Jobs I can do with IBS and anxiety

[Hazel2507]

What job do people have who suffer from IBS/anxiety or both! Recently quit teaching as having to start work at 8am, not being able to go to the toilet and constant stress just wasn't sustainable anymore. Need ideas of what I can do instead? I need something flexible as some days my symptoms are worse than others. Ideally work from home so I can use the toilet when I need it, but would consider office based/hybrid. I loved exam marking this summer as that was ideal, but that's only for one month of the year. I don't mind retraining if needed and doesn't have to be in education. Also, how do you manage your IBS/anxiety when working full time? It just seems impossible.

It sounds tough OP. Are you receiving any therapy for the anxiety? Did you teach specific subjects? A friend is a proof reader. I know he did specific training but he works solely from home. Part time for a company and most of his job is proof reading. He also proof reads secondary/uni papers on his other days.

I've never used these sites but you might find something flexible and WFH
https://www.theworkfromhomehub.co.uk/jobs
https://www.office-angels.com/

Sorry to hear your health is bringing you down so much. I’ve had the best part of 24 years impacted quite significantly by ibs and it isn’t nice at all. So many people have offered suggestions over the years and nothing helped, but then I tried a fodmap diet and realised that gluten was causing me trouble. Also Garlic and onions. Not saying I never have any problems these days, but I would say it has been life changing! So not sure about jobs sorry, but wanted to give a word of encouragement about maybe trying cutting out different foods - if you haven’t already. Fodmap is quite extreme, but was well worth a try for me.

Online tutoring would make sense. Especially if you work for yourself and have experience of things like 11+, entrance exams or core subjects.

Its flexible in that you pick the days and times you work and can be a home.

Thanks! I am subscribed to the work from home job alerts. I'll also try office angels. Not thought about proof reading so I'll look into that too.
Not been to the GP yet as I've always just pushed through it. Had anxiety my whole life but now it's worsening or causing ibs symptoms which then causes more anxiety and now I'm stuck in a loop! I can go months being fine, but I'm in the middle of another flare up and had to cancel some work today. Just feel fed up!

Anxiety and IBS often go hand in hand. If you’re stressed or anxious your body can speed up digestion and make you need to poo, it’s classic fight or flight response.

Treating your anxiety may have some physical benefits too. Obviously everyone is different and it might not the same for you but I was kind of the opposite to you - I let anxiety and my bowels rule my life for ages and really restricted what I would do and where I would go. Then I got a job that forced me out of my comfort zone - lots of travel and long periods out and about with no toilet. At the start it was scary but gradually I built up confidence and the anxiety and IBS symptoms calmed right down.

go to the gp. Get a proper diagnosis for both, and get treated.

Go to your GP and get a diagnosis and treatment. I had IBS for years but working out what food and situations triggered it with some help from the GP and then working on those meant I haven’t had a flare up for a couple of decades now.

There are a couple of foods I can’t eat at all. I had some counselling which really helped with managing anxiety and identifying triggers.
I used to restrict jobs to ones where I could readily take breaks and there was always a loo available nearby but my most recent job moves I haven’t even thought about it.