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Hypnosis Therapy?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/22/2009 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

Well, I have to say things are, touch wood, going quite well physically. However, the anxiety issues are not going away at all, and as we all know, they can mimic symptoms of UC (urgency, panic, cold sweats, cramping).

I have a number of LONG trips coming up for business, and they involve me being cooped up in small spaces for long times without access to the restroom. No matter how well I'm feeling, if I get in one of those situations and I start to think about the fact that I can't go if I have to, my stomach immediately starts reacting.

So this is the psychological side of UC. And I need help with it. Taking Xanax etc can help temporarily, but I think I need a more long-term solution.

Has anyone tried hypnotherapy? There is a good amount of research on IBS (not IBD) and hypnosis that shows an 80% remission rate (led by a doctor Palsson out of Chapel Hill).

Again, I'm not foolish enough to think hypnosis is going to help my PHYSICAL condition, but my mental state is what I want to work on. We ALL know getting nervous about UC is a trigger for UC symptoms!

Thanks for any input
Posted 6/22/2009 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi....in the overall state of things, my suggestion would be for you to start cognitive behavioural therapy to help you gather the tools in understanding the anxiety and helping deal or intervene in the process as it's happening.

I've never tried hypnotherapy, but I think it's worth a try "as a bandaid treatment" for the short-term.

The whole problem with anxiety is that when we have attacks, we think they're never going to end....but they do. The waiting it out and being consciously aware of the process is most painful.

Recognising is the key....but that's easier said than done.

Maybe during your trip you can do a half imodium (I don't usually suggest it, however...it might help with some of your anxiety/thought process) plus the xanax.

Do the people you'll be involved with during the meetings know that you have to sometimes use the washroom often? You can firstly enquire where they are and set that as accomplished before you even start the meeting.,

Having a plan is half the battle....

I hope it goes well for you.
quincy
Posted 6/22/2009 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
I do self-hypnosis every day. I was doing it 24/7 when I had my second flare and hadn't yet been diagnosed as having an IBD. Self-hypnosis calms me, but it did nothing for my inflammation. I was drinking V8 juice, thinking it would help me gain strength, and having severe diarrhea as a result. Food definitely affects me more than stress, but a Colitis episode can be triggered by stress; so it might benefit some.
Posted 6/22/2009 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
Would the self-hypnosis be more of biofeedback?

q
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