Stress / Anxiety

For me, I do my best to keep as much stress out of my life as I possibly can. You cannot eliminate it all. I've eliminated stressful friends, relatives, etc. I do what I need to do for me.

 

I'm in the same boat. I think stress at work caused my flare now.  Stress is a killer for the body.

I'm trying to get a little extra sleep, going slower on the weekends.  No more rush, rush, rush.

Again I try not to get stressed about anything but it's not easy, I taught myself to be very laid back, something my ex girlfriend didn't like hence the ex. I justify being laid back by trying to stay healthy!
Hope this helps!

Try taking St. Johns Wort for anxiety. Also, Valerian is good.

biksteeda, I feel the same way. I have definitely noticed my UC worsening relative to my stress level. I eventually started Lexapro...my UC went from severe proctitis to moderate proctitis. So, I think it helped some. Obviously, there are a lot of life events we have no control over.

Michelejc, how did you get rid of negative relatives?! Some of the most stressful people in my life I can't get away from....

     Conquer UC....I believe each individual's body reacts differently to stress.  I have a first cousin who developed a heart problem related to stress at age 54.  My former GI doctor said most definitely stress triggered my flares too.  No doubt in my mind....stress is a killer!  I just wish I were one of those who let things just roll off my back and forget about it...but I am not.

Madpotter: It's easy. You set boundaries. If the people in your life cannot respect the boundaries you set, then they have to go. It's not easy but it is necessary.

I definitely see the correlation between major stress and my flares. I've gone through a lot in the last few years and I believe the stress has taken a toll. I don't normally do "New Year's Resolutions" but this year I decided to focus on myself. I'm trying to eat healthier, exercise regularly and lose a little weight. The exercise helps me cope much better. When I don't exercise, I notice the difference in my reactions to stress. But I'm currently in remission so exercising is easier for me now. I imagine those with bad flares might have trouble. But even a brisk walk could be beneficial. The other thing I swear by is yoga. I just started taking a yoga class a few months ago and I can't believe how profound an effect it has on my body. I'm an entirely new person once class is over. I think just the deep diaphragmatic breathing alone makes a huge difference.

Conquer UC said...
I always find this "Stress = UC flare-up" to be interesting...so what do you mean by stress? i mean seriously isn't everyone exposed to stress? if so then why doesn't everyone develop IBD?

I dunno but the 'anecdotal' evidence seems quite strong; as there are many of you here saying that you flare up around stressful events. I have thought about it and i think mine behaves that way too but not consistently. I think it depends on the TYPE of stress.
I find the WORST type of stress is when i feel like im being controlled by something else and then i get angry and feel helpless. I find that the combination of these two emotions is the most destructive: anger and helplessness.

The way i deal with it now is by realizing that the most important thing is my health: nothing is worth getting worked up on. As for helplessness: well that's easy now coz i realise that i have no control over many things LOL especially after being diagnosed with this disease. I just do what i can do and if there is something i cannot do then darn it this is my capacity.

I would be interested in hearing if others went into remission after going on anti-depressants and/or anti-anxiety meds??

I think you are confound the idea of stress as a trigger for a flare or relapse vs. the idea of stress as a primary/major agent in the pathogenesis of IBD. Stress may or may not be a sufficient environmental trigger for most people to develop this autoimmune disease, but it could easily be a sufficient trigger to set off an autoimmune flare.

In this context questions like "everybody has stress so why does not everybody get IBD" comes off as missing the point on a lot of levels. For one the initial trigger does not do much without the genetic susceptibility, for two these folks are talking about flares and not the development of the underlying autoimmune. (Granted some in this thread have asserted that stress is the underlying cause for everybody, but I just ignore that kind of blanket statement.)

I would also point out that when stress seems to bring on a flare, it is not clear what has happened on the disease level. Folks are only seeing the symptom level. Possibly very little changed with the IBD, and the stress intensified concurrent IBS. After all IBS has a much better documented link to mental health. However the IBS symptoms might diminish the effect of IBD meds, or may disrupt gut flora, which in turn could have a negative immunomodulatory effect. It is complex.

The advice to stay away form stressors and to find good coping - well thats just plain good advice. At some level it does not matter if it is IBS or IBS or both, and if it is a flare trigger or the primary cause ... etc.

Stress is a tricky topic to address. There's only so much we can do on our end and sometimes it cannot be avoided.

To cope I do mindful meditation, massages, work out at the gym, try and change my attitude about things. Sometimes people who are creating the stress are confused and tend to be difficult for no reason at all!

Other people enjoy inflicting misery on others. Those people are best avoided...no matter the relationship. I had to end my relationship with my sister and mother due to the emotional abuse I've been receiving from them for years. It's been tough but I doing a lot better without them now than if trying to manage that type of relationship. People like that need counseling.

Counseling is also a great stress reliever. It helps put thing in perspective and help you let go of the stress. This site is great for venting too!

Per my understanding stress DOES suppress the immune system. What happens is stress lower the immune system response but only for so long. Once this is over the immune system shoots up high and then gradually even out. Remember we got compromised immune system so it won't act "normally" in stressful situations.

I'm going through my own toxic situation and got 2 weeks off work. It's all in my rectum causing me severe pain and nausea. The crazy thing about it is this situation was based on ignorance regarding this condition!

Yup having UC is definitely creating a negative domino effect for me with family, friends, and work! You would think you're own immediate family would be supportive not knock you down for it! But who am I 'm kidding..I've been abused by them for years...and I'm sure this UC is the result of it!

So glad to have this forum. Sometimes this is the only place I can get support and understanding!
blksteeda...hope you're situation will be ending soon so you can concentrate on taking care of yourself!