jump to navigation

Physical illness due to anxiety disorder

When my son was hospitalized with Crohn’s Disease  at age 19, I felt like the world was going to end. I am not exaggerating. My level of concern was off the wall. I was not yet seeing a psychiatrist for my anxiety (Read the post “The results of my visit to the psychiatrist“), nor taking my Paxil or Neurontin. Since the day my children were born, I lived in dread that something would happen to them (Read the post “Becoming a mother made my anxiety worse, or was it vice versa?”). This was like a horrible self fulfilled prophecy.

Having GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), well, I needed Xanax to get through the episode. I felt like I was dying inside. He was in the hospital for 3 weeks. It felt like 3 years. He dropped 30 pounds! He was terrified. I had to appear strong for him. And I did. I mustered up every ounce of strength that I had. However, once my son was out of the woods and came back home, I came down with pneumonia and shingles! Enough said?

I realize now that anxiety can cause physical illness. Cancer victims with positive attitudes have been known to survive when others who give up hope do not. I sincerely believe that the health of the mind is directly connected to the health of the body.

There have been times when I have had an argument with my husband that has upset me to the core of my being. I literally felt my insides churning. If that sounds like an exaggeration, well, then, you do not have GAD (& good for you). Even with the knowledge that I am “making myself sick” I would be unable to control myself. And sure enough, a few days later, I would come down with a cold or bronchitis. Now that I have my anxiety under control. these episodes are few and far between, thank God.

How many of us who suffer from anxiety disorder have a direct link from our mind to our bowels? I can attest to the fact that before I was taking the anti-anxiety medications, it was not unusual for me to receive some upsetting piece of news and have to run straight to the bathroom. How about you?

Tags: none

Comments»

no comments yet - be the first?