Anxiety and Stress Forum


I Need Help!

Medical Questions-> Health Forums -> Anxiety and Stress -> I Need Help!

Medical Questions

Author

Message

Mike_

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 24 May 2004
Posts: 5
Location: Sweden

I Need Help! Posted: 05-24-04 21:00pm


Hello all i am a 20 year old guy from sweden with some severe problems, it's like this. For 3 and a half years I have been suffering from stomach issues, every time I step outside the door I have o go to the can, I can't wait in long queues, can't walk certain disctances, can't drive to far, I can't even finish school and get a job, o go buy groceries without problems. This has taken my sanity to the brink of insanity, I mean, I can't live an ordinary life. I have been to psychologists, hypnotists and stomach doctors (or what they are called) I had my stomach x-rayed and some other unpleasant examinations. They found nothing unusual. Everybody says it's a mental issue, that's why I post this in this forum. Anybody recognize themselves or am I completely alone? Any help is greatly appreciated! Thx/ mike

sparklypixie12

Extremely EHEALTHy

Joined: 17 Sep 2003
Posts: 3099

Posted: 05-24-04 21:14pm


Hello mike, well I have read that stomach problems can be a result of psychological problems such as depression or anxiety.Have you ever suffered any of these? I find it hard to believe that no doctor can figure out whats wrong with you.My boyfriend has stomach troubles because he had 2 hernias and an ulcer and since having them operated on,he cant eat certain foods without feeling bloated and sick.If you really feel this bad then they should be doing more to help you.Perhaps then it is a mental issue because stomach problems such as irritable bowel syndrome can apparently be brought of by such issues.I wish you luck in finding out

lightningrod

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 28 May 2004
Posts: 21

Thanks: 1

Thanked:0

Posted: 05-28-04 21:02pm


Mike_ : do you mean that you constantly have to go to the bathroom (for #2) ????????

Mike_

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 24 May 2004
Posts: 5
Location: Sweden

Posted: 05-29-04 18:48pm


Yes, as soon I as I have to do something, every time I step out of the door.

Mike_

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 24 May 2004
Posts: 5
Location: Sweden

Posted: 05-29-04 18:51pm


Hi, yes I have suffered from depression so I believe the problems I have are the result of this. As I said there is nothing wrong physically with me so it must be mental, thanks for the help sparklypixie.

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 9
Location: North Carolina

Hi Mike, Posted: 06-01-04 19:34pm


If you're having to go every time you leave the house, why not try something to relax your body if you know ahead of time you have to leave. I'm not talking about some feel-good drug, but rather a relaxing tea like camomile or perhaps get some fresh ginger and add it to a cup of regular tea. It's good for the digestion and certainly couldn't hurt. What do you do when you go out and have to go to the bathroom? Do you cancel your plans and stay in? My advice is to go out anyway. If you have to go to the bathroom, then go. Right now you seem so focused on having to go each time you leave the house, that it's become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Your mind believes what you tell it. Eventually you're going to get your mind used to the idea of going out, and that it's not going to make a difference if you have to go.

Haley

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 23 Feb 2004
Posts: 122

Posted: 06-01-04 21:10pm


Hi mike, I have not had this particular problem but itr sure sounds like anxiety is your problem as people tend to have to go to the bathroom constantly when they are anxious. I have been an anxious person most of my life and was on meds for this until I got involved in a cbt group at the start of this year and it taught me how to quit stressing and got rid of my depression and panic disorder. I highly recommend getting invoilved in a cbt group if you can. The two books we used in my group are really good and I would recommend them both highly: been there, done that? Do this! By sam obitz for anxiety and depression and mastery of your anxiety and panic-third edition by michelle craske and david barlow for panic disorder.

Mike_

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 24 May 2004
Posts: 5
Location: Sweden

Hi Kd Posted: 06-02-04 05:26am


I have not tried anything like that to calm me down, only with some breathing excercises that I have learned, and they dont work very well. That is what most people tell me, to just go out anyway, and I do believe that is the key to get rid of this problem. Still, it is very hard to go out when you are in pain and feel like you have a stomach flu or something. Most of the times I stay in and cancel my plans. Before I used to go out anyway but the problem has grown bigger for every month that passed, and I have had this problem for about 2-3 years. It all started very suddenly when I was riding on a train, without any warning. I believe the cause of it is that I have been mugged 8 times. I also had troubles in school where I was beaten up a few times. By the way, cant this stuff be inheritant? Cause my mother has mental problems too, she has been eating anti-depressives for a long time due to her alcoholic problems. Thank you for your help, I believe I must face my fears and try to overlook the nervous attacks.

Mike_

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 24 May 2004
Posts: 5
Location: Sweden

Hi Haley Posted: 06-02-04 05:29am


By cbt do you mean "cognitive behaviour therapy" ? In that case I have been to one, for a about a year I had sessions, sadly it did not help. I will have look at those books, thank you very much for the tip. //mike

qt3

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 264

Posted: 06-04-04 21:19pm


Hi mike- cbt was what worked for me. A lot of therapists say they use cbt but really just are the same old talk therapy. What kind of tools did your therapist teach you? If you work at using the tools most people experience some significant relief in about 12-weeks time. A good cbt therapist does not care much about your past or why you think you feel the way you do etc. A good cbt therapist knows they cannot change what's already happened to you but they can help you change how you deal with what happens in your life from here on out. It's all about using the tools to learn to think more clearly and accurately about things and once you do your depression and anxiety will miraculously begin to lift before your eyes. I like the obitz and burns books best for cbt. Take care. Q

Haley

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 23 Feb 2004
Posts: 122

Posted: 06-07-04 15:12pm


Hi mike, yes I do mean cognitive behavioral therapy when I say cbt. I also wonder if your therapist really was using cbt and want to hear what tools you were using for your homework because it has worked very well to varying degrees for all the people I know and they realized their improvements much faster than a year, more like a few months. Try using the tools in the books I mentioned for a few months and I think they will help you, unless they are the ones you have been using?

purple333

Extremely EHEALTHy

Joined: 01 Dec 2003
Posts: 1420
Location: Sydney

Posted: 06-08-04 22:31pm


Hi mike, i was talking to a male psychiatrist recently & he commented that women tend to have better luck being helped by cbt than men purely because men are less likely to follow through with the "exercises" ie to work on putting what they learn into practise. I don't know if this applied to you & I agree that 1 year seems a long time (the groups i've heard of are like 3-4 months) but give it some thought - it's always a good idea to consider whether our failure to get better is due to our not taking all the necessary actions.

Haley

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 23 Feb 2004
Posts: 122

Posted: 06-16-04 19:49pm


Hi purple, that's really interesting and makes a lot of sense. Men always seem to want instant gratification and get frustrated when it does not come immediatley. My group was just over three months long and i'm still practicing the tools all the time

qt3

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 264

Posted: 06-30-04 11:58am

purple333 wrote:

hi mike,

i was talking to a male psychiatrist recently & he commented that women tend to have better luck being helped by cbt than men purely because men are less likely to follow through with the "exercises" ie to work on putting what they learn into practise. I don't know if this applied to you & I agree that 1 year seems a long time (the groups i've heard of are like 3-4 months) but give it some thought - it's always a good idea to consider whether our failure to get better is due to our not taking all the necessary actions.

wow, very interesting Idea

my group was pretty even between men and women and both sexes made great strides, but in a group setting there is additional pressure to do your homework. I do think he may be on to something though. Thanks for sharing and I definitley agree with your last statement completely and was guilty of this myself for a time.

Q

seajaih

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 29 Jun 2004
Posts: 2

Posted: 06-30-04 12:21pm


Hi, i hope you don't mind me saying so, but it doesn't sound like a 'mental' problem to me. It sounds like you have an emotional problem, like a 'stress-disorder'. Being mugged and beaten up? That would cause anyone stress about going out, right? If you have been to a psych and told him (her) about being mugged, etc. It looks like they could help you. I wonder what is wrong with them and why they aren't seeing it? You also might want to check into 'holistic medicine' and see if there is any help there. Good luck!

I Need Help!