Anxiety

I have ibs, it can be so bad that I loose weight because I am so anxious. It’s a vicious circle because if I’m anxious my ibs flares up, then I am anxious about needing to find a toilet, which then makes the ibs worse. So I completely sympathise with you. This is going to sound weird but sometimes I can reduce my anxiety by causing a problem that I can then resolve, which brings back some control. For example, I work in a supermarket and I like to work neat and tidy. But say I’m feeling anxious about completing a task on time. Something I have no real control over. I will then create a mess with the empty cardboard boxes as I work until that bothers me more than the original anxiety. Sometimes I’m swimming in cardboard and stressing about that more than being behind. But I can fix the problem and I feel better. If that makes sense. Sometimes a list or a mind map can help. For example You can write: I’m anxious because I might have to answer the front door today. And write what you can do about it. And write out the possible scenarios. Eg. Might have to sign for a delivery, you might have to say something. And have a worse case scenario which in this case could be , I don’t answer the door due to anxiety or if don’t hear it, the delivery person will leave my parcel in a safe place outside. Something like that. And yes if you a wondering I even get anxious about answering the front door. 

I have ibs, it can be so bad that I loose weight because I am so anxious. It’s a vicious circle because if I’m anxious my ibs flares up, then I am anxious about needing to find a toilet, which then makes the ibs worse. So I completely sympathise with you. This is going to sound weird but sometimes I can reduce my anxiety by causing a problem that I can then resolve, which brings back some control. For example, I work in a supermarket and I like to work neat and tidy. But say I’m feeling anxious about completing a task on time. Something I have no real control over. I will then create a mess with the empty cardboard boxes as I work until that bothers me more than the original anxiety. Sometimes I’m swimming in cardboard and stressing about that more than being behind. But I can fix the problem and I feel better. If that makes sense. Sometimes a list or a mind map can help. For example You can write: I’m anxious because I might have to answer the front door today. And write what you can do about it. And write out the possible scenarios. Eg. Might have to sign for a delivery, you might have to say something. And have a worse case scenario which in this case could be , I don’t answer the door due to anxiety or if don’t hear it, the delivery person will leave my parcel in a safe place outside. Something like that. And yes if you a wondering I even get anxious about answering the front door.