Life-Ruining Diarrhoea
 

Hi,

This is a personal matter and so I have some reluctance to discuss it, but I would appreciate some input and support.

For the majority of my life, I have had difficulties with anxiety. While I have gotten to the root of many things and have overcome a great deal, there are lingering problems that interfere with my day to day life.

Seven years ago, I willingly threw myself into a very significant deep end as far as going beyond my comfort zone. In doing so, I experienced anxiety and, for the first time, diarrhoea that was directly caused by it. I figured it was a form of anxiety based IBS. From that moment on, whenever I had to leave my home, having suffered with agoraphobia for much of it, I would experience IBS/diarrhoea with anxiety.

As time went on, it became more problematic. For example, somebody within my home would prepare themselves for a night out. I would not wish to use the bathroom during this time so as not to make them late or inconvenience them in any way. This thought then created the same IBS diarrhoea problem. From that moment, I would experience it every time somebody would decide they would be preparing to head out. Following on from that, I began to experience it whenever guests would slowly prepare to leave after visiting. I was reminded of waiting and perhaps not being able to use the bathroom during this time, which in turn caused the problem.

As the years went on, I made improvements to my anxiety in general and would also get out more often. However, my IBS problem worsened. If, for example, I would usually go out on a specific weekday evening for a social activity, I would get IBS during that day even if I weren't going out as I would fear it being a problem regardless (knowing I'd usually get it on that day).

In recent times, the problem has become so bad that I get diarrhoea just by thinking about it. It has become so prominent in my life that it's hard not to think about it. So, the thought may cross my mind, I'll find myself concerned with the thought that I'd rather not experience it, and the result is the usual diarrhoea. Even now, as I type, I'm beginning to notice the signs of it again just by thinking of it.

This has become a major dilemma for me. You can perhaps imagine how it interferes with my life, frequently suffering from diarrhoea, not because of any physical issues, but simply because of thought. How could it be that I have become so sensitive to the thought of it? I must say that I am like this. Having had OCD, I can at times struggle with things such as breathing and saliva production by becoming anxious about not doing it. There was a time about a month ago where I experience palpitations and discomfort in my chest, which seemed to fluctuate with my thoughts. One might say that the thoughts were not so much the direct cause, but that I was triggering anxiety that in turn contributed to the problem.

Well, over the years, I'm tried different things to counter the IBS-D. I once had brief success by somehow convincing myself that I don't have it. Other times I've prevented it momentarily through listening to music or distracting myself in some way. Trying a form of meditation where I would focus on different points of physical contact (back against the chair for example) helped for a moment. These things were all brief successes and would then later fail upon falling victim to expectation. I think I had probably gained a sense of desperation, that these things worked once so perhaps they could help me again, which only made things worse. Despite trying to distract myself, I would still experience the IBS symptoms and wouldn't be able to prevent the outcome.

Unfortunately, after all these years and this problem only getting worse, I am growing very tired. It contributes to other difficulties, such as struggles to maintain good eating habits. I also find it does physically exhaust me.

Does anybody have absolutely any experience with something of this nature? Any suggestions that I could try to alleviate the problem? Any advice? I feel like I need to re-wire my brain in some manner, but I simply don't know how to in this case. I am trying to practise more meditation, which may (or may not) be of benefit, although this is something I also struggle with as bringing my awareness to my breath results in me having to control and force every breath. That kind of obsessive nature comes into play once again where I cannot direct my attention anywhere else.

Thank you for any help.

I can understand how this problem must be seriously affecting your life.

Have you tried hypnotherapy? With a qualified hypnotherapist?

And....did a doctor diagnose you with anxiety-related IBS -D? Or was that a self-diagnosis? Even though it might be inconvenient, and may turn up nothing, it might be wise (if you haven't already) to get any possible physical cause ruled out too.

I have IBS have had it over 20 years yes its a pain but if its effecting you like you say you need to go back to your doctor.
he may refer you to see someone in the hospital.
You need to go and see your doctor.


Namaste

It may not sound like an answer but I agree with Tobi in regards to a clinical hypnotherapist. I have known many, many who have had physical transformations through hypnotherapy. Although I have not known someone who personally had the IBS symptoms from anxiety, I have known more than one person whose anxiety created their requirement to breath in a paper bag, agoraphobia, or other symptoms that were all calmed through hypnotherapy.

Good luck <3

Hypnotherapy may not work in this case as it stems from Anxiety counselling would serve you better. speaking about it may seem daunting but you have done the first step by posting it on here. counselling would help you put your fears into perspective,


Namaste

I agree that counseling would be beneficial. Clinical hypnotherapy is similar to counseling with the added benefit of having the subconscious have a more prominent role, allowing for, at times, a quicker understanding of the reason behind the issues. Some people are only familiar with the NLP-like hypnosis where it is just attempting to overwrite something in the subconscious, rather than engage it. Just wanted to add that clarification.
But counseling in itself is definitely a way to get there too.

Hi Sunset Dragon,

I used to suffer from similar, though less severe symptoms. Sometimes, I still do, especially before travelling or any other stressful situation, that takes me out of my comfort zone. It isn't always psychosomatic either, for instance, it can be triggered by eating dairy or other types of heavy, rich food.

I think you need to take a comprehensive approach. First, you should pay attention to your diet, note what you eat when you have an episode and experiment with eliminating that particular food group from your diet. Dairy and wheat are often the main culprits, followed by artificial sweeteners, coffee and other types of grains and legumes (including tomatoes, beans, lentils, etc...). These are all inflammatory and can trigger IBS, or at the very least make it worse.

Then, the psychological approach is the tricky one. Anxiety isn't easy to deal with, but daily meditation should help. Try to meditate for an hour a day if you can, or do Yoga Nidra (which is a halfway stage between conscious sleep and meditation).