Speaking from experience, I can say that YES, there is a definite connection between emotional trauma & repression and interstitial cystitis. There is also a definite connection between emotional trauma/repression and irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and a lot of the other disorders that often "hitchhike" along with IC. I was diagnosed about two years ago with IBS, and about a year ago with a mild case of IC. As of this writing, the IBS is gone, and the IC is fading away. My IBS was so bad at one point, that I was practically housebound, and now I literally eat whatever I want and have no symptoms. I've done this without medication, but by learning about the connection between the mind and body, and the necessity of reversing chronic negative thought patterns, and healing and releasing suppressed emotions. I find the high incidence of sexual abuse in IC patients interesting. I don't believe I was abused sexually myself (unless it's a suppressed memory, I have no direct ones), but I have suffered from other traumas, and for years held horrible, negative thoughts about myself, other people, and life in general. My life was nothing like I wanted, and I believe the pain served as a wake-up call to get me off of a path that was wrong for me, and now I'm working on finding one that feels right.
I first learned about the mind/body connection with physical pain after I stumbled across the blog of Abigail Steidley. She is a life coach who had a severe case of IC and vulvar pain, and like the author of this article, and myself, tried everything to treat it, with little success, until she learned about how her emotions were causing her pain and maintaining the cycle of pain. I've learned a lot from working with her, and also from my own research. It took a while for me to accept that the key to my symptoms was in my thinking and perceptions, but I'm starting to really see results, in EVERY area of my life, not just with my physical health. It's definitely not a quick fix, it's really challenging, but I think that it's sooo worth it.
Other resources I would suggest checking out are Dr. Howard Schubiner's MindBody Program site, and this forum for people suffering various forms of TMS (tension myositis syndrome, another way of saying mind/body syndrome.) There are some posts about interstitial cystitis, including some success stories of people who are free of their symptoms.
Anyway, sorry to ramble, but I hope someone who needs this information comes across it....and remember, yes, you can heal from this, many others have!!
Comment Reply
Hi,
Speaking from experience, I can say that YES, there is a definite connection between emotional trauma & repression and interstitial cystitis. There is also a definite connection between emotional trauma/repression and irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and a lot of the other disorders that often "hitchhike" along with IC. I was diagnosed about two years ago with IBS, and about a year ago with a mild case of IC. As of this writing, the IBS is gone, and the IC is fading away. My IBS was so bad at one point, that I was practically housebound, and now I literally eat whatever I want and have no symptoms. I've done this without medication, but by learning about the connection between the mind and body, and the necessity of reversing chronic negative thought patterns, and healing and releasing suppressed emotions. I find the high incidence of sexual abuse in IC patients interesting. I don't believe I was abused sexually myself (unless it's a suppressed memory, I have no direct ones), but I have suffered from other traumas, and for years held horrible, negative thoughts about myself, other people, and life in general. My life was nothing like I wanted, and I believe the pain served as a wake-up call to get me off of a path that was wrong for me, and now I'm working on finding one that feels right.
I first learned about the mind/body connection with physical pain after I stumbled across the blog of Abigail Steidley. She is a life coach who had a severe case of IC and vulvar pain, and like the author of this article, and myself, tried everything to treat it, with little success, until she learned about how her emotions were causing her pain and maintaining the cycle of pain. I've learned a lot from working with her, and also from my own research. It took a while for me to accept that the key to my symptoms was in my thinking and perceptions, but I'm starting to really see results, in EVERY area of my life, not just with my physical health. It's definitely not a quick fix, it's really challenging, but I think that it's sooo worth it.
Other resources I would suggest checking out are Dr. Howard Schubiner's MindBody Program site, and this forum for people suffering various forms of TMS (tension myositis syndrome, another way of saying mind/body syndrome.) There are some posts about interstitial cystitis, including some success stories of people who are free of their symptoms.
June 23, 2009 - 3:50pmAnyway, sorry to ramble, but I hope someone who needs this information comes across it....and remember, yes, you can heal from this, many others have!!
This Comment
Reply