The link between Social Phobia and IBS.

Article by Sian

What is Social Anxiety?
Social phobia, or social anxiety disorder is one of the least understood psychological illnesses, and was not even properly recognized until fairly recently.

It is however, very common, apparently affecting up to 15 million people in the United States alone in any given year.

Those affected by social anxiety fear everyday situations that bring them into contact with other people.

They feel that exposing themselves to the eyes of strangers will result in the observers judging them, that they will, in some way be found wanting, be seen as flawed and weak, ugly, stupid, etc.

It need not even be physical, since some feel the same if they have to speak on the telephone to their bank, to a utilities provider, a doctor's surgery etc.

We probably do know that in general people are not evaluating us negatively, probably do not care in the least about us, since they have their own lives and concerns.

Telling ourselves that, however, does not work, it is an illogical but very disabling fear, which can lead to enormous amounts of stress, as our mind is constantly worrying.

What has social anxiety got to do with Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
It has a great deal to do with it, since people who suffer social anxiety are frequently under stress even when not in social situations, since they are fearing in advance of those situations.

For IBS sufferers, to be in a a public place may become impossible anyway, being in a queue of people or any distance from a restroom can cause panic.

It may sometimes, as in my case also be intensified by agoraphobia, which translates as fear of people in a public place.

If you are afraid of needing the bathroom when you are in a shop, or on a bus or train, a social phobia might be triggered by IBS, or alternately, the social phobia and the stress may cause IBS.

There in an unworldly element to the way I deal with strangers in a shop, or even on a visit to the doctor's surgery.

As an example, I went to see some-one about gradually easing into work, by perhaps looking at some part time hours in a charity-run bookshop.

We spoke about my problem and at the end, the interviewer said I looked and sounded incredibly confident.

Part of my mind was laughing at this, as I was bluffing, I could hear myself talking to the woman, but it did not feel as if it was myself talking, and when I left my heart was racing, I was shaking and tingling and had to find somewhere quiet to calm down.

So I bluffed, somehow acted my way through an interview and a little later was cramping and in the bathroom with an attack of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

So, outwardly, I appeared 'normal' while I was hot, nauseous, wanted to scream, and was wondering who this woman was who was jabbering on as if she was perfectly fine.

In some way it was me, but almost as if I had clicked onto autopilot.

So yes, I can bluff, but not for long and the stress pushes me into a spasm of IBS, which lasted for days.

Dealing with Social Anxiety.

Many people can become as trapped in their homes by social phobia as they can by irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Some may seek help through taking an antidepressant, a tranquillizer, or natural remedies, such as Bach Rescue Remedy, or Valerian.

Apparently, the greatest success in treating the phobia, however, is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which is also said to be successful in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , which is also said to be successful in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Return from Social Phobia to What is IBS

Return from Social Phobia to Home page