New Member-Need Help

Hello Seth! I totally understand your anxiety issue because I am a 20 year Paramedic who never had a day of anxiety until my Crohn's diagnosis 3 years ago. I have a prescription for Xanax which helps me tremendously. I find that I can be sitting watching TV and out of the blue, I get hit with anxiety. Usually after I use the bathroom, it goes away but if not, I have the xanax. I personally think there is a physiological component along with psychological but either way, xanax helps me. I usually cut the tablet in half or quarter it so I do not get sleepy. Best of luck!

Welcome Seth.

I'm sorry you are having such a difficult time right now. I'm sure things will get better for you soon.

I am not a doctor nor a therapist but it sure sounds like you are having panic attacks. I have those sometimes and they make it hard to focus on anything but what's happening to your body.

First off, the most obvious thing that might help is short acting medication that treats anxiety - some kind of benzodiazepine. Valium and Xanex are drugs in that class. You will have to get a prescription from a doctor in the place you are visiting. I don't know how difficult that will be but your fiancee may have a doctor she sees already that could help you.

It sounds like you aren't certain whether your symptoms are partly Crohn's or all anxiety. If so, maybe asking yourself these questions will help you sort that out.

Do you only have these attacks when you are eating out?
What about when you eat at home?
When you just think about eating but aren't having or preparing a meal?

If so then I would guess that the symptoms are mostly anxiety.

If you're having other symptoms like you had when your Crohn's was flaring then it's probably both. Unfortunately, things like severe anxiety and changes in diet/travel have been known to set off a flare. So you may need to visit a GI while you're there to check that out. At least run some labs to help rule it out.

For the anxiety - did you learn any cognitive techniques in therapy that you found helpful in dealing with these sensations? If so, are you using them?

Maybe you're anxious at other times and aren't noticing and managing the feelings when they're still small so to speak.

When that happens with me I am much more likely to have a full blown attack.

Some things I have found helpful are

1) being completely in the moment. I find something around me - a flower, a tree, an interesting building - and I do my best to just focus on that one thing for a little bit. If the anxiety tries to take over again I draw my attention back to the object as often as I need to until I feel better.

2) I remind myself that these feelings will pass very soon, I just have to get through a few moments and then I will feel much better

3) I tell myself that I can handle this, that nothing life-threatening (like someone trying to kill me with a gun) is actually happening right this moment so I can watch those feelings happening and treat them as simply information.

4) Finding something humorous to think and talk about like the antics of a pet, child or street vendor/waiter. Propose a ridiculous color scheme for your wedding in a humorous way or speculate on who will act the most outrageously at the reception. Something that provokes a belly laugh works great to get me back to reality.

I sometimes think of myself as a leaf floating on a peaceful stream. I've gotten stuck in an eddy for a few moments. I can just float on top of the water knowing in just a little bit I'll be back into the main part of the stream and it will be as if it has I had never been delayed.

Sometimes it helps to directly address the thing that's making you anxious. In this case, you're worried that your fiance is going to leave you out of annoyance and frustration. Maybe talking this over with her honestly and asking her what you can do to make things better would in turn reduce the behaviors that are upsetting her. It makes it clear to her that you are taking responsibility for working on these behaviors which should reassure her.

It may be that you have PTSD from the years of traumatic, untreated symptoms. Something to ask about when you get home as the treatment for that is a bit different from anxiety.

Best wishes,

Patricia

hey seth, I have severe anxiety as well, because of crohns. my suggestion is therapy with your fiance on how you guys are going to handle your cd the rest of your life. it's very much a social disease as well, I personally don't travel much for those reasons of having to go to the bathroom in public, eating in public, all of it. To make things easier on you, you guys have to be a cohesive unit, understanding your issues is key, I believe your anxiety is brought on by cd, and it's complications that comes with it. I take serax, and temazapam for sleep, remicade and vicodin are my med's, take one day at a time.

As someone else has mentioned, your anxiety may have something to do with the Pentasa. I've never had anxiety before but since I've started Pentasa I am constantly anxioua. I had my GP prescribe me Celexa, a mood alterer to deal with anxiety in general, as well as Klonopin, to deal with those tougher times. Don't forget, there's nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it!