up seeing a nutritionist to see if there are things I could do to help heal my gut, and it's made a difference - a good probiotic supplement was the starting point. I just feel a little more able to face the day and the anxiety, you know?

I'm so sorry that you're dealing with this. Just know that you're NOT crazy - there can be physical reasons for the way you feel. Are you being treated for the IBS?

Hurt&Hopeful · Jan 13, 2019

I thought this article from Johns Hopkins did a really good job of explaining the brain-gut connection: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/healthy_aging/healthy_body/the-brain-gut-connection.

Hopefully it will be helpful to you, too!

Rosy · Jan 14, 2019

I read an article too and it all made sense. I always called it a nervous stomach. Anxiety always made my gut feel like that. I was shocked when I read about the seratonin being in the gut. Don't know if it is the same article but now we know why we feel like that. I am under stress now and yes the IBS is acting up. So you are not alone and it is normal to feel like that. Hoping for better days ahead for all of us.

triceps · Jan 15, 2019

Hi MarieB. My stomach is probably the best indicator for how anxious I am. I get very nervous going out to eat and have had to doggy bag some pretty fine meals after my anxiety tightened up my stomach too much. My wife has IBS and although she doesn't have an anxiety disorder, when she does get anxious it definitely affects her IBS. And not in a good way. I haven't seen a study about it but one would show that along with the increase in incidents of IBS the anxiety causes, there would also be a section on a change in pungency. Just a first hand observation and informed guess.

Steven · Jan 28, 2019

This is a pretty common symptom of anxiety I think. Anxiety and stress is defintiel not friendly to your stomach and gut at all. Not to worry though, when the anxiety passes, the physical symptoms should as well.

Richard G · Feb 1, 2019

MarieB said:
Hi everyone,
I’m having a really bad night. I was wondering if anyone here has ibs (irritable bowel syndrome) that is made worse by their anxiety? It’s been worse than ever since November and that’s when my anxiety kicked off. Just wanted to know if our anxiety is tied in with our gut? Thank you!

Oh yeah. I've had ibs for years.now...been told by g.i specialist and primary care anxiety is main cause for this condition. Since I've been on anxiety meds this past year seen a reduction in ibs symptoms

Rosy · Feb 1, 2019

I do. When my stomach and guts act up it is usually when my anxiety is acting up or right before. I call it a nervous stomach. lol Does anyone ever get depressed with anxiety. I am like that today. Do you take anything for the ibs? Sometimes I have taken antacids . Sometimes it works. But I think anxiety meds are best.

Flipmartin · Feb 1, 2019

Rosy said:
I do. When my stomach and guts act up it is usually when my anxiety is acting up or right before. I call it a nervous stomach. lol Does anyone ever get depressed with anxiety. I am like that today. Do you take anything for the ibs? Sometimes I have taken antacids . Sometimes it works. But I think anxiety meds are bestseller.

Hi rosy, I feel the same way. I try to take Imodium for the ibs. It usually helps. Not today unfortunately

Rosy · Feb 1, 2019

I never tried imodium. Seems when the anxiety quiets down so does the IBS. If you find something that works, let me know and I'll do the same.

triceps · Feb 1, 2019

Hi Rosy. Sure sorry you're having a tough day today. My wife is having IBS trouble at work but the plumbing is frozen and the toilet doesn't function. So she's had to go a couple times to the business next door and grace them with her ailment.
It's your getting depressed that worries me. Do you have some tactics for helping you get out of a funk? Our dog really helps me on that. Just playing/wrestling with her for a few minutes helps me alot. Do you play any board games with your loving husband that you really enjoy. How about cooking up your favorite meal? I'm not going to suggest anything in the bedroom because it's still daylight out there.
Anyway, keep your chin up. You know tomorrow will be better, perhaps this evening after the sun goes down.

Rosy · Feb 1, 2019

triceps said:
Hi Rosy. Sure sorry you're having a tough day today. My wife is having IBS trouble at work but the plumbing is frozen and the toilet doesn't function. So she's had to go a couple times to the business next door and grace them with her ailment.
It's your getting depressed that worries me. Do you have some tactics for helping you get out of a funk? Our dog really helps me on that. Just playing/wrestling with her for a few minutes helps me alot. Do you play any board games with your loving husband that you really enjoy. How about cooking up your favorite meal? I'm not going to suggest anything in the bedroom because it's still daylight out there.
Anyway, keep your chin up. You know tomorrow will be better, perhaps this evening after the sun goes down.

Well I'm not as depressed as I was after reading your post. lol lol It bothers me I can't do what I used to to be able to do. I look around the house and it isn't as clean as it used to be. My husband feels the same way . He gets depressed too. I do listen to music and if I am able will dance a little to it. Sounds weird. And I go see the psychiatrist on Monday. I get anxiety and depressed over that too. Some days this all gets to me till I tell myself I am better off than a lot of other people. I used to have dogs but they are all gone now. Thinking about adopting an older dog. Hope you are doing okay. Sounds like you are. You have a good attitude. Thanks for your encouragement. I'm sure when my appmt is over I will feel better. At least I hope so. I don't know why I am like that. Heck I worked for Drs. all my life. I was a medical assistant to an orthopedic surgeon. You would think going to drs. wouldn't bother me. lol I hope you have a good day and I am going to try to have one.

Rosy · Feb 1, 2019

Triceps, by the way I hope you wife gets better. That had to be hard on her today. That iBS is no picnic. But I have a feeling she would laugh this off later. Sounds like she has a good sense of humor.

triceps · Feb 1, 2019

Rosy said:
Triceps, by the way I hope you wife gets better. That had to be hard on her today. That iBS is no picnic. But I have a feeling she would laugh this off later. Sounds like she has a good sense of humor.

She's put up with me for 35 years, says she married me for my sense of humor and I married her because she actually got 50% of what I thought was funny. Not only does she treat me with my anxiety so well, she is a truly great mother for our kids. We've got our anniversary on the 6th. We got married on a Tuesday in Vegas after throwing a dart at a calendar setting the date. She doesn't let her IBS keep herself from doing anything. Just a great gal whom I can't say enough good things about. I feel very fortunate.

Rosy · Feb 1, 2019

triceps said:
She's put up with me for 35 years, says she married me for my sense of humor and I married her because she actually got 50% of what I thought was funny. Not only does she treat me with my anxiety so well, she is a truly great mother for our kids. We've got our anniversary on the 6th. We got married on a Tuesday in Vegas after throwing a dart at a calendar setting the date. She doesn't let her IBS keep herself from doing anything. Just a great gal whom I can't say enough good things about. I feel very fortunate.

That is great. I'm sure she loves you very much. I have to say my husband is great too. He is my best friend. He says I am his too so I feel fortunate. We have been married 57 years. I love to hear love stories like yours. Our kids are lucky to have us as role models. lol lol

Hurt&Hopeful · Feb 2, 2019

Okay, this thread is making my night right now.

@Rosy , YES, I get depressed when anxiety gets bad. I don't know how anyone could NOT get depressed because it's just exhausting. Normally, my cycle will be about 2-3 weeks of really high anxiety, and then it moves into a depression where I just kind of crash, and then slowly levels out. then I'll do well for a while, then rinse and repeat. I'm trying really hard to break that cycle...

For me, the SSRI meds help keep it leveled out more and avoid the extreme anxiety and extreme depression afterwards, and I function pretty well...So sorry you're feeling this way. Does winter make it worse? I like all of @triceps suggestions, including the "after dark" ones. lol

Rosy · Feb 2, 2019

Hurt&Hopeful said:
Okay, this thread is making my night right now. @Rosy , YES, I get depressed when anxiety gets bad. I don't know how anyone could NOT get depressed because it's just exhausting. Normally, my cycle will be about 2-3 weeks of really high anxiety, and then it moves into a depression where I just kind of crash, and then slowly levels out. then I'll do well for a while, then rinse and repeat. I'm trying really hard to break that cycle...

For me, the SSRI meds help keep it leveled out more and avoid the extreme anxiety and extreme depression afterwards, and I function pretty well...So sorry you're feeling this way. Does winter make it worse? I like all of @triceps suggestions, including the "after dark" ones. lol

Yes Triceps had some good ideas even the after hours one. lol lol And yes, winter makes me worse. I get the cycle of anxiety too. Usually something brings it on (or so I think). I could be wrong. lol My depressions seems some better tonight and the anxiety too. lol You and Triceps helped me out there. Made me laugh and made me feel I wasn't alone. Thank you both. I hope you are feeling less pain today. Have been thinking about you. Hope the swelling is lessening too. Hope you have a good night.

Hurt&Hopeful · Feb 3, 2019

Rosy said:
Yes Triceps had some good ideas even the after hours one. lol lol And yes, winter makes me worse. I get the cycle of anxiety too. Usually something brings it on (or so I think). I could be wrong. lol My depressions seems some better tonight and the anxiety too. lol You and Triceps helped me out there. Made me laugh and made me feel I wasn't alone. Thank you both. I hope you are feeling less pain today. Have been thinking about you. Hope the swelling is lessening too. Hope you have a good night.

Glad to hear that yesterday was a little better. Winter is just the pits. I lived in a very warm climate for about 8-9 years, and then moved back to Arkansas 7 years ago. The first 3-4 years, I just couldn't handle winter at all, even though I grew up here, and our winters are pretty mild. We get some freezing weather, but it mostly stays in the 30s and 40s. Today it was in the 60s. It just bounces up and down until it decides it's spring and stays that way. But I just couldn't handle the fact that everything DIED. All the brown grass, and the trees without leaves - I was used to being surround by bright colors all the time, and it just really got me down. I've done better the past year or two - this year, I didn't feel that kind of dread coming on as soon as the leaves started changing. lol We bought this great outdoor firepit that I was planning to enjoy a lot during these coldest months...I certainly didn't plan to spend it having surgery. But hey....

It's been 2 steps forward, 1 step back. Slow progress, with some setbacks. Today was not a good day. I'm glad it's almost over. lol

Rosy · Feb 3, 2019

I feel the same way you do about winter. I hate to cold. Today wasn't too bad fo

I feel like you do about winter. I hate the cold. Yesterday was better for me. Today not too bad but not as good. lol I hope you are feeling better with the pain in the knee. That takes time. I hope you have a good night. I hope I do too. At least after therapy your knee should be good. Pleasant dreams.

Hurt&Hopeful · Feb 3, 2019

Rosy said:
I feel the same way you do about winter. I hate to cold. Today wasn't too bad fo

I feel like you do about winter. I hate the cold. Yesterday was better for me. Today not too bad but not as good. lol I hope you are feeling better with the pain in the knee. That takes time. I hope you have a good night. I hope I do too. At least after therapy your knee should be good. Pleasant dreams.

You too, friend. I hope you have a nice peaceful night, dreaming of spring....The knee will get there, yes. Haven't started PT yet, and some of the pain and swelling came back today after a couple of better days. I have some lovely new bruising spreading down my calf as well. Muscles are like jelly, which is bizarre but kind of interesting. I'm trying to have a sense of humor about my rainbow-colored jelly leg in general.

Today was just that day where I have no sense of humor, lost patience with my kid, fussed at the husband. Just a great day. Tomorrow I get a re-do.

Ibs and anxiety

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