(Note: I've posted this thread in the Stress/Anxiety and Panic Disorder Forums as well, so if it looks familiar - it is! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Just looking for more feedback and help!)

Oh boy - after reading through the majority of these posts, it's such a RELIEF to know that I'm not alone here. So many times, during my bouts with panic and anxiety, I feel like an alien, especially in my college lecture halls where I seem to be the only one losing my mind because of panic while everyone else is calm and cool as a cucumber. Argh.
I have been battling with GAD for about four years; however, the SEVERE panic that I had always dreaded but (thankfully) never experienced decided to spring upon me last October. I'm a junior in college, so of course, I have my fair share of stress (more than most, I'd say), but one day, in my Linguistics class, out of the blue, my stomach began to churn. And make noises. This was SO embarrassing because it's a small class (12 people) and during certain parts of the session, it's silent while we do writing exercises (I've now come to dread those).

Anyways, my stomach would NOT STOP churning. As gross as this sounds, I felt like I needed to make an extreme rush to the bathroom because of the Big D (diarrhea). Unfortunately, there are no rest rooms in that building, so I felt like I had no escape. Suddenly, the worst panic attack of my LIFE began. My heart felt like it was trapped inside of my neck, I was sweating, heart palpitating, couldn't breathe, and almost dug a gaping hole into my thumb with my pen to try to relieve the stress and the churning stomach. About 45 minutes into that Hell, I told the professor I had to leave. Thankfully, she was nice and let me go.
I cried all the way home - what just happened? Was it a simple flu virus or was it a panic attack? Did one bring on the other?

I thought it was a one-time occurrence. I thought wrong. The same thing happened in another class of mine. And again, I had to walk out. SO humiliating! I began to dread each class, each day, and each minute. My doctor put me back on Xanax (.5 mg/2 times a day) and at the beginning, it helped. Now, it seems I've become immune to it. No relief whatsoever.

I've begun abusing Immodium to the point where I know it's not healthy. I only eat foods that can be digested fairly easily, as I'm DEATHLY afraid of the "Big D/Panic Attack" to happen again. I've come very, very close to leaving lecture halls again, but try to breathe myself through it and take the Xanax in advance. Still, I dread each day. Each minute spent in a classroom is like an eternity in Dante's Tenth Circle of Hell.

Please, someone tell me that I'm not the only one. I really do feel like I'm losing my mind.

Please pray for me, and thank you for reading!

It sounds very much like a panic attack and that your stress and anxiety generally are making your stomach bad and causing you problems. Sounds like you have IBS.

Unfortunately, due to the mind/gut link all your stomach problems will be worse until you can get your anxiety under control. When under stress, the brain releases certain chemicals that also have a direct effect on the smooth muscle tissue and the peristaltic action of the gut, which is why you get your gurgling stomach and the urgent need to open your bowels and have diarrhea. Palpitations, sweating, not being able to breathe and an upset stomach are all symptoms of a panic attack rather than flu, and the fact that these keep happening are more indicative of panic attacks rather than stomach flu.

Can you remember when these first began? How long ago and can you remember feeling like this or having an upset stomach as a reaction to any event that may have happened some time ago? It may seem daft, but all these are linked and if you have an inability to deal with a problem on a mental and emotional level, then your body will produce and give you physical symptoms in an effort to force you to deal with them.

I would suggest that you see a counsellor or therapist or someone that you can talk to about this. Going to see you doc is ok, but does he have time to talk to you rather than just giving you meds to try and deal with the anxiety in the short term? These are meds that even you say are not as effective now? You need to get your doc to refer you to a therapist as until you can get to the bottom of what is causing your panic attacks, they will probably only get worse and not better. It is better to find and treat the cause rather than the symptoms, as you have a better chance of cure that way than the other way.

Hope this helps?

Sometimes having IBS can bring on a panic attack because your thinking that you might not be able to make it to the bathroom if you have to go.Or sometimes a panic attack can effect your IBS if you have that.I know this because ive suffered from both.Hope this helps.

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As we all have come to know IBS can certainly be stress related. My son who is 16 also has IBS and can relate to some of your horror stories of being in class and needing to use a bathroom. Frequently, none were available or they were locked. We have since been to a pediatric gastro doctor and he has been very helpful. Being on a mild antidepressant can help the stress as well as calm the colon. Along with this and some other medications he seldom has the stress of worrying about finding a bathroom at the worst times. It is time to find a good doctor and treat all the symptoms.

I have to say that I strongly disagree with you. By treating the SYMPTOMS of a problem you will never solve it because this is just paliative at best. To solve something you have to find the CAUSE and if you find and treat the cause you will be able to resolve the problem for good.

Your son is very young to have IBS at 16. When did this first start and can you link it start to any specific event or trauma? If you can and you can deal with this, then your sons problems might resolve.

Rather than an MD I would suggest that you go and see an ND. They will give you more time and can help you more naturally rather than having to fill your body with chemicals that more often than not have unwanted side effects.

I was searching on yahoo for this exact subject, and I found this message board. I have had the same affliction since about 1996. My problem is identical with the exception of having to find a restroom. Mine is mostly embarassing noise. I began to avoid anything and everything where there was a possibility of being in a silent room. Most doctors I saw were really unsympathetic, and kind of dismissed me as a person with an overactive mind. Eventually I went for counseling, and was also prescribed an antidepressent. These things helped enough that I now hold a full time job, and am going to graduate school part-time. This is from a person who became too afraid go to the movies! I went off the antidepressent voluntarily, but I never got over the problem completely (mostly because I thought I was doing better, I was released from counseling, and I let things slip). I still squirm in meetings.

I do feel that a big portion of this is really physical, and this is the way the gut is going to be. This problem is real, and it can be embarassing. I know most people find that hard to understand. But I also think that the anxiety exacerbates the problem much more than it would normally occur.

I just wanted to share that there is another person with the exact same problem. You are not an alien. Counseling and temporary use of medication have helped me. Hopefully this will give you some ideas of how to tackle this problem for yourself. I know exactly how you feel, and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Good luck, and let me know if there is anything you want to know about my experiences that might be helpful.


[This message has been edited by Dan_from_TX (edited 11-13-2002).]

Panic attacks started for me before my GI problems did. They weren't severe attacks, but they were fairly frequent. One day I had an appt. for a haircut. I felt funny driving there (nausea) and thought to myself, "here I go with another panic attack". I tried talking myself down from it..reminding myself how often I've felt like that and that I could control it and not run from it. I made it all the way to the parking lot...and I just couldn't make myself go in for the appt. I drove back home, still feeling nauseous even though cancelling the appt. should have relieved some of the stress. Within an hour of being at home I became extremely sick...it was a stomach 'bug' after all...not a panic attack. The whole family came down with it shortly after me. But that one experience set me up for not having any confidence in knowing the difference between an anxiety attack and GI symptoms from actually 'being ill' from a virus or other source. Anytime I would feel stomach problems coming on due to an anxiety attack, I would wonder if it was something I could control, or if it had a 'true' source that I had no control over..such as a virus. This not being able to tell the difference caused me a couple of years of my life...as I was afraid to venture anywhere. And I didn't know how to hide my anxiety from others.

I finally figured out that not hiding my anxiety and bowel problems helped immensely in controlling the anxiety attacks, and they decreased in severity and quantity.

When you're under stress or a great deal of anxiety, your gut will no doubt become the dumping ground for it to take up residence in. About the only thing you can try to do is manage the stress or anxiety differently....YOU decide which things you will let get to you so badly. YOU decide when enough is enough. YOU decide if something is worth 'fretting' over, or if its something you can deal with on a more calm level.

My GI problems became multileveled. I do have IBS-D, and have bile issues after gallbladder surgery. I have much greater control over those things now because of medication. And having control over those things allows me to NOT experience panic attacks and my confidence level stays at a healthy norm.

Sixteen years of age is not too young to have IBS symptoms. There are many children younger than that that suffer just as much as the adults...sometimes more because of the peer pressure/social interaction. Certainly there have been articles suggesting a connection between IBS/panic attacks and some sort of emotional trauma/abuse. If there are sufferers out there that have gone through this type of nightmare, there are just as many if not more that have NEVER had a trauma or abuse issue enter their life.

Telling someone that they have IBS without encouraging them to seek out a good GI specialist to take down a full medical history, running some specialized tests to rule out all other possible causes for the symptoms..and checking for any possible familial connection(some GI problems can and do run in some families)....is something I try very hard to avoid. I've heard of too many people being misdiagnosed(or self-diagnosed) with IBS when in reality it was another disorder..simply because a Dr. didn't want to run tests and went by symptom -description only, or the person who is suffering thinks that what they're experiencing is very close to what an IBS-sufferer describes. Each and every person, when experiencing GI difficulties, owes it to themselves to find a good, caring and experienced Dr. that WILL evaluate them fully before diagnosing..and not just lump them into the "IBS-heap".

I am on an extremely low-dose of Elavil(antidepressant) for controlling the urgency/frequency problems I still experience occasionally. I have no problem doing this..and hopefully some day, I won't have to take it at all..but I don't feel guilty or weak for using it to be more in control of my bowels. I'm always hopeful that as research goes on, there will be more options, alternatives, etc. for all of us to choose from.

Sorry to have been long-winded on this one. It touched on many areas.

I know how you feel. I am a 22 year old female. I have Ibs and was diagnosed woth panic disorder. I was terrified just thinking about those panic attacks. If you are nervous and worried it can definitley make your stomach turn. The diarrhea is related to your IBS. Some days I eat pefectly healthy and I'll still have diarrhea for no reason. I have never taken medication for my Anxiety, But I notice when I feel very stressed, I feel a lump in my throat which is a sign I need to calm down. My suggestion for you is to learn to relax and not be arfaid of the panic attacks. I know this is hard. I always thought I was going to die. I prayed and I got some books about Anxiety and Panic attacks and I learned that they don't kill you. If it can't kill you it can only make you stronger. Try to learn some relaxation techniques which are very helpful. There is medication like antidepressants which the docs say help with panic attacks. So you have options. What also helped me is if I can deal with the panic and overcome the panic,I realized how strong I really am, so don't give up. You are a strong person and you wil get through this. Just keep praying and have FAITH that God will see you through all of this. If you ever need someone to talk to about your Anxiety or Ibs feel free to e-mail me at kristi9101@cs.com.
God bless you!!!!

Hi everyone,
I'm new to this message board but you have NO idea how much of a relief it is to know that there are other people out there that suffer from this annoying, frustrating syndrome. I am a 20 year old female and have been diagnosed with IBS after having blood tests, sonograms, and a colonoscopy. I feel like I am always stressed & I do seek helpto try to get it under control because I am very aware that stress can be a big factor leading to discomfort. I try to cut out certain foods that I know will irritate me. I am a very nervous person and I'm very worried about my health because I have lost a lot of weight in the past several months and I am NOT happy with the way I look. Everyone I come into contact with has a comment about my weight loss, which doesn't help because it's like a constant reminder--which stresses me out even more. I am on medication to help my bowel movements, but still I always feel uncomfortable. I am afraid to eat out, and afraid to go far from home because I'm afraid of an "ATTACK." It's hard to talk to people about this condition unless they TRULY feel and understand what you are going through. I would appreciate any tips, advice, or suggestions. I apologize that it is lengthly, but I just needed to get some of my frustrations out. Thanks in advance!

I suffer from General Anxiety Disorder for like all my life. I really believe that treating the symtoms (when not knowing exactly what causes your anxiety) is helpful, because the causes might no longer exist or not be that important and you may be simply stuck in a vicious cycle where the fear of feeling those bad things cause you those bad things.
What helped me: medicines for my specific symtoms, yoga for relaxing and antideprassant for calming down and breaking the cycle. Try breath control everyday to relax. That can`t do any bad.

Hi Guys,

I am under the opinion that panic attacks are the result of something bothering you mentally and coming out as a physical problem. The problem with taking drugs is that they are designed to decrease your brain's activities, since it is the thought cycle that causes the anxiety in the first place. This can lead to fatigue and tiredness, while at the same time not improving the thought cycle that causes the anxiety. While, there is the possibility that you may be suffering from thoughts that are of no consequence, which may be treated with anti-depressants, it is better to let a psychiatrist decide that - It is most likely that a panic attack will only get worse not better. If you knew what was bothering you was trivial, you would probably not suffer from panic in the first place!

Alternative treatments such as Yoga, meditation, deep breathing all help, and are usually harmless, but can nevertheless help immensely.

But beyond all of this it is important to try and keep diarhea and constipation at bay by employing the methods so often described on this site. (Calcium, magnesium...) A lot of us have tried these solutions and they work over the long term.

Cheers, Raju

It's happened to me as well. One brings on the other. IBS symptoms=stress or stress=IBS symptoms. It kinda sucks. I was diagnosed with this at the age of 11. I travel with Imodium & mineral oil to cover all bases. I do occasionally have anxiety attacks & right now I have Dr's looking into my other problems. They're not sure if I have bi-polar disorder or a hormone inballance that is giving me the same symptoms. Either way, it doesn't help my stress level.

* Antidepressants did not help my IBS at all, it all stayed the same.

I'm a 29-year-old male. Sounds like I had problems similar to the original story in this topic. This is a long story combining IBS-C, social anxiety, and panic attacks, and how I've come to deal with all of it.

I've had trouble going to the bathroom even before I can remember--chronically constipated, always in pain, always bloated, always feel like I have to go. It's affected my life immensely in many ways, but this post is too long to go into them--so I'll stick to the theme of the original message.

I only attended classes that were mandatory in college, and sat in the back row so I could slip out if I had a terrible panic attack. I also have the disorder that causes severe blushing, which all but made me a hermit for many years. I started drinking heavily in high school, as it was a way to get over my shyness--really didn't get panic attacks in HS, I was actually a popular athlete. Severe anxiety started when I got to college, I drank harder & harder. Eventually, it got to the point where alcohol didn't take the edge off until I couldn't stand and couldn't remember anything from the night. I've spent countless nights of my life thinking of how much better it would be to end it all, and my lack of any religious belief doesn't help. I've never actually tried suicide, but thought about it often. To top it off, the heavy drinking made my IBS awful. I was absolutely self-destructing.

Though I was a top student (despite only attending classes for exams), I couldn't get a job until a few months after I graduated, as I floundered in every interview, completely brain-locked with panic attacks, blushing to the point of being purple, suffering unbearable stomach cramps, and sweating profusely--all during the interview. I was interviewing when "behavioral" interviewing was very popular, and I couldn't think of answers to the situational questions. Finally, I had an interview with someone who was interested in my knowledge, high GPA, and skills, and not about what kind of tree I would like to be or evidence of leadership abilities.

I did try Paxil for about a week, it made me sick. I tried going to a psychiatrist a few times, it really did nothing for me. I thought it was rather funny when he recommended group therapy for social anxiety/panic attacks...just picturing a room full of people struggling with social anxiety disorder was amusing. So, I ended up working through my psychosis on my own.

My present condition...I still have bouts of chronic constipation. No diet change made a bit of difference, other than stopping the heavy drinking. But, I found that cardiovascular exercise makes a very noticeable difference. I still have terrible pains, but have somewhat normal bowel movements. I've learned when the feelings of "having to go" are false...I ignore the pains and pressure and only go to the bathroom when I feel like I might not make it to the toilet, and actually feel completely relieved for a few minutes, which is probably the best feeling I'll ever know.

Things did turn around for me, there is hope. I've led a successful professional career. I still blush severely often, but the severe panic has subsided, because I've come to grips with the fact that I have no control over my blushing/sweating. The panic subsided after I got a few successes under my belt in my professional career and my self-confidence grew.

As far as social interaction, I've turned my alcohol problems into something constructive. I bartend some nights and weekends--mixing drinks is fun, and it puts me in a position where I don't have to initiate conversation.

In summary, what's made my life better: learning to interpret small differences my body's signals, developing the ability to ignore pain, engaging in cardio exercise, building self-confidence through my career successes, accepting the fact that there's nothing I can do about my blushing problem, realizing that many people have far worse problems than me, and finally, realizing how unimportant my life and problems are to the big picture of the world, and consequently, lowering my level of caring about other's opinions, which I determined to be the case of 99.9% of my anxiety probs.

Broncosfan-

Your story will help a lot of people, I'm sure.

Learning to accept is such a big part of getting through panic/anxiety...and you couldn't have said it better.

Thanks for sharing....and I'm so glad you've changed your life around for the better. Ever consider being a motivational speaker??????