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Not sure where to start to fix this: phobia? anxiety? IBS?

2 replies

bathsh3ba · 22/04/2021 13:35

I've always been a bit nervous about getting food poisoning from undercooked meat, in terms of checking there's no pink in chicken etc. However, over lockdown it seems to have ramped up and I spend most nights awake for at least 2-3 hours worrying I'm going to be sick. It doesn't usually affect me at all during the day, it comes at night.

The irony is I think I've only ever had food poisoning twice in my life and the last time was about 20 years ago. I've never had it badly. I've very rarely even had stomach bugs and the last time I had norovirus was 5 years ago. If I am sick, it is usually due to a bad headache/migraine - last time about a year ago.

It's not emetophobia - I can talk about being sick, see other people being sick and not worry (as long as I don't think I caused it, if one of my kids feels sick after a meal I cooked, I am a wreck.)

I don't even know if it is a fear/anxiety because it's also increasingly associated with loud stomach noises at night and a general feeling that my stomach is uneasy/sometimes indigestion. I also get trapped wind more than I used to and sometimes an urgency for the toilet. I don't tend to get diarrhoea except for every time my period comes - and constipation right after.

I'm very overweight and this is putting me off eating so much I'm actually losing a bit of weight, which I guess is both a good and a bad thing. I've tried to eat healthier in case it's an intolerance or just my body trying to get me to feed it better but that doesn't seem to make a difference.

Do I go to the GP? What do I even say? Has anyone experienced anything like this?

OP posts:
time4anothername · 22/04/2021 18:25

I'd make an appointment with the GP and describe what you've said. They can advise on the IBS side and can refer you to CBT for health anxiety if necessary. This is not an unusual presentation for them.

opalescent · 22/04/2021 19:49

I can really identify with this. It's not something I currently struggle with, but it has definitely been a manifestation of my chronic anxiety before now. As a previous poster said, I think it's quite classic.
Definitely have a chat with your GP.

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