Confusing physical symptoms

Sorry, this is mostly just a rant...

Does anyone else get so many physical symptoms from anxiety and depression (mostly upset stomach, IBS and exhaustion) that you find it hard to know if something is just psychological or if you're actually sick? Nauseau and digestion issues have just become completely normal for me, since I usually experience some strange symptoms every day or every other day.

So I ignored my upset stomach while I was grocery shopping, figuring it was just anxiety, or maybe all the surpressed stress from the past week coming out.... didn't buy any foods that would be good for when you're really ill. But now I think it might not just be a psychological thing, as my stomach seems worse than usual and there is no reason for me to be anxious. But then I also have emotophobia so I panick easily when I *think* I might be really sick, so then more anxiety rushes it and it makes it even harder to figure out what's going on.

I'm not sure if this post is making any sense at all right now but maybe someone recognizes the problem and can share my misery

I have IBS and anxiety triggers it 8/10 times! It started when I was 8. My parents would have to carry around pepto if we were on a long car ride because it would make me flip. Heart racing, hyperventilating, whole 9 yards. I’ve been on a few RX meds for it. However a lot of GI illnesses can also seem just like IBS and can be very harmful if not treated. I would see a GI dr to rule out anything else but maybe talk to your dr in the mean time for something to treat the symptoms. I know it sucks! There’s days where I’m so sick I can’t leave the house. Totally miserable!

I do believe that my anxiety has been messing with my stomach. It definitely is overwhelming, and I know it's not typical for me because growing up I was never sick. Anxiety and depression sure does beat me up physically and emotionally. Such as whenever one of my lectures is finished, I have to go back to my dorm room and lay down for about 10 minutes because of the over stimulation of just being outside and in public.

Sorry to hear about your IBS It really does suck!

The problem with anxiety and depression is, it's very easy for doctors to blame all of your symptoms on those two causes. I have yet to find a doctor who will take me seriously (I've actually complained about that before when I was exhausted every single day and doctors only told me "it's stress")
Although the last doctor I saw did want to send me for an endoscopy.... But I freak out at the thought of a tube going down my throat

Awww I think they put you to sleep for that I believe. I don’t blame you for not wanting that! But give it some thought and find a dr that will listen to your concerns and take you seriously.

I don't think they do that here, actually. Unless maybe you specifically ask for it but to be honest, that freaks me out as well

And I've tried to find a better doctor but the GP's in this city just don't seem to care very much about their patients, good ones are rare :/ I've heard lots of stories from other people having the same experience.

Something else which kinda fits in with this subject:
Does anyone else ever feel the physical symptoms of anxiety but with a calm mind? It's happened several times last week and this morning as well that I've woken up with my entire body just kind of feeling tense, it's hard to describe the feeling.... This usually also lasts the entire day - there have only been a few times that it's gotten better later in the day.
Also I've noticed I've started to clench my teeth during the day. I've never done that before and I don't have any increased stress so I have no idea why that has suddenly started happening.

Are you on any meds? Some meds made me grind my teeth at first if they were too activating.

Are you on anything for your anxiety??? I find that if I take my anxiety meds, it settles my stomach.

But IBS is also exasperated by what we eat. Anything spicy or alcohol can really do a number on you. If I go out and drink one night, my stomach really reacts the next day. I would try following a bland diet and see if that helps. Google “IBS diet”. Good luck and hope you feel better!

Nope, not on any meds. It could be seasonal, Autumn/winter is always a tough time for me but I've never had the clenched teen before and overall I'd say I'm managing better this year than I did last year. So far at least.

The IBS seems to have calmed down again after the weekend but I've still been feeling blegh all week. Something different every day!

Your guts act like an extension of the brain with their own complex nervous system so there's no real separation of 'psychological' from 'physical'. Even use the same neurotransmitters and are affected by many psychoactive drugs, including antidepressants.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...-second-brain/

I relate, but I tend not to put it down to my anxiety (coz I tend to think my anxiety is not that bad, when I guess it really is). Hope you feel better, take care.

Believe me, I've been trying to deny that I have anxiety for years. General anxiety, I mean. It was very obvious that I had social anxiety. Other things I would just call "stress" and blame it on my circumstances. But now I can't really see any cause for stress so I guess I have to accept that it is anxiety?