Crohn's and Panic Attacks

[Yanick]

Hi,

Does anyone know if it's common to have panic attacks with Crohn's? I go through periods when I am fine, and then I have some days when I am constantly feeling dizzy, freaked out, and extremely irritable. I am sick of Crohn's, and I only just got started last summer. Every time I think I am in remission, something happens that makes me think otherwise. Last blood tests came up with inflammation and iron deficiency (though I was taking 3 iron supplements per day for 2 months). Since that news, I got worse.

I am not seeing any therapists (because I am not sure what a therapist can tell me that I don't already know) and I do not want to take any anti-depressants out of fear of side-effects.

Am I alone in this? How do people cope with this on the emotional level? How can I make these Panic Attacks go away?

-- Yanick :depressed:

 

[D Bergy]

Panic attacks,anxiety and depression are all common with Crohn's and most any other inflammatory disease.

There are probably other causes besides inflammation but if you can get a handle on the inflammation I would be willing to bet the panic attacks will go away as well. Especially since yours come and go. If you have an indicator of your flare ups, it will likely correspond to your panic attacks.

Dan

 

[Yanick]

Thanks Dan,

Some times I feel like I am stuck in a Catch 22.

Panic attacks create environments of high stress, which can cause / make inflammation more severe. On the other hand, symptoms of Crohn's can cause panic attacks, closing the cycle. It's actually hard to tell which one starts where. Once I am in a full "panic" mode, I am "listening" to my body so close that anything seems like a Crohn's symptom. And of course, with the panic attack, comes dizziness, weakness, and overall feeling of depression, which makes everything worse.

I just wish I could learn to tune this stuff out...

 

[teeny5]

I have been on an anti-depressant for some time now and I haven't had any side effects. Going on them has helped me control my moods and anxiety. I would talk to your doctor if you have questions. There are so many different ones you can take. My Dr. said if I didn't like it I could stop it and never go back. He thought it would help and it did.

 

[pb4]

I got really bad depression and anxiety (but not actual panic attack symptoms) because of crohn's and what helped me with the depression and anxiety is exercising regularly, it's helped both mentally and physically as well.

 

[RHOV]

you might try just talking to people about how you feel. there's probably a ccfa support group in your area that you could join, or a phone buddy system so you could call someone and vent. sometimes it helps to sit and talk with someone and VENT, and have a voice comforting you. there's only so much that can happen over the internet, after all.

a therapist might help you. they'd probably give you an opportunity to let all your frustrations out, since that's your job. you can refuse the drugs and just get the benefit of having someone who will listen to you!

 

[D Bergy]

You could do what I did and treat your inflammation with Turmeric, Ginger and Krill or Fish Oil. The most dramatic effect this had was to rid me of depression. I was not even expecting that effect.

All of these substances are anti inflammatory, have no side effects other than a slight blood thinning effect. The will bring down inflammation somewhat. They are not a perfect treatment, but they can help with some symptoms.

Dan

 

[hippie4lyfe]

Yanick, it seems to be a recurring theme, the area we are affected in is the gut, the gut is also responsible for our mental state (if you believe in eastern medicine and chakra healing), well anyways stress plays a huge role. I wouldn't discount anti-depressants, everything has side effects but it can help enormously, and would you rather have some mild side effects from that, or continue to have the panic? It's a cost-benefit analysis on your part.

 

[Heathie]

Yeah I have depression and high anxiety. It's all related, which is fun.

I hate taking anti depressants but sometimes you have to give in and do what's best so you can live a normal life. You don't have to be on them forever either.

I hope you can get some relief somehow

 

[NatalieMT]

I have had panic attacks in the past, haven't suffered one for quite a sustained amount of time now though. Have been in counselling and it does help, it's nice to have someone who is purely there for you to talk to about anything without feeling guilty, I always found it nice to have another reasoning voice and opinion in the mix. At present I'm rolling with the Diazepam (it's also acts as a muscle relaxant and sleep aid which is nice) and it is helping me, I hope to come off it asap and see how I go. I think it's all connected too like others have said, the worry and stress regarding health status is enough to make anyone very anxious.

I'm hoping to see some alternative therapies soon aswell such as kinesiology and spiritual plant therapies, they're all about relaxing and balancing the body, in a caring nature and I think that's what I really need right now. Maybe it's something others would consider looking into or have tried.

 

[hippie4lyfe]

I find rose essential oil and orange to be helpful for moods.

 

[Guest]

i suffered really debilitating and ongoing panic attacks in the past - i think they were more fear-related than a direct side effect of Crohns. fear of further surgery, to be specific. but, as anyone who gets them will know, it doesn't matter what actually started them off in the first place - once you have them, they can come on at any time, for any reason..

i did have cognitive behavioural therapy to help me.. it took months, but i finally kicked the panic attacks into touch, mainly by two routes: a) believing that my symptoms were panic/anxiety and nothing worse, and b) doing relaxation, breathing, and meditation regimes every single day.

it's very rare if i get one these days, but if i do, i go straight back to the breathing/relaxation techniques i learnt back then.

 

[Colt]

There's no physiological link between crohns and any mental disorders. If you have a mental disorder (anxiety disorder, depression, etc) being under the psychological stress of being ill can make your psychological problems worse, as can the physiological stress resulting from the psychological problems (hyper/hyposomnia, elevated heart and blood pressure, etc) make your physiological problems worse. But, panic attacks are not a symptom of crohn's disease any more than they are a symptom of a divorce or a death in the family.