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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/18/2014 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
My anxiety has always been there, mostly dealing with constant worry about where the bathroom is (ibs) and avoiding any situation where a bathroom isn't close by or it's in audio range of others (people's homes). Since my colitis flare and subsequent accidents shakehead my anxiety has been off the charts!! To the point I can't bring myself to partake in simple activities like hair cut or going to the dog park. I realized it was time to get help. My dr started me on elavil and I started seeing a psychologist. She seems nice and I was comfortable enough telling her my situation. She seems optimistic that she will be able to help me overcome some of the anxiety and how I think about situations. This might not be a "UC" related post, but thought I'd share since I know the stress, worry, fear and anxiety of being sick can be a lot to handle for a lot of people (me!). I hope it makes a difference for me...at least I feel like I'm working on it, which gives me some sense of control.
Posted 1/19/2014 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
I had dx'ed anxiety pre-UC. Treatment (both anti-anxiety pills and counseling) helped me alot. I credit both alot for helping me deal with my UC.
Posted 1/19/2014 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
That's good that you're feeling hopeful. Being in a good state of mind is never a bad thing, especially when you're dealing with this illness and all of the unpredictability. I haven't been to a psychologist since i was little but I saw a psychiatrist for a while and the only part that was really helpful was the fact that he prescribed me medication to help keep my anxiety to a minimum. I would tell him about my problems but talking about didn't change anything for me. I know there are some techniques you can practice to help keep calm. In my case, if I am flaring, nothing is going to make me calm except having access to a bathroom because I really get terrible urgency.
Posted 1/19/2014 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
ActiveUCer-thanks for sharing your success! I'm glad it helped you and makes me even more hopeful.

Notsosickly-I totally get where you're coming from. At the height of my flare it wasn't about my anxiety, it was my body physically not being able to hold it for 5seconds. No "talk therapy" will help that, that's for sure! But my symptoms go beyond that. I'm at a point now where I'm having solid BMs and mostly normal level of urgency, yet I'm still obsessed over the bathroom and every little twitch my colon makes. I think I could be 100% UC free and still be struggling with the fear of it... That's how I knew it was time for help. I think a lot of this stems from my ten years of ibs...UC just made it worse...with the accidents causing me to live out what had previously been my worst fear.
Posted 1/19/2014 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
That's great. I feel the same way most of the time. IBD is never more than a few small steps from the forefront of my mind. I had a great 13 month remission that ended recently but I was still reticent to be too far away from a comfortable toilet even during it. To an extent I think I'll always be like that but it does help to work on the mental aspect of the disease as well. I hope she can help you a ton!
Posted 1/19/2014 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Levi. I expect it will be a long process, since I've been this way for many years. But, all long journeys have to begin with a first step smilewinkgrin I will post my progress as time goes by.
Posted 1/19/2014 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I ALWAYS have to know where the bathroom is, even though I really only leave the house lately when I'm feeling very "stable". I also try not to go places at really busy times. I get anxious when waiting in lines especially. I don't do drive-thrus or wait in lines or else I get super anxious.

Also I haven't had a haircut since I was on Dificid for C-Diff a couple of months ago. Just don't feel good enough. The anxiety just makes it worse.
Posted 1/19/2014 11:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hey that's good. I hope she's able to give you some good techniques and exercises to help you out. Been thinking of finding someone my self. Keep us posted! Nothing wrong with being aware of bathrooms but you gotta have some fun moments in life. I spent 2 weeks in bed and when I ventured to the store last week I was sooooo scared and almost didn't go. It took a lit of coaxing that first trip out!
Posted 1/19/2014 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
@WifeofMars, I'm sure it felt good getting out though.

I know for me, if I can muster up the guts to leave the house after staying home for days on end, I often end up going out several more times over the next day or two.
Posted 1/19/2014 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
I'm a CBT trained mental health worker and use the techniques on myself a lot. While I get very annoyed at those therapists who understand nothing about IBD and presume that if we chilled out we wouldn't be ill, it doesn't mean that CBT can't be really helpful.

Things like attention training so that we are not looking out for every sensation in the colon can help. Once we've had accidents, of course we are nervous and on alert for signs of needing to go and anxiety can bring on the need to empty the bowel (I read the statistic that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 12 men will have the need to empty bowel and bladder when experiencing anxiety) so being able to bring down the anxiety does help I find, though of course, when you have to go, you have to go. Mindfulness techniques seem to help too. There's a branch of CBT called acceptance and commitment therapy which I am not trained in as yet but I think that would help too in order to approach the disease with a helpful philosophy.

Probably not going too far to say that many of use may have symptoms of post traumatic stress if we have had particularly humiliating accidents or particularly painful procedures and then once more, therapeutic techniques can be helpful. Plus of course there's plain old depression and using the CBT technique on checking in if you are building in moments of pleasure and achievement into your week, even within the limited boundaries of what the illness allows, can help too.

Hope the psychologist continues to be of help to you.
Posted 1/19/2014 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
Great insight, London lurker. I agree that we are aware of every sensation in the colon, I'm hyper sensitive to anything going on in that area. I've recently started elavil, which in low doses has shown to reduce the exagerated brain/gut connection in those with ibs. I'm using meds in combination with therapy, which I'm hoping will treat the physical and mental aspects of my problem. I should also note that I'm an anxious, tightly wound individual even outside the bowel/toilet issues tongue so I'm the perfect candidate for meds/therapy for anxiety, lol. Will keep all of you posted on my progress.
Posted 1/20/2014 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
toomuchpoopin_ I can totally relate! Just last week I had intense, intense anxiety about leaving the house. I had a hair appointment scheduled and almost cancelled. That afternoon I went to see my therapist as well. I had an anxiety attack in the waiting room, in front of the bathroom!!
She helped immensely.

I've also started EFT tapping. I just follow along on youtube posts for "tapping for healing." I tapped in the car at a red light because I was so afraid of being "trapped."
At night I fall asleep to a beautiful healing meditation as well. "Ra Ma Sa,Sa Say ho hung,"

I was laughing while telling my therapist that even 1 year ago I would have never, ever mediated but here I am. The anxiety about this disease is too much. If the disease isn't going away maybe then I have to change how I cope with it.
Posted 1/21/2014 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
Rbartolo, thanks for your reply. I'm glad it's helping you! I will look up some of those techniques you spoke of.
Posted 1/21/2014 7:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hey poopin,

I've had anxiety for quite some time myself. I've always been a bit of a high strung spazz. But a functional one!

about 8 months before UC dx I was diagnosed with depression.
my anxiety has not really increased with UC but wow has my depression gotten bad some bad UC days!

CBT therapy is fantastic. I use it to keep myself in check, quite often . :)
Posted 1/22/2014 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi embers glow, thanks for your reply. I'm glad to hear you've had some success with CBT too. I don't currently suffer from depression but I can see how this disease and the anxiety I have regarding the issues (afraid to go out) could easily turn in to depression. Sure hope better days are ahead for all of us!
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