Howdy! I started having anxiety after a series of serious medical problems I experienced back in October 2002. I had a tumor on my colon that had to be removed, along with 20cm of my colon. I was generally fine until 5 months after the surgery when I fainted, inexplicably, at a reception. After that event, I started having panic attacks that led to generalized anxiety � VERY severe, to the point I didn�t even feel safe at home! I started taking Paxil CR, then switched to Celexa and Xanax. Somewhere along the way, I started having IBS symptoms (primarily heavy bloating, constipation, etc.). It got to the point I was eating nothing but cream of wheat. I also started having severe heartburn/acid reflux and was put on Nexium and ranitidine. Then, a year ago this December, I found a new primary care physician and he suggested stress management, mindfulness, meditation and Yoga. I gave it a try � finally, I started to see some real progress, with both my anxiety and my IBS. I�m still not back to myself, but I�m doing much better � I eat normally again (sometimes with consequence, but I see the clear relation to my stress level, etc. and can manage it to some extent) and I�m doing more, going out, etc. I�ve not taken any antidepressant since August 2003 and no anxiolytic since February 2004. I am seeing a psychologist for a weekly therapy session � mostly talk therapy, but some CBT stuff too. I started seeing him back in January 2004.
