Anxiety and Depression Thanks To IBS
July 11, 2007 by Ken
Filed under IBS Information
We’ve talked about how high stress levels and anxiety cause IBS but what about the anxiety, high stress level and depression that IBS causes?
It’s really no great mystery why the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome could cause things like a high stress level, depression and anxiety. Think about it, you’re leaving the house to go somewhere that you committed yourself to go to. Then it strikes. Abdominal cramping, feeling bloated, and the dreaded diarrhea. Do you call and cancel AGAIN?
I looked around the web to try and find some sites or articles that went into IBS causing anxiety but there really aren’t any. Sure there are articles and sites that deal with the fact that anxiety can cause IBS but that’s not really what I’m talking about here. What I wanted to get into was how to deal with the stress and anxiety directly caused by IBS.
I found countless posts on message boards from people who were asking the same type of question as me. How are you supposed to deal with life and commitments when you have this debilitating syndrome Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Well if nothing else, you could go with the old saying “misery loves company”.
I found a site called IBS Tales where people write about their horrible experiences with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. How this makes you feel better about your own IBS, I don’t know, it just does.
One of the things that seemed to be a constant theme is that health care professionals seem to downplay the seriousness of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I guess because it is not a life threatening illness they don’t see the devastation it can cause. Not only is it completely painful but it makes normal life seem sometimes unbearable.
The fact that doctors are downplaying the mental affect this illness has on it’s sufferers goes hand in hand with my inability to find some answers to the question I had about how patients are supposed to deal with the depression and anxiety directly caused by IBS.
I guess the answer is that depression and anxiety need to be treated as just that. You would need to seek treatment for those symptoms even though you know what the cause is…Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Finding the right support to help you through the more difficult times is going to be your best defense against the depression and anxiety.
By talking more to others who also suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome you are going to find more than not only will you be able to be around people who identify with your problem but they may be able to offer helpful hints to get you through.
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Melanie on Mon, 16th Jul 2007 6:32 PM
When I get in my car to go anywhere I take my “Girls of Grace” CD. It Relaxes me and reminds me that God is in charge of my life and if I relax, let go and trust Him I’ll get to where I’m going. I also have learned that my case isn’t as serious as others and if I just take some imodium before I go and bring plenty of water with me. (in case I start to get colon cramps, the water seems to help me in that area) I’ve decided I’d rather live with the bathroom problems than the zombie feeling I get being on the anti-depressants. Also, it helps to remember that this is not my fault, it is a health issue and if my family and friends don’t understand and can’t stop the car when I need to go that’s fine. I’ll just take my own car or not go at all.
Tim on Wed, 25th Jul 2007 5:32 AM
Ken,
I know you’ve blogged about Revolution Health in the past but I wanted to take a second to highlight the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) center on the revolutionhealth.com site. There’s actually a number of articles and blog posts there about the links between stress, mental health, and IBS. Take a look, I hope you find it interesting.
palette48 on Tue, 28th Aug 2007 11:44 AM
My son has IBS and I have been using the shotgun approach with him. I have him on Digestive Advantage for IBS probiotic, calcium caltrate for the diarrhea, digestive enzymes, gas X, hyocyamine and I have overhauled his diet. No dairy, no red meat, very low fat meals, lots of soluble fiber ie. rice,bread and potatoes.No raw vegetables. Been using Heather Van Vorous book on Eating for IBS as a guide. Also have him on Acacia fiber and bought him Hypnotherapy for IBS cd’s. I am very frustrated with the doctors as they have not really given me any useful information except to say that they don’t know why he is having these problems. A lot of these things that I have done do work (info from the ibsgroup.org site) and are keeping his IBS manageable.
Ken on Wed, 20th Feb 2008 1:36 AM
Very cool thanks guys.
Kristen on Tue, 20th Oct 2009 9:30 AM
5-HTP, L-Tryptophan and GABA are food supplements that are very helpful in easing up Anxiety and Depression.
nicholas on Mon, 30th Nov 2009 11:28 AM
one problem is that some anxiety medicine actually end up causing gastrointestinal problems. the receptors for these drugs are similarly scattered throughout the brain and in nerve endings in the gi tract.
Jennie Anne on Sat, 9th Jan 2010 4:02 AM
I have both Anxiety and Depression. This is the wost sickness that you could possibly have in this world. I try to mange it naturally using 5-HTP food supplements.