Hard to leave home

by Cosmo
(Canada)

I am 44 yr old male and have had IBS anxiety for over 15 years.

I always get an anxious or nervous stomach when I know I will be leaving my safety zone. At home I feel fine but the minute I need to go out I get anxious and in turn activate the spasms in my GI track which leaves me on the toilet 2 - 3 times before leaving the home ( usually loose stools not watery or formed) and I worry about attacks throughout the day. Daily tasks which are nothing to most people seem like a giant hurdle for me and have avoided anything that may cause any kind of bowel urgency as when it hits I have minutes to get to a bathroom.

I am currently on Celexa, clonazepam and take Imodium daily to make sure I am prepared for the unexpected. I am also doing CBT which is helping a little.

I am mildly agoraphobic due to this condition and have tried every thing there is to try and finally convinced myself that medication was the way to go.

Any suggestions to help me get over these anxious feelings would be appreciated.

Tx.

Agoraphobia and IBS

Cosmo, clearly your symptoms are very disabling for you. It sounds as if your agoraphobia is exerting a negative influence on your IBS. Clearly you are getting some assistance with your CBT or cognitive behavioural therapy and are taking the SSRI drug Citalopram along with Clonazepam, a benzodiazepine which has an anxiolytic effect to reduce anxiety and also a sedative effect too.

Apart from what you are already doing, the other thing you might like to consider is hypnotherapy. There is some evidence of benefit with IBS and a hypnotherapist might be able to help you with your agoraphobia symptoms too. Something to consider and explore further.