Anxiety and the digestive system

[cliffbee]

Okay, so I've always had stomach problems since I was younger and had gastritis around five years ago, which does come back now and then but I can always shift it with omeprazole. But I also suffer from anxiety (I used to be emetophobic but now my fear of being sick has moved more to anxiety related to diarrhea or uncontrollable BMs) and have recently had strange stomach and bowel problems, since I had my university exams in May (an obvious sign of being caused by stress!).

Basically, my BMs have been irregular since then and although they have started to become more normal, now my diet has become more irregular (having just emigrated) obviously it's started to get more irregular again (urgency of going and sometimes pencil like). The other problem I have is I also get mild bleeding (only visible on paper) from wiping and have had it on and off for a while. Sometimes it has stopped and gone away for a few weeks or so but then when my BMs become irregular, I get stressed, it becomes more difficult to wipe and seemingly cause damage... Sorry about the TMI here.

I've been to a doctor various times and have been given everything for it, and I now take mebeverine occasionally, which I think is a slight help.

I made that classic mistake of researching symptoms and obviously if you put the symptoms together of rectal bleeding, digestive discomfort, irregular bowel movements and palpitations, which have come by recently, you get a whole load of fatal diseases and other disorders come up, which then makes you MORE stressed! But these are obviously also all symptoms of anxiety.

I feel like I know it's anxiety. As soon as I said to the doctor I suffer from it sometimes, she had little more to question... and the more stressed I get, I know it gets worse. But it's a vicious cycle and I feel like I'm struggling to break it. My brother as well had something similar and had to have therapy for a year and take anti-depressants but he's now so much better.

Does anyone have any success stories or pointers for breaking it? Or just does it sound familiar? Going insane from stress!

[furryballys]

I'm sorry to hear you're suffering so much. I am absolutely emetophobic and i feel like my phobia is triggered by stress. Just wondering, so your energy (anxiety) has shifted to having lower bodily issues? Awww, i can't imagine what that would be like for me. Mine is still upper digestive - lol. However, i'm going through self-recovery right now and i'm trying to make my way back into the world as a more fully integrated and sound person. Hope you can find ways to relax because stress can really damage a body..what most people don't know is that we have soooo much more stress than people had back in the day. 

[cliffbee]

definitely can. i've started to take the mebeverine more regularly and i think it's helping me keep my nerves under control more. i find it hardest though when i go into the new town i'm in as i don't totally know how to get taxis back at night and stuff! :/

[chung123]

I spent 6 months with a GI and they can not find anything wrong with me.  Recently I was not able to sleep and other symptons started to show.  I think I have anxiety disorder that really slowed my digestive track down.  I am new to the problem and is seaking help now.