Ways of dealing with the anxiety

My flareups tend to be twice a month or so. Usually, they are following high stress times, or when I've not eaten 'properly'. I'm back on probiotics and trying to eat well. But, last night I had the 'C'. I always thought, wow C must not be as painful as 'D', but oh was I wrong. They both are miserable. I was all bloaty, cramped, pained, and nauseous. I'm not such why nausea always seems to come with mine.

Anyways, I have major anxiety about even having to go now. I get a 'hot/cold' feeling and a feeling of impending doom. I know it's irrational, but that really doesn't help the way I feel. I am nervous about even going to my husband's Christmas party tonight because of the 'what ifs'. 

IF any of you have something to share regarding the horrible panic/anxiety that goes with BM please let me know. I'd be very grateful.

PS: I do wonder if my GERD makes things much worse. I have GERD and an ulcer.

Diagnosis:(IBS, SVT, GAD, and GERD)

Meds: Verelan PM, Protonix, Singulair, Zoloft, and Klonopin (0.5 as needed)

GERD makes things worse. No question about it. If someone system is producing too much acid it can irritate the lining of the stomach and small intestine. It can actually cause polyps. I have gone thru periods where nausea was a big part of my IBS and other times not. I take ginger capsules for it and they help. I think nausea goes more with constipation at least for me it does. Once the gas breaks up the nausea tends to subside.

Two ideas come to mind:

Close your eyes and picture yourself at home, in your favorite bathroom or at home sipping a hot beverage or just sitting by the fire (whatever is soothing to you, perhaps a bath and a good book?). I do this when in public and I swear it works when I'm stuck in a public bathroom. I also take deep breaths and force myself to realize - this too shall pass.

And I'll say this yet again - rescue a needy dog! We have a Golden Retriever and she is so good at relieving my stress levels. She seems to know when I don't feel well and if we both climb into our waterbed (another suggestion if you could ever find one, they are so soothing and warm in the winter), she actually climbs on top of me, as if to say I know your stomach is a mess but I'm here to help. She does seem to instantly calm me down.

The exercise suggestion was good too.

But one of my favorite sayings now is - mind over matter. I somehow trick my body into believing I'm well. Denial yes but sometimes it does truly work! (FYI, I tried this approach while in labor with my 2 daughters, I just forced myself to think ahead when the L & D would be over and I'd be holding a brand new baby.....now of course I had an epidural each time too but projecting forward is a trick I still use today).

Mary/Marsky

This Too Shall Pass. I just found this board a couple of weeks ago. This was a favorite saying of my father. Got him through many a tough time in his life. I try to remember this when the going gets rough