anxiety=bathroom

I know there are some here that have gone to see specailists for anxiety. I am just wondering what kind of things you do to calm yourselves down before going out and not knowing where a bathroom is? I have so much anxiety about getting to a washroom that I make it worst and cause my bowels to go crazy. I know alot of it is a mental thing...   I think about it sooo much that i cause it to happen. What can I do to help avoid it? Ive tried loud music, silence, deep breaths, but it hasnt helped. Any advice?  What do you do?

LittleSisSmurf I have anxiety related to my Crohns disease too. I think it is much more common than folks realize. I kept having what I thought were frequent little flares and eventually realized that I had developed what they call anticipatory anxiety. This anxiety is from always worrying about the what if's. What if I get sick and a bathroom isnt close, what if I get sick and ruin the trip for my husband. The what if's kept going on and on, until I couldn't stand it anymore. I was prescribed the lowest dose of Xanax and started seeing a therapist. Both really helped me alot and I am now able to recognize the anxiety and with the help of the Xanax stop it in its tracks. I only use the Xanax now maybe 1-2 times a month.

Also we have a great anxiety/panic forum here on Healingwell too and many Crohnies are members. You should give it a visit.

Hugs,
Gail *Nanners*

I also am RXed xanax (.50 mg) for such situations. about 3 years ago my dad had triple bypass and valve replacment sugery and I had an anxiety attack.....that being said....when I had my horrid flare 2 years ago and was sick for three weeks straigh I thought maybe my nerves were playing a HUGE role. My nerves didn't end up being the cause of my horrid flare, however my family DR told me to use the xanax as needed to head off the anxitey when I can't get it under control. It works wonders for me. I give myself a little time (normally a half hour or so) to calm myself down first and I seem to have the best luck by just blocking everything or talking to God.

I usually go to the same places so I know where bathrooms are. If it is a new place I find out where the bathrooms are pretty quick. I keep lots of kleenex on hand that I can use as toilet paper and I always check the toilet paper role before I go. At home, I keep lots of toilet paper on hand. At friends houses I try to use the toilet furthest away from where people are visiting so that they don't hear sounds. My close friends know why I do this, others probably do not. At work our bathrooms are in stalls so I get embarrassed. There is one single bathroom on the first floor so I use that when I can, but I don't always have time. I don't have diarreah right now (thank God!) but these are my strategies when I do.

I get really paranoid at work that someone is going to walk into the bathroom and notice any kind of smell (I try to go when it's empty), so I carry a small perfume spray in my purse with me that fits in my pocket so I can spray a bit of it to help cover up the smell a bit. Not entirely effective, but it's made it slightly easier for me.