Dear friends,
For most of this, I will be talking from my own experience, things I've read, and the talks I've had with my own doctors.
Since I was a little girl, I've had gastrointestinal issues. It started with acid reflux and evolved into stomach pain, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, weight loss and more. Celiac disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Disorder---the list of gastrointestinal problems encountered by people all over the globe goes on and on. Basically, almost everyone I know has had some sort of stomach issue in their lives, but it can be life-altering when it affects your mental health, confidence, and normal day to day life, as is the case with me.
For years, I went by ignoring the problem, the symptoms, the pain, which are all things I still deal with and something I am still trying to address. Late last year, I couldn't take it anymore and I finally went to see a GI doctor. Apparently, my symptoms were severe enough to have tests and procedures done to figure out the problem. Yes, at the ripe age of 19, I had my first colonoscopy (and an endoscopy). I even had to do a stool sample...gross, I know. At first, my doctor thought I might have a gluten intolerance, or maybe some form of IBD. Unfortunately, after throwing $2,000 down the drain, I was given the cop-out diagnosis of IBS; and, the reason I say IBS is a "cop-out" diagnosis is that it doesn't get down to the root of the problem.
In my case, the root of my problem is anxiety (one of the reasons why I preach about the importance of self-care and taking time for yourself), yet even today, many health professionals are still "skeptical" about the link between anxiety and stomach issues. I even talked to my doctor about my mental health past, but he was concerned that something else could be wrong. After my diagnosis and procedure, I was given little direction on how to manage my symptoms. Now, looking back I kind of regret going to my GI doctor. Sure, cutting out certain foods, eating smaller portions, and medication can help, but for me, it doesn't do much.
When my anxiety is more severe, so are my stomach problems---a common trend for those experiencing gastrointestinal problems alongside anxiety. Oftentimes, the two come hand in hand. Over the course of my short 19 years on Earth, I've seen more and more evidence proving just how strong the connection is between the mind and the body, and the link between anxiety and IBS is part of that. More people need to realize that in order to have a healthy body, you have to have a healthy mind as well. My mom always said "it takes two to tango" and I think that even applies to the relationship between mental and physical health. Until next time...
xoxo,
Allie