I have really bad IBS, which has been acting up lately. It has made it harder for me to go places. In addition to this, it seems that I've been generally more anxious since about the 5th week of the program.

It has been a while since I went to the grocery store, which is hard for me because unless my IBS is really under control I have to run to the bathroom (sometimes multiple times). Last night I decided that I was going today.

I made a plan. First, I decided that if I only purchased one item it would have been a success. That's hard for me, because normally if I had to send my husband for 1 item, that would mean I failed. Second, I decided that as soon as I put that 1 item in my cart I'd say to myself that I was successful. Then I would take a deep breath & be thankful that I was there. Lastly, when I got home I would reward myself with a Rice Dream bar.

That made all the difference in the world. I realized that most of the time I'm thinking that I HAVE to go to the store. It's a necessary evil. I turned it to an attitude of gratitude. It was a positive instead of a negative.

It still wasn't easy. I had to go to the bathroom. I struggled. Then I decided I'd send my husband to finish, that I'd done enough. I got in line...looked at my list...realized that there were only 4 more items on the list...finished the job!

I got home feeling satisfaction & enjoyed my Rice Dream bar!

What an awesome experience! That's exactly the sort of thing that makes one just feel, well, proud of oneself.

Mmmmm... Rice Dream bar....

Just you wait - keep up with that attitude, and soon IBS will be a thing of the past.

MRT....EXCELLENT SUCCESS!!! I am so happy for you!

I know exactly how hard it is to shop when grocery stores are a place that brings on anxiety. I struggled major with grocery stores and standing in lines in stores. It can be very frustrating.

It's alot easier and less anxiety producing to say " I WANT TO..." instead of " I HAVE TO...".
The truth is...we don't "HAVE" to do anything we don't want to do and talking like this to ourselves only feeds the discontentment when we actually need or want something at the store.

Congratulations!! Keep up the good work!

Thanks for the replies. I'd love to think that along with the anxiety, the IBS would leave, but the IBS didn't come because of the anxiety, the anxiety came because of the IBS. But it will really make my life better if I can "become less affected and more effective".

You know, supposedly I had IBS 'long before anxiety', as well. And supposedly 'got anxious about getting sick, because I tended to catch stomach bugs'. Thing is... how does one measure the onset of anxiety? By panic attacks? Generalized behavior patterns? A doctor's say-so?

While the anxiety attacks heightened in my early 20's, I certainly was anxious looooong before that - long before I realized it. And the IBS did not predate that.

All I can say is.... no more anxiety, no more IBS, no more 'stomach bugs' - that's what happened for me. Let the experts scratch their heads if they want, it's pretty simple to me...

... low stress = minor IBS = heightened stress = IBS = ...

You get the idea. Here's to wiping out the stomach woes along with the mental ones!

WayStone

MRT:
I'm happy for you.

I know all to well the problems IBS can cause.

You did a very good. Great ideal keep it up!

Congratulations! You should be the first one to tell yourself that! It is so hard to face our fears and you did a great job.

Thanks all!

Waystone, my IBS started after getting extreme food poisoning in Malaysia & then childbirth. But I definitely still hold out hope that if I get rid of this anxiety the IBS will go. I'm very encouraged that yours left!