Gerald, 36, came to me distressed and embarrassed about his gut. He had painful diarrhea and constipation, usually alternating but sometimes both at once, which were seriously disrupting his life.
His doctor had diagnosed anxiety, prescribed antidepressants and recommended a relaxation tape. The antidepressants had made him feel dreadful (and he wasn't depressed), and the tape had just irritated him. Neither had helped his gut. He was really anxious, however. Of course he was-he never knew when he'd have to rush to a toilet.
It is true that anxiety can exacerbate irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and trigger an attack. However, this is
