Stress Center Peer Support

My stress and anxiety goes straight to my stomach, sometimes I do not see it coming. I was reading about people becoming physically ill from there anxiety and depression. I can completely relate to throwing up, dry heaves and diarrhea. I was in Galveston with my parents a month ago and we where visiting family. The family we where visiting was so kind and I realistically had no reason to feel weird. After a few long hours of socializing I went back to the room with my parents at 9:00 pm and began having diarrhea and constant urination. Then it escalated to shaking and cold and hot sweats. I never had anything like this happen to me before. I have always loved to travel. Before I knew it I was throwing up until nothing was left, it was incredibly exhausting. My parents stayed up with me while I was vomiting until 5:00 am. A few times we almost went to the ER because they where so terrified. I knew deep down it was all emotional and my life had to change. I have had several episodes since where I will not eat for days because I am scared and disgusted. It has taken some serious strength and a few doctors to really help me. Nausea medications have been so helpful. I have found that eating healthy foods and being in a relaxed environment has helped. I am slowly training myself that this food will not hurt me and I need the nutrition. I am still on the road to recovery and the cds are helping. If anyone else is experiencing this, you are not alone. It is scary and you feel like you will never recover. I would get in a cycle of telling myself that I will never get better, that I will never be able to look at food like a normal person again. To know that I am not alone is such a relief.

Thank you

Hi Lyndie, Thanks for posting. I'm finding that I have to eat healthy foods and stay away from sugar and too much salt the best I can. I want to be able to go w/o having to use a Xanax, which I've been able to and I'm cutting back on an anti-depressant I don't like. It is a fine line of working this program, using meds and certain physical activity combined with good eating habits that I hope will bring the change I want. Nice to meet you!

Paisleegreen,

Thank you so much for responding. Your absolutely right. Its hard to avoid eating certain things such as cheesecake because I need to learn that my stomach really can't handle it. I used to drink coffee every so often but now that seems to be a bad idea. I have tried Xanax and it did not seem to work for me that well. One thing that I like to do is chew some tums before and after a meal. It seems to really control that anxious stomach acid.

Nice to meet you as well
Take Care

I've used Pepcid for acid reflux. But when I lost some weight that went away. I don't know if Tums would make a difference for this type of anxious "gut". I guess I could always experiment.

Lyndie,

I have the same problem. Whenever I traveled I got an anxious stomach, it started out with pains. Then I would have diarrhea and then I would vomit eventually. I got so sick feeling, there was no way to eat. I ended up feeling so dizzy like I was going to pass out, from not eating and from vomiting etc. I'm still afraid to travel, really afraid. Those feelings and the physical body symptoms are incredibly uncomfortable/sickening and very embarassing. I have come to the point where traveling doesn't even seem possible for me. I don't know what to do. I take tums often because my stomach is sensitive no matter what anyway. Nausea medicine has helped you? How do you deal with the anxiety?

Dealing with the anxiety has been a whole different issue for me. I do have anxiety meds when I'm really freaking out but all I can say is don't be alone and be with someone who makes you feel safe. All I have is my parents and I have really had to let go of feeling bad for telling them how I feel because I know it makes them sad. I am single and I don't have any friendships that are worth going to a movie. I am a serious animal lover and I foster orphaned kittens. When I get anxious they bring me back to reality. They are innocent and they live in the moment. Just something to think about. I really hope this helps.

Lyndie,

I'm in a similar situation. I have my boyfriend that I talk to you and my mother. Although sometimes I do feel weird telling them things cause I feel like I will burdon them. I have a cat as well, animals calm me too.

Are you able to travel now?? I can't. I was wondering if you could give me some pointers on how you are overcoming the travel fear?

I have not tried to travel. I'm quite scared myself. I feel like I wont be able to "escape" to somewhere safe if I'm in a random state somewhere. Hotel rooms kinda weird me out as well. I wish I could be more help. It feels so weird that I am 20 years old and I have so many places I would like to see but I feel like if I don't have someone there that I feel really gets it, I may not be able to handle it.

Hi girls. First off, I just want to tell you that you are not a burden. You have a disorder, which is valid just as someone with a broken leg or other illness.

I haven't checked but are both of you seeing a therapist or have seen one at one time?

I am seeing a therapist starting in one week. I met her once when we did the evaluation. She seems very nice and I think she will be able to help me out.