Emotions and the gut

[fromthegut]

I really think there is a connection between the gut and emotions. I am an emotional person. Whether I feel anger or fear or guilt or am sad, I feel it. I know if I don't deal with it and let my emitons be what they are.. including crying a bit... my stomach is upset. Generally after a little cry if i feel that way.. I will feel better.
I need to lose weight but somehow any kind of pain upsets my stomach. So the no pain no gain theory does not wrok for me. I think I haev to keep losing the hard way. Slow and easy. Any kind of intense cardio doesn't feel good for me. Something gentle like swimming, aquafit, recumbent, yoga, walking is what works best. I guess I'll keep using prayer.

 

[fromthegut]

I awoke this morning with thoughts in my head. I usually think it's anxiety when I awake first thing in the morning and just ignore it. It's soem times in the middle of the night too. But I heard once from someone that these are important thoughts. Lately I've been paying slightly more attention to it.
I'm a very emotional person. Whether it's happy or sad or angry. I think there is a strong connection between emotions and the gut. I notice if I have people and situations around me that let me feel and accept my emotions than I feel better in my gut. Which of course gives me greater peace. Generally children are less judgemental and can accept how I act or feel. My gut thus my Crohns /Colitis is calm.
I had an Aunt who told me once that I use to cry a lot as a child at family functions. I think I was scared and overwhelmed and that was my way of releasing anxiety. Lately, when I got busier my disease flared up again. That's because I was around a lot more kaos and in environemnts where I felt I had to cotnrol my emotons. Strange uh ? Just thought I'd share that. I know journalling is usually best for some people but I seem to need to eamil someone or post it. Even reading here or soemthing else takes my mind off my gut.

 

[Guest]

hiya.. i think you're absolutely right - our emotions affect us physically far more than we sometimes realise, and particularly if we have IBD problems, then when we're anxious, upset, angry etc.. then that's our weak spot, and symptoms can really step up at these times.

it's quite interesting to read (try googling if you fancy) about the effect of mind over body.. what adrenylin does for example.. like if we get a shock - then it's a shock to our thoughts.. but the knock on effect to our body is incredible.. we can even experience paralysis from an initial episode of fear, no matter how small the catalyst was...

i've always found writing things down does help.. before the internet, and before i found this forum, i pretty much kept my worries and thoughts about Crohn's and other things to myself, wrote them down on paper, and that was that. now that we have this forum, we have the added bonus of getting support, feedback, and advice on those inner thoughts, and i think it's all part of the healing process.

 

[fromthegut]

Thanks Dingbet. I do think you are right too. When I do Yoga I feel so much better. Aslo I lsot a nephew many years ago and I still need to talk about him and cry about it. I haev a friend who lets me grieve and I always feel healthier around her. I also know that I am not good around people who are angry or people that i fear. Like authority figures. it is scary how this disease can make me feel like i am a litle kid again. protecting my soar somach. Thankfully today i am an adult who can take care of herself and get medication and cook good food and cry and have fun !

 

[merrywidow]

definalty. if your stressed you illness gets a lot worse.

 

[pewpewlasers]

Yoga really is a nice exercise that is easy on the body. I have excercise induced asthma and can't do much more than yoga or pilates. Pilates is really hard on the stomach though and the muscle pain on top of the inside pain usually doesn't help.
I say if yoga makes you feel good, do it more! Excercise makes you feel good emotionally and physically, but you have to keep at it.
Do you have yoga videos? I have an MTV yoga and pilates video set that is really relaxing and fun.
Even doing streching excercises for about 15 minutes a day is really helpful.

 

[fromthegut]

Hi pewpewlasers,

Yea.. Yoga really is the key for me. I try other things and when i don't feel well...like right now. Yoga makes me feel like I have hope and just calms my gut down. Especially something called Revolved Belly.
I've also been writing soem emails and reading tonight and find tht my gut is settlign down. I think i really need to use keyboarding and maybe journalling more often. it seems to help. I never coudl get the hang of journalling though. Maybe I need to force myself as it's good for the gut. I also find doign art to be very helpful. Those things keep me out of my head which can create such awful fearful thoughts.
Good night