NPCE ? for people who deal with anxiety

[basilosaurus]

If it gets severe enough can it mimic a stomach bug?

Asking on behalf of a friend who thinks she should go to urgent care (even though her issues are intermittent, like she'll be fine for a few days and then have a bad night or afternoon). I think she should talk to her therapist and consider meds. But I don't want to push her on it since I'm just speculating and have never dealt with anxiety. But I'm really quite worried about her. She's going through major drama right now and doesn't really have much support beyond me and her therapist.

[pescalita]

Absolutely.

When I was in college I was taking pepto constantly, I would be doubled up with stomach pain and once ended up in bed before I was halfway through my dinner.

A few years ago we called an ambulance to the cabin we were staying at in Tahoe when I was about to vomit and thought I was going to pass out lying down. Dehydration + panic attack.

So it can be acute or chronic. But it can cause all kinds of stomach trouble.

[basilosaurus]

Thanks, Pesca. She asked me to meet her last night b/c she was all kinds of upset. And then she tells me she was sick after going home.

I'd probably be puking, too, if I was in her situation. She found out that her husband had been cheating on her right before he deployed. They've basically dealt with the decision to divorce over intermittent email. He comes back this weekend, so she's finally had to finish moving out of their condo and into her parents' house. It's a lot to deal with.

Is there anything I can say to her that would get her to consider meds? I had asked at one point, but she was dismissive, and I let it drop. That was before hearing about all the illness.

[pescalita]

Does she have access to a PCP? Has she told the therapist about the physical illness? I would try to stress that this is a physiological problem and she needs to go to a doctor, and the doctor needs to know about the stressors that are going on in her life right now because that can definitely be contributing.

Maybe phrasing it as stress rather than anxiety might make her more open to it? Like how big wigs get ulcers and heart attacks. Honestly from a few paragraphs it sounds situational, which doesn't mean she shouldn't get meds, but it can be less scary and easier to accept that you need help when dealing with outside factors.

That's rough, I hope she feels better.

[basilosaurus]

It's situational this weekend, but she said she's been going to therapy for a year. I have a feeling she hasn't told the therapist about the illness nor the doc (at urgent care, which generally sucks in general) about the therapy. I'm pretty sure she doesn't think they're related.

I'll dig further later. We're having a girls sleepover tonight so that her first night not in her condo isn't alone. It's strange; I've only known her 6 months, but I get the impression she opens up to me more than even her therapist. That's kinda the way the mil spouse world works IME.

Thanks for the insight. Maybe it is just an intermittent stomach bug. I'll tell her to check the expiration dates on the milk

[bluestreet]

Oh, yeah, I've manifested anxiety through my GIS my whole life. Unfortunately, a lot of the meds used to treat anxiety also have side effects like nausea, constipation, loose stools, etc. It's a bummer.

Also, a lot of supposedly calming herbal teas are also digestive aids, like peppermint and passion flower. She might try drinking those at night. Granted, they taste like steeped hay, but I do find them relaxing.

[stephiehun]

I'm coming in late, but that is how my anxiety manifests a lot. I did a lot of theater when I was younger, and I wouldn't feel nervous, but I also would spend the whole day of the show in the bathroom. I thought I had something last week until DH reminded me that I had just had a run-in with my awful boss.

[Deleted]

Yes, it absolutely can.

I have had all sorts of GI issues since starting this job. I'm actually in pain as I write this. I've had a bunch of tests done, and so far, we can't find anything physically wrong with me. I'm in therapy, and I've been getting meds from my PCP. But I'm finally seeing a psychiatrist on Monday because what I'm doing right now is not working. I'm pretty much always painfully hungry or painfully full. I get nauseated when my boss walks in my office. I sometimes feel like my stomach is being run through a cheese grater. It's pretty awful. And I think it's 90% anxiety.

[Deleted]

Jul 20, 2012 19:15:56 GMT -5 bluestreet said:

Also, a lot of supposedly calming herbal teas are also digestive aids, like peppermint and passion flower. She might try drinking those at night. Granted, they taste like steeped hay, but I do find them relaxing.

Peppermint tea and ice cream (but not together) are the only two things that soothe my stomach. Yes, ice cream. All the things I've read about anxiety say to make sure you're eating right, especially getting enough fiber via fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, etc. All those things make my stomach hurt. But ice cream is great. This is why I need a rascal.

[aloysiusweasley]

You bet! Whenever I'm under a great deal of stress, like a big exam (retaking my driver's test counted too), I throw up at least once. You friend is under long-term stress thanks to her husband being a scumbag, and it's having the same effect. Sadly, the only thing that takes care of that long-term for me is getting rid of the cause of stress - in this case, the ex.