Sue, I also have a stomach that reacts to my anxiety seems to be the weakest link. I also get heartburn and lose bowels and these feelings can scare me into a panick attack. If try not to over react to the symptom of anxiety I can lessen my attacks and sometimes not come at all, but that was after a lot of practic. I have had all the test that could be done on my stomach and bowels and found nothing wrong. It helped to know that it was just irritable bowel. Some times I get a little nervey when it goes away for awhile, then it returns. I found that pepcid works for me, probably because I get acid indgestion. It may not bring relief to everyone. There are other brands out there that are over the counter, you can also ask the pharmcy. Also when we have panick attacks we have adrenline running threw are body and it well effect our bowels try reading Dr. Clarie Weeks book, called hope and help for your nerves. She explains why we get all the weird symtoms and that they won't hurt you. She also suggest that you get a Phyiscal to help relieve your anxiety. I think I know how the thought goes. You think oh no! here it is again and how am I going to get threw this and will I be able to handle this time threw. That thougth right there will get the adreline going again in our body, because we just scared ourself with that thought and that in it self will start the panick cycle. That is why that this support group is so great, because when we read that this can be a sypmtom of anxiety it will calm us down, and lessen the sypmtom.
sorry for going on for so long, I have had this disorder for 25 years and the key for me was learning how to be my safe person and to learn how to calm myself down when the symptoms come. Because when I try anything new or make a change and even get sick the sypmtoms will return. I went to therapy, read tons of books and listen to tapes to educate myself on how to deal with this disorder. I will return to them to reconfirm myself, at times that can be on a daily basis. I hope was able to comfort, not give you more anxiety.
