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Has anyone had to deal with anxiety and medication for anxiety since being diagnosed? I'm taking anxiety medication as needed but I find I need it more and more. Does anyone have any tips for easing anxiety?

 Reply posted for KarenJ.

I believe my anxiety contributes to my Crohn's problems and vice versa. I take Xanax and it does help. I know people don't want to take more meds, but if something can make you feel better and is not nearly as dangerous as the drugs we have to take for our IBDs, why not do it? If you were a diabetic, you wouldn't be ashamed to take insulin. Don't just suffer, ask your doctor.

 Reply posted for KarenJ.

I had been on xanax for a long time but after a while it just did not seem to take care of the anxiety as well as I needed.  The doctor put me on elavil and it has helped me tremdously with anxiety while having the crohn's disease and anklyosing spondylitis as well.

 Reply posted for KarenJ.

I have generalized anxiety disorder.  I've had issues with anxiety since I was a kid, long before my crohn's colitis diagnosis.  I've used Effexor in the past, when my stress was really bad, but now I'm able to maintain my anxiety with meditation and exercise.  Cognitive therapy has also helped me immensely.  

 Reply posted for mirandaann.

I agree.  Most of my anxiety is related to urgency and fear of not finding a bathroom.  My friends always ask me where the bathrooms are in public places because they know that that is the first thing I find out when I enter a place (where's the nearest bathroom).  I also get super anxious when I go on long trips (like to visit my parents who live 2 hrs away).  All I can think of that whole carride is "okay wheres the next bathroom"  or "how long til the next exit"  And if I get that pain in my stomach my anxiety shoots through the roof and my brain is consumed with thoughts of "ok can i make it to the next exit"  and of coarse the more you think about it the worse off you are and the more you feel like you have to go. 

I try breathing techniques, sometimes adjusting the temp of my car helps too (I either like it really hot or really cold it varies).  but there are times I wonder if I wouldnt benefit from some kinda anxiety medicine.  But I dont wanna take anything that I dont have to.

Good Luck all!

 Reply posted for clmcgowen.

I have had similar sensations with getting hot suddenly and feeling my heart beat faster.  I have wondered if those are panic attacks also.  I feel like my anxiety has gotten worse since my uc diagnosis.  When I as pregnant a few years ago, I would wake up to panic attacks several times a night.  I was constantly worried about the baby and if it would be healthy and worried how my uc was going to react to pregnancy.

 Reply posted for KarenJ.

i have suffered from anxiety for several years now. my biggest worry was what if i *** up and lose my job, what will happen to my family. i finally went to a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with add. he said that add often has a comorbid condition such as uc associated with it. since i have been put on adderall, i have had much less anxiety.

 Reply posted for KarenJ.

I want to thank you all who replied! Sometimes it's easy to feel I'm the only one going through this. It's nice when other people understand!

 Reply posted for KarenJ.

I have always been a worrier, but I never needed meds for anxiety until after my UC diagnosis.  I am able to go without meds occasionally, but I always have them on had for when I need them.  I have always wondered if the anxiety goes hand and hand with having an type of major disease.  Even though we have meds to control things, the thought of having this the rest of our lives can be overwhelming at times.

 Reply posted for Sierra.

I also take celexa.  I have taken it for years and it works for me. Before I was diagnosed, I would get these sensations where I would get really really hot all of a sudden, break out in a sweat, feel my heart rate go up, etc...I don't know if I was a panic attack - nothing induced it or anything -It's just the weirdest feeling ever.  Sometimes it would last for hours, sometimes just for about a minute.  During the time that I was off of the celexa (I was trying to get pregnant) the episodes were much worse, but with the celexa I am able to manage these episodes a little better.  Has anyone else had these kinds of symptoms associated with their IBD? It's the strangest feeling ever, it's scary.

 Reply posted for Sierra.

I have had anxiety for 6 years now.  My issues do revolve around my ibd and urgency problems, especially the fear of not finding a bathroom.  I take lexapro and it works for me now.  I have tried many other medications though it is all what works for you.

 Reply posted for KarenJ.

i have an axiety disorder ... i deff had it b4 these problems but yes i do notice that when my colitis is flaring i do have more issues w the anxiety . i take celexa for anxiety.