My anxiety has came back after four years of being relatively anxiety free, I'am having different symptoms this time though and I would like to know if anyone has some ideas that would help me before I become totally housebound again.

I have developed IBS really bad, it started in the Spring due to some stress and I really didn't think anything about it but then over the summer it just got so much worse, my boys fight all the time and being home with them puts alot of stress on me and it hits my gut. Anyway over the past 5 months my world just shrank....I stopped going places because I get such bad diarhea unexpectedly and I worry about having to go and some place not having a bathroom. Now it is so bad that I get anxious just leaving my house, I have stopped shopping except for at a small drugstore that is close by and I'am not doing things with my family like I used to. This is so damn hard!! My world has just crashed again and I really would like some help, some direction in how to start living again. I love the program and I'am on week 4 right now, but I really feel very alone in this. Thankyou for your help

Hi Sunflower,
I am sorry that you are having problems with anxiety again.
Remember,,,,you have conquered this before and can do it again! We all have our bad times...unfortunately. I am glad that you have started the program again..that's great! This is the time to take really good care of yourself. Go for a walk everyday .. whether you feel like it or not. You will feel better after you get back home! Exercise, eat right and be kind to yourself. Don't beat yourself up. You can beat this..you are a strong person! Good luck and God Bless.
Lora

You sound like my twin! I was that way a year ago. I started the program, did what it said,(mostly) and it got better and better. Not instantly, but when I realized all these symptoms were from my anxiety I would relax on purpose, tell myself this is temporary and that I am learning. I still have fears about the 'ol bathroom thing and it does hold me back to a degree but I am still working on me. Do the program, take care of yourself and you will feel better soon. I don't know how old your kids are, but they can feel stress too and it comes out in different ways. Maybe you could get some advice from a mother who has kids who don't fight or whose kids are well mannered and see if they can give you some insights and ideas. As you lighten up on yourself your boys might lighten up as well. Child rearing is a full time job but one that can be a joy, not a burden. I do think that we need to seek out those who are successful in raising children and ask for their help. These young'uns don't come with manuals and mothers intuition only goes so far. Take care, Reena

Hello Sunflower

I've been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks for more than 11 years and I, too, have problems with IBS. I can tell you that I know where every bathroom is in any given shopping centre around here

Over the years, I have learned that certain foods trigger my IBS attacks. Besides your anxiety, I think that you need to identify which foods trigger your attacks: for me, it's garlic, mushrooms, lemon, spices, greasy food, artificial sweetener and a few other things that would be too long to enumerate

As far as being housebound because of IBS, I've been there too, and still am sometimes (forget spontaneous outings if I had mushrooms or lemon the day before ). I have developped what I call my "survival kit": I NEVER go out without a change of pants and underwear (they are stored in my car)just in case - it makes ME feel more secure; second of all, in my purse I always carry "Wet towelets" and Imodium (the type that you can put under your tongue for immediate relief) which was prescribed by my doctor. Just knowing that I have a change of clothes and this medication with me "just in case" helps me tremendously when I have to go out even though I rarely have to use it...

My doctor told me that, for most people, IBS is a combination of constipation and diarrhea: is it your case? If so, I suggest that you take Metamucil (the regular one, not the one with artificial sweetener)on a regular basis which is recommended for people with IBS. For me, no matter how much fruits and vegetables I eat, I can be 3 days without having a bowel movement and then I get stressed out over something silly or eat mushrooms or garlic and BAM - I'm in the bathroom with cramps and diarrhea for the next 3 days! Metamucil definitely helped me because I am now more "regular" therefore I have less cramping or abdominal pain when I do have an IBS attack...

Unfortunately for me, I cannot afford to purchase Lucinda's program - Canadian money is worth nothing these days and I've been let go from my job in September 2000 after 21 years of service - needless to say that my anxiety is back full speed since this summer and I'm trying my best to control it but it is not easy...

I wish you luck...
Sylvie.

Thankyou so much for your help It makes me feel better knowing that I'am not alone in this, but I'am sorry that you all have to deal with it too I did some research and I'am trying a calcium supplement called Caltrate to see if it will help me stop the diarhea, hopefully it will, but I think I will take your suggestions and use them so I feel better when I do go out. If anyone would like an email buddy for support please feel free to email me, I would really like having someone who understands what I'am going through and mabe I could help you too
Take care, Happy New Year!!
Jodi