Why does anxiety and ibs go hand in hand?

Question

my daughter that is 9 years old and myself have ibs and were both on the same med dicyclomine I'm on 20 Mg's shes on 10 it helps the bowels but not to much of the anxiety does any one know a med that works for both to get under control wen you have the attacks please if you do send me the information my daughter is starting back to school tomorrow and she missed 7 days of school last year because of her stomach and bowels thank you

Answer 1

I use the blood pressure medicine propranolol) a beta blocker (sometimes called  "the musicians drug" because it stops performance jitters up to 70% of orchestral musicians use this). That might work for you but that would not work for a nine year old

Answer 2

Stress often causes increased stomach acid, and poor eating habits (like greasy, salty junk food) which would aggravate IBS.  Plus anxiety causes your abdominal area to constrict and contract, which also aggravates IBS.

Take a close look at your diet.  I have a very high-stress job, but I treated the worst of my IBS symptoms by making dietary changes.  I can't say that I never have a bout of IBS, but it's considerably better now that I have cut out milk products and really-high-fiber-gas-producing foods like black/pinto beans.

Also, try to find some activity you both enjoy that would help you eliminate some stress in your lives.  Take a 15-minute walk together or make a scrapbook page or paint each other's finger nails.  Something you enjoy that takes the focus off of whatever is stressing you out.  I got a dog, which forces me to go outside to take him for a walk.  I also signed up for a painting class where I focus on something that's not work-related.  It really helps a lot!  

Take care -- find some "zen" in your life and hopefully your innards will feel better.